Page 34 of A Tempting Seduction

“You might not have the thinnest waist around,” Zoe added with characteristic bluntness, “but with those hips and that rack, baby, you've got it going on.”

Heat flooded my cheeks at her casual assessment, but I found myself standing a little straighter. “Now do I get cheesecake?”

Fallon shook her head with obvious regret. “Now we need shoes and makeup.” She held up a hand before I could protest. “Don't get me wrong, your makeup is good, but with some of these outfits, it needs to be amped up.”

“Don't forget,” Maddie called from her dressing room, “we need at least two dresses.”

“Not with my legs.”

“I saw your legs.” Zoe's voice carried genuine protest. “There's nothing wrong with your legs.”

“My thighs are huge.”

“We're not talking miniskirts,” Zoe said as she emerged wearing yet another ridiculous outfit. “We're talking about something at the knee. Only Maddie doesn't get to choose. She'll have you yodeling in no time.”

The Cheesecake Factory buzzed with late afternoon energy as we claimed a table near the windows. Shopping bags clustered around our feet like colorful proof of our successful mission. I felt overwhelmed but excited, a combination I hadn't experienced in longer than I could remember.

“So,” Zoe said as she settled into her chair, “tell us more about this date with Ford.”

My cheeks warmed, but I found I didn't mind the teasing as much as I'd expected.

“It's just dinner.”

“Just dinner, my rear.” Maddie grinned at me over her menu. “The man made a point of asking you out in front of half the town. He's making a statement.”

Fallon nodded in agreement. “If Michael had been in Ford’s shoes, he would have done the same thing.”

“Speaking of Michael,” Zoe said, “how are the wedding plans coming?”

Fallon's entire face lit up, and for the next few minutes we listened to her describe the intimate garden ceremony they were planning. Her happiness was infectious, the kind of joy that came from knowing you'd found exactly the right person.

“What about you, Maddie?” I asked when Fallon paused for breath. “How are things with Beau?”

Maddie's expression grew soft. “He's perfect.” She said it simply, like it was an established fact. “I never expected to have him back in my life again, and now I can't imagine my life without him.”

“And soon we'll have Ruby paired up with Ford,” Fallon said, raising her water glass in a mock toast.

“Then we need to find someone for Zoe,” Maddie added.

Zoe shook her head with quick decisiveness.

“First we need to work on Chloe.” Her voice grew serious. “She's doing better since she started therapy, but she's still so isolated. The manga work helps, but she needs Zarek.”

Fallon frowned. “Are you sure? Maybe it really is too late for the two of them.”

Maddie and Zoe exchanged a long look, then Maddie spoke. “Zarek is Chloe’s other half. He brought her back from the brink one other time. It was bad then, too. The difference is, he’s in a heck of a lot of pain, too, because of the miscarriages and I’m not sure he’s dealt with it. If he doesn’t, he won’t ever be able to help Chloe.”

Zoe nodded. When I looked at her, I could see a sheen of tears in her eyes. This had to be hitting her harder than even Maddie since Chloe was her twin sister. “I want to fix this so bad, but I don’t know how.”

Maddie reached across the table and covered Zoe’s hand. “It’s going to be alright. I promise,” she whispered.

Zoe nodded. Then she forced a smile and turned to look at me. “But back to you.” Zoe said, redirecting the conversation with a grin. “We need to figure out where Ford's taking you.”

“Any guesses?” Fallon asked.

Maddie tapped her fingers on the table, thinking.

“He mentioned dinner and no flannel, so somewhere nicer than Maverick's or Pearl's.”