Seduce Me Read Free Page A

several eastern European restaurants, although they weren’t very high on his list. “Sounds great. You’ll have to find me, because I have no idea what you look like.”
    “And that doesn’t make you nervous?”
    “Nope. Excited.”
    “You’re very brave.”
    “Only sometimes. Tell me, what really made you pick my card?”
    She didn’t say anything for a moment, and then it all came out in a rush. “I liked what you had to say. What you’re looking for. But I really have to go now, so I’ll see you tomorrow?”
    “I look forward to it.”
    “Aside from being scared out of my wits, me, too,” she said. Then she was gone.
    Who was this woman? He could tell she was shy, which was appealingly uncommon for the girls he dated. He’d never actually been on a blind date, which this essentially was. Not once. He’d only lied a little bit when he told her his expectations. Especially given her last, rushed explanation for choosing him, he fully expected to end the evening back at her place. Hell, even if they didn’t particularly click, it was only for one night. Whoever had thought up the trading-card idea deserved a Nobel Prize. Prevetted men with all their cards on the table, pun most definitely intended. Natalie would be the first of many, he assumed, a veritable feast of women who also wanted no-strings-attached one-night stands.
    He settled back in the taxi, feeling a hell of a lot better than when he’d left his loft.
    * * *
    “W HAT DO YOU THINK ?”
    Fred gave Natalie a long, slow assessment from the ground up. “You can do better.”
    Her mouth dropped open as she stared at herself in her full-length mirror. “What’s wrong with it?”
    “Nothing’s wrong. I just prefer your red dress.”
    “Why?” She knew it sounded as if she didn’t trust him. He was never anything less than completely honest with her, even when a white lie wouldn’t have hurt anyone.
    “It makes your boobs look bigger.”
    Turning all the way to face him, she gave him her WTF stare. “This date isn’t about my boobs. We’re getting to know each other. That’s all.”
    “It’s always about boobs. Look, if you want better advice, I suggest you find someone who cares more about fashion. I have work to do. Aside from the boob issue, you look gorgeous. Like always. But if you want to make him swoon, go with the red dress and your black heels. And don’t forget to put on the lip gloss, not just the lipstick.” He shook his head. “We’ve been living in the same house too long. Why do I even know what lip gloss does for you? Where’s Denise? I thought she was going to bring wine and you two were going to giggle and speculate until it was time for your date.”
    “She’s at her cousin’s bridal shower. In California. On vacation. And we don’t giggle.”
    “I was being polite. Your friend sounds like an asthmatic horse when she laughs.”
    “She does not.”
    He sighed. “She doesn’t in the same way that it’s not about boobs.” He stopped at Natalie’s bedroom door. “Now have fun. If nothing else, at least you don’t have to go to Oliver’s mother’s Shabbat dinner.”
    “She makes a great brisket.”
    He nodded. “That she does. But not good enough for you to stay with that schlub.”
    “Get out,” she said, although she completely agreed with him. “I’m going to change into my red dress.”
    Fred, with his skinny black jeans, two-tone shoes and argyle sweater, walked down the hall. She didn’t know anyone more fashion conscious than him. Damn hipster. If she didn’t love him like a brother, he’d be impossible to put up with. The sound of the fridge door slamming told her the rat had stolen one of her expensive pale ales. He’d pay for that.
    She pulled out her red dress even though she wanted badly to believe tonight’s date wasn’t about breasts. Yes, she wanted Max to think she was attractive and for the two of them to connect, but she didn’t do casual hookups and she didn’t like it