“Adelle here was just telling me that I look worse now than I did after Ronald dumped me at the alter.” I couldn't help but smile at the expression on Adelle's face. My friend was usually impossible to embarrass or make uncomfortable. I had to take advantage of it whenever possible.

Mindy gave me a small smile, one that told me she was still worried about me being mad at her. “I think you look fine.”

Adelle's eyes narrowed and she looked from me to Mindy and back again. “All right, something's up. No way would Mindy say you looked fine the way you're dressed unless she knew there was some sort of extenuating circumstance. Spill it.”

I took a deep breath and told my story. Mindy winced when I got to the part where Steven had tried to drag me out of the bar and I could see the guilt on her face. I didn't stop to reassure her though. Instead, I continued on with the part she hadn't yet heard, including the kiss this time. When I finished, Adelle and Mindy were both staring.

“Wait, so the reason you've barely talked to me all week is because you've been looking for your mystery guy?” Mindy asked. “I thought you were mad at me.”

I shook my head and patted her on the hand. “It's not your fault Steven turned out to be an ass. You had no way of knowing. He came across all charming at first.”

“Should've gone with my guy in the first place,” Adelle said with a smug smile. “But now you have to.”

“Yay, another blind date,” I sneered, clapping in mock celebration. “That worked out so great last time.”

“What are you going to do, then?” Mindy asked, changing the subject. “Hire some private investigator to track down a guy you kissed when you were drunk?”

She had a point. It wasn't like I had many options when it came to finding my rescuer. And no matter how much I wanted to find him, there was no way I was telling some detective about what had happened. No kiss was that good.

My body disagreed with that statement, but I ignored it.

“I have to ask.” Adelle leaned forward. “What was it like? The kiss?” Her eyes were glowing with curiosity.

“It was a kiss,” I said shortly. “You know. Lips against lips.”

She grinned. “That good, huh?”

I glared at her.

“Come on, Bree, details.” Adelle glanced at Mindy. “Was there tongue?”

“You're an ass.” I threw a cherry tomato at her, laughing as it landed in her cleavage.

“Hey!”

I shrugged. “Shouldn't show it off.”

She plucked the tomato out from between her breasts and set it down on her empty plate. “Seriously, though, Bree. Let me fix you up on a date.” She threw a glance at Mindy. “I'll do better screening than she did.”

“Bitch.” Mindy stuck her tongue out at Adelle.

I laughed, my dark mood lightening as I let myself enjoy my friends.

“Please, Bree,” Adelle begged, her face all puppy dog cute.

“I think I'm swearing off dating for a while,” I said. I held up my hands. “No more men.”

“So women now?” Mindy grinned.

I searched for another tomato to throw as she laughed. “I just mean that I've had bad luck with men this past month and I'm not sure I want to try again.”

“It's not a commitment, Bree. I'm not asking you to marry the guy, just go on a date.” Adelle slid her card into the bill fold.

“You're not going to let this go, are you?” I asked.

“Nope.” She grinned. “You know me.”

Yeah, I did know her. That's what concerned me. I had visions of her showing up at my house at random hours with strangers she wanted me to meet.

“Besides, you need something to get your mind off of your mystery man,” she said. “You can't keep spending all your time looking for him.”

She had a point. “All right,” I agreed reluctantly. “One date.” Maybe that would be the distraction I'd need.

Chapter 7

Adelle must've called half a dozen times over the next week to ask if I'd picked out an outfit to wear on my date for Saturday. Friday night at dinner, she and Mindy had both offered to come over and help me dress. I'd been half-tempted to snap at them both that I'd managed to clothe myself just fine since I was six, but I only smiled and let them know that I didn't need any help.

Now, however, as I stood in front of the mirror, I wasn't so sure that I hadn't been too hasty. Then again, I wasn't about to tell either of them where I'd gotten my new dress. Even though Mindy made pretty much the same thing I did, her parents had paid for her college, which meant she wasn't paying back school loans, leaving her with some extra spending money. She and Adelle might not have shopped in the same stores, but Mindy could afford the lower-priced name brands. The dress I was wearing was a name brand, but I'd picked it up at a thrift store earlier this week.

It was a dark, charcoal gray that fit me beautifully. I was slender enough that I didn't have much in the way of curves, but this dress highlighted what I did have. The neckline was lower than what I normally wore, but not so much so that I felt entirely uncomfortable in it. The hemline was the same length as the skirt I'd worn the other night, so I was at least used to that. My make-up was minimal, and my new haircut didn't require much in the way of styling. I didn't need my friends for any of that. No, I needed them to distract me from the fact that I'd chosen this dress because the color was the same as my stranger's eyes. I could only imagine what Adelle would say if she knew I was going to meet this Cade Shepard she'd set me up with wearing a dress that made me think of another man.

“What am I doing?” I muttered to my reflection. “This is not going to end well, and you know it.”

I did know it, but that didn't mean I was going to flake out. I told Adelle I was going and I'd do just that. Since I'd been told to meet Cade at the Park Hyatt Hotel restaurant, at least I could get a free meal out of it. Maybe I'd get really lucky and the guy would at least be a good conversationalist. That was the most I was hoping for out of this evening, good food and a nice guy who didn't try to get me drunk or take advantage of me. I wasn't even considering the possibility that there could be anything else. No use going there and being disappointed.

With my expectations firmly in place, I grabbed my dress purse and headed for the door. I'd considered driving this time, as much to give me incentive not to drink so much, but I despised driving in heels so a cab it was. I winced as I thought of the fare, but my only other non-driving option was the train and there was no way I was doing that in a dress.

The cabbie was nice enough and didn't take any detours, which I appreciated. Sometimes, if they thought I was some naïve girl who didn't know my way around the city, they'd try to run up the meter. When we pulled up to the hotel, I couldn't help but stare. I'd seen it before, of course, but it was different getting out of the cab and knowing I was going inside. It was gorgeous.

I paid the cabbie, squared my shoulders and tried to look like I belonged at a five-star hotel. I walked slowly enough that I was able to find the restaurant without having to ask anyone and I headed inside. The hostess smiled at me as I came in.

“May I help you?” she asked.

“I'm meeting Cade Shepard,” I said.

“Wonderful.” Her smile widened. “Mr. Shepard is waiting for you. Right this way, please.”

I followed her as she made her way around the tables, most of which were full. It didn't take long for me to figure out that we were heading toward a more secluded section of the restaurant. The lights were dimmer, the tables a bit further apart for added privacy. Then the hostess stepped to one side and everything else faded away.

It was him. Right there. My mystery man was sitting at the table directly in front of me.