AN: LMAO! Well, I guess since CPDRuzekFan asked so nicely and she has rode out Hurricane Matthew... you will all get a third chapter in one day. Sorry, but it is a flashback chapter. Be patient. I am having so much fun writing this. I really am. It is a lot less emotional than what I usually do which is nice for me, but I just finished writing a rather involved chapter and I need to let it sit for awhile. Which is many chapters away from this one. I write ahead. I give out what I can when I have time to proofread. Enjoy!
When in Doubt Wear Red
Back to Saturday
Red or Black. That is the question that is currently playing in my mind. I packed two dresses for tonight depending on my mood. My initial thought when packing was to just go with the black dress. The guys were all planning on wearing suits tonight so the black dress would blend in well. I had thrown the red dress in at the last minute. It had been an impulse buy one afternoon. A sexy as hell strapless impulse buy. You know those dresses that are to boost your confidence because for whatever reason they just fit the right way or feel the right way. The red dress was that dress for me. After spending the morning drinking mimosas and soaking in the sun with Adam…. I was feeling the red dress. Maybe it was the nice buzz going on or maybe it was the fact that Adam had actually liked the part of my tattoo that he had seen on my back. Maybe it was that part of me that was fishing for more compliments rearing its ugly head. I don't know, but I am now standing in front of the mirror in the red dress giving myself the once over before grabbing my bag to head out the door.
I am checking to make sure that the door shuts and locks behind me when I look up and I see Adam coming out of his room. Damn. I forgot how good he looks in a suit. Black suit with a crisp white shirt and no tie. He has the top couple buttons open and just damn. When he looks up, I know I made the right choice. He obviously gives me the once over and then shakes his head. He makes his way up to me and then scratches at that summer beard that he has yet to shave.
"You trying to make the evening hard on us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I probably should have brought my baton with me if I knew you were going to be wearing that. We'll be beating the men off all night."
"I doubt it. I'll be surrounded by all you big, bad boys so I really don't think that will happen. Ready to head down?"
Adam held out his arm to me and I guess in the spirit of keeping our friendly exchange going, I took it. We got in the elevator and stood next to each other as it was descending. I'm not sure why, but I felt like there was tension there. Good tension. The kind that just makes your whole body feel alive. What am I thinking? We are so not going down that road again. It didn't work the first time. Why would it work again? I've got my mind back on track till the doors open to the lobby and Adam places his hand on the small of my back and then all those nerve endings just want to jump to life again. We make our way up to the group and Kevin just lets out a whistle.
"Damn, girl. What are you trying to do?"
Adam chuckles next to me before responding to Kevin.
"I've already told her. Trouble."
I just smile and shake my head.
"You two are exaggerating."
Kevin shakes his head back at me.
"Remember that night I drove you and your friends around Chicago."
"Yeah. What about it?"
"Ok, that night was trouble, right? You in that dress…is worse."
I really can't help the smirk that comes to my face. I swear the devil really must have sprung up in me this afternoon. Kevin points to me and shakes his head again.
"Behave."
"What fun is that?"
Adam puts his hand on my shoulder and starts to massage it. I know he is telling me to back off and give Kevin a break. I forget sometimes that Kev thinks of me as a little sister and has a hard time seeing me any other way. I look over to Adam and he just gives me the smirk that I used earlier.
"Don't worry, Atwater. I'll keep my eye on her. You won't have to worry about a thing."
I narrow my eyes at Adam and Kevin starts laughing.
"Thanks, Dawg. One less thing to worry about tonight. I just want to have a good time. Dinner, show, party. Easy."
Kevin's brother claps his hands together and gets all of our attention.
"Well, let's get this night rolling then. Follow me. Our ride is out front."
