Playing With You Read Online Free Page B

upper arms with her palms, feeling suddenly jittery. She looked at her wine rack. “I think a glass of wine is just what the doctor ordered.”
    A bottle of Chardonnay was already open and in the fridge, so she got it out and poured herself half a glass in one of her crystal stems.
    She took a long sip then glanced at Xena. “If he’s a loser, you chase him off, okay?”
    Xena gave a sharp bark and Ricki rubbed the dog behind her ears with her free hand before picking up the dress bag and heading to the bedroom.
     
    “Maybe the neckline is too much after all.” Ricki held her hand to her belly that was fluttering like crazy while she stared in her bedroom mirror. It had taken some acrobatics to get the zipper up by herself. “Check out my boobs. They look huge.” She glanced at Xena. “What do you think?”
    Xena cocked her head to the side like she was considering the question.
    Despite the neckline accentuating her cleavage, Ricki had to admit she looked pretty darn good. Her honey-blonde hair was swept up with the pretty black clip that had sparkling crystals along it and she’d put on the three-quarter carat diamond earrings.
    She studied her hazel eyes. Was she ready for this? It was her first real date since the times she went out for coffee with a couple of guys after her divorce. Having coffee with a man didn’t really count. She hadn’t been crazy about either of them enough to go out with them for dinner, so here she was, going out with someone she didn’t even know.
    The doorbell rang and Ricki’s stomach flip-flopped. “Here we go,” she said aloud. She looked at Xena. “Bite him if he’s a jerk.”
    Xena barked and wagged her tail.
    Ricki wobbled a little in the red heels but straightened her spine and walked as gracefully as she could to the front door. Both dread and anticipation filled her. Would he be as handsome as her aunt had told her? Her version of handsome might be something completely opposite of what Ricki thought good-looking should be.
    Xena walked at her side. “Remember, chase him off if you don’t like him,” Ricki said to the retriever.
    When she reached the front door she took a deep breath and turned the bolt lock and the lock above the handle. She looked at Xena. “Are we ready, girl?” she asked. Xena looked expectant and Ricki opened the door.
    Her jaw dropped and her knees went weak.
    Garrett McBride in the flesh, looking sexier than she’d ever remembered seeing him before. He wore a black Stetson and a black western dress jacket over a white western shirt, black slacks, and black boots. He filled his clothing out in a way that showed what a large powerful man he was. His jaws were smooth-shaven, and his blue eyes appraised her in the same way she was looking at him.
    “Garrett.” His name came out breathy as she spoke it. “You’re my date?”
    “I wondered what Madge was up to.” The corner of his mouth turned up slightly. “You look gorgeous, Ricki.”
    “Thank you.” She smiled even though she still felt a little jittery, in spite of the wine. The fact that she was about to go out on a date with Garrett, a man she’d had a crush on for ages, made her even more nervous. “You clean up real well yourself.”
    He crouched so that he was almost at Xena’s eye level. He held his hand beneath her muzzle so that she could scent him “You’re a beautiful girl.”
    Xena wagged her tail and pushed her nose under his hand, telling him that she wanted him to pet her. He rubbed her behind the ears and she gave him a pleased look as she wagged her tail faster.
    “Looks like Xena approves of my blind date.” Ricki couldn’t help feeling tremendous relief, yet she felt on edge, too. What if Garrett wasn’t happy having her as his date?
    Garrett rubbed Xena’s head. “I had a golden retriever when I was a teenager. The only dog I love as much is a lab.”
    Ricki took a step back. “Let me grab my purse.” She realized she was shaking a little as she picked