Page 10 of Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire

CHAPTER3

Jessica closed her door and turned the deadbolt. It surprised her Roark didn’t want to come in. Oh, well, she’d have that much more time to look through her dresses for the one to wear tomorrow night.

She loved her loft. It had taken all her savings, but she’d bought it free and clear. She walked through her living room with its floor-to-ceiling windows that became opaque at the touch of a button. She loved her view of the Platte River and, if she got to the far left on her patio, of the mountains. From there, she walked through her kitchen. She’d chosen black appliances to go with the black granite counters with the gold specks that looked like stars. Then she had a butler’s pantry, which she’d turned into a wine bar, then her bedroom.

She’d splurged when she’d moved in and gotten a gorgeous bedroom suite from Woodley’s. The eight-drawer bureau with attached mirror, chest of drawers, nightstands, queen-size headboard and footboard were all dark cherry wood. She’d also gotten a cheval mirror also in cherry wood.

In the walk-in closet, she kicked her shoes off and pulled out all her old prom and bridesmaid dresses, every sparkly gown she had, and laid them on the bed. The longer she looked at them, the more nauseous she felt. They were horrible. No way could she wear something like that to the gala with Roark.

She picked up her phone and punched Lanie’s number.

“Get your bottom over here, now. I need help.”

“Not even a ‘hi’?”

“It’s an emergency. I have a date for tomorrow night’s Kids with Cancer fundraiser gala.”

“So? You go to that every year.”

“Not with Roark Sullivan, I don’t.”

Lanie was silent for a moment. “TheRoark Sullivan?” she whispered. “Of Sullivan International Holding Co.?ThatRoark Sullivan?”

“Yes, now get over here.”

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Jessica ran for the door from the bedroom and opened the door.

Lanie stood on the threshold. She wore her long black hair in cornrows to the back of her head and then gathered into a long braid down her back. She always looked beautiful. She wore a pale peach-colored top that made her caramel skin glow. Her earrings were gold hoops in three sizes, with the largest in the lobe and the smallest on the top of her ear.

Jessica hugged her friend. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’m in trouble.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have anything to wear to a formal gala. I never go to the ball, just the auction. Come look.” She hurried into her bedroom.

All over the bed were glittering, sparkling, sequin-laden dresses and gowns.

“These are all my formals, and none of them say sophistication. They all say,” she used finger quotes, “high school.”

Lanie crossed her stomach with her left arm. Then she held her right elbow in her left palm and put a finger on her chin. “Maybe not. Let’s look at them again. To start toss out all the short ones. You are not wearing a mini dress to the gala. I don’t care how good your legs are.”

Jessica put those to one side of the queen-sized bed.

“Now, let’s see.” Lanie ran a hand over the satin bodice of the blue sequined gown with cap sleeves. She shook her head. “Girl, that was ugly when you wore it the first time.”

Jessica shrugged. “Jenny loved it, and it was her wedding.”

Lanie cocked one brow. “And look where that lack of taste got her. She’s on her third marriage in six years.”

Jessica sighed. “I know.”

“What else do you have?” Lanie stood with her hands on her hips.

Pulling a pink satin number from the pile, Jessica held it up against her front. “What do you think?”

Lanie waved her hands in front of her. “No. Just no! You’ll look like a walking bottle of Pepto-Bismol.”