“You’re not. It fits you like a glove. We got your size, even when I wanted you to go down a size to make those boobies really pop.”

  I know she says it to make me laugh, but I’m freaking out. “I’ve always heard that ‘Just because they make the size, doesn’t mean a bigger person should wear it.’”

  She gawks at me. “Where in the hell did you hear that?”

  “My mom was in this moms group, and they always were down on the women who didn’t lose weight after they had kids. My mom actually left the group because of it.”

  “Yes, because your mom is smart and knows they were idiots. That’s insane, Angie.” She stands up, coming toward me. “Did you know that the average size of a woman right now in the US is a size sixteen to eighteen? You’re a sixteen at your height. You are the wet dream of all men.”

  I look away. “You’re just saying that.”

  “I’m not. Google it. I swear it’s true,” she promises, and when she reaches me, she takes the dress down from the door before looking me in the eye. “We’re the same size, but I’m about a half foot shorter than you. And guess what? I would wear that dress right now. Wanna know why? Because I want to. Because I think this dress is hot, and it’s super hot on you. Do you like the dress?”

  I swallow thickly. “I do.”

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  I press my lips together as I look at the dress. “You don’t think Owen will be embarrassed by me?”

  She snorts. “Honey, the only thing he’s gonna be embarrassed by is the boner he’ll be sporting the whole night being with you.” My face breaks into a grin as she hands me the dress. “Trust me, Angie. Or hell, trust yourself. Trust the part way deep inside you that knows you’re perfect just the way you are because you’re happy.”

  I take the dress without much thought as I hold her gaze. “I am happy.”

  “You are and so damn gorgeous.”

  I swallow hard once more, thankful the lump has disappeared. I slide my fingers over the fabric and force myself to remember how I looked and felt in it yesterday. I felt beautiful, hot, and chubby sexy, as Owen loves to call me.

  But most of all, I loved myself in that dress.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Owen

  * * *

  I’m ready to see my girl.

  It’s been a long, agonizing eleven days without her. I pretty much miss every single thing possible about her. Name it, and I miss it, because I miss her. Her whole damn gorgeous Angie package. As I head to her place, my dad is giving me details as my mom rambles them to him.

  “Don’t be late,” he says very directly. “It costs money if you keep them waiting. Also, make sure you tip everyone. You got cash?”

  “Yeah, Dad. I do.”

  “Make sure he thanks everyone too,” Mom says in the background, and I roll my eyes.

  “She does know I’m not five and have manners, right?”

  “Apparently not,” Dad says dryly. “Evan is already there setting up and making sure everything is perfect.”

  “Cool. I’ll shoot him a text when we land.”

  “Good. I left my truck there for you. The keys are behind the right rear wheel.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “No problem. Bring her by if you guys have time.”

  I shake my head. “She’s all kinds of skittish and weird. You’ll have to give me some more time.”

  Dad laughs. “Sounds like someone I once dated and then married and then had you with.”

  “Dad, you could have just said, ‘That sounds like your mom,’” I tease him, and he laughs some more.

  “Sure, but that way is way more fun and gets me a chilly look from your mom.”

  “You two are insane. I’ll talk to you later,” I say as I pull up in front of Angie’s house. “I gotta get my girl.”

  Dad’s chuckle lets me know he knows I’m sprung. “All right, be safe.”

  “Will do. Love you.”

  “Love you,” he says as I hang up and throw my phone onto the passenger seat. I look in the mirror, making sure my hair is in place and my tie is straight. I know it’s not our first date, but it almost feels like it is. It feels new and exciting, though I don’t think that feeling has changed since I met Angie. I push the truck door open and get out, adjusting myself before smoothing out my slacks. I fix my watch on my wrist and shut the door, but I’m not expecting to see her when I look up.

  It’s a moment I know I’ll never forget.

  Because it’s the moment I know I’m fully in love with Angela Paxton.

  I suck in a sharp breath as I take her in. Her hair is down in wide curls, and her bangs are straight across her forehead, resting on her black glasses. Her makeup is done in a way I’ve never seen her wear it, all dramatic, and it makes her eyes pop. But none of that really matters when I get to the dress she’s wearing. I fully expected a dress—I asked for one—but this girl, fucking hell, I think she’s trying to kill me. The black fabric hugs her curves, showing them off in all the right ways. It crosses at the neck, making an upside-down heart shape that exposes the skin between her breasts, and it stops mid-thigh. Her legs are toned, thick, and with her high heels that have ribbons wrapping around her ankles in a bow, I’m left breathless, speechless, and my mouth is dry as fuck.

  Jesus. Christ. Almighty.

  I know I’m gawking at her, and with the way she crosses her ankles, one in front of the other, I feel I’m making her self-conscious. I move toward her, despite the raging hard-on I have, and I shake my head. “Not fair.”

  Her eyes widen as her glossed lips press together before parting. “What?”

  I stand before her, drinking her in as my heart pounds in my chest. It’s the most I’ve ever seen of her, skin-wise, and I honestly forget how to take my next breath. I glance at my watch, and I know I don’t have time. I look back at her and mutter, “So not fair.”

  Her brows come together, and I can tell she’s getting pissed. “What are you talking about? And why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

  “It’s not fair that you look this damn good when I don’t have time to take you back to your jungle and consume you.” Her breath catches, and I shake my head. “And I don’t know if I can kiss you and stop.”

  Her lips perk up at one side, giving me very naughty vibes before she rises up on her toes and presses her lips to mine. I wrap my arms around her and engulf her as I pull her in tightly. Our kiss is sweet but turns very demanding, very quickly. She tastes like mint and feels absolutely incredible in my arms. I reach down, taking a good chunk of her ass in my hand. I press myself into her, letting her know how fucking much I want her. When I break the kiss, it’s only to whisper against her lips as our eyes meet. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life, Angela Lynn Paxton. Hands down. No one, and I mean no one, compares.”

  Her eyes are glassy as she gazes up at me, and slowly, she brings her hand up, cupping my cheek. “You sure we don’t have time?”

  I shake my head sadly. “Not even a second to spare.”

  She leans in, kissing my bottom lip before speaking against it. “Then you’d better get us out of here before I’m the one consuming you, Owen Michael Adler.” She draws out the words, licking my bottom lip, and everything in the world stops.

  Yup, I’m head over ass for this girl.

  I swallow, reaching up and taking her hand. “Just FYI, if my parents hadn’t helped with this date, I would totally blow it off and show you a damn good time in that jungle of yours.”

  She flashes me a grin. “You’d be the king of the jungle?”

  “Prepare yourself for this corniness…but only if you’re my queen,” I say, pulling her along, and I love the giggle I’m rewarded with. I walk her around the truck, opening her door for her. I help her in, and as she crosses her legs, I run my hand up her shin to her thigh. Her eyes meet mine as I reach down, kissing her mid-thigh. Her little intake of breath makes me want to bust. I stop myself and then rush around to get in the cab. I start the truck quickly and pull away just as fast. I don’t know why I’m rushing—I have time—but I think it’s because she has me so keyed up. She hands me my phone, and I toss it in the cupholder so I can take her thigh in my hand. Her skin is warm, and I squeeze her, wanting so badly to take a bite of her. She covers my hand with hers, and when she sighs happily, my heart soars.

  “I know the answer,” she starts, and I look over at her, grinning from ear to ear. She reaches over, poking me in my dimple. “But I look okay? You’re not embarrassed?”

  I almost wreck the car whipping my head in her direction. “The hell I have to be embarrassed of?”

  “It’s tight, and I don’t want you to be embarrassed by what others think.”

  “Thank God it’s tight,” I basically choke out. “Sugar, my love, I’m proud to be with you, and I don’t give two fucks what anyone thinks.”

  “Oh,” she says, and I can tell she’s a little surprised by my answer.

  “They can want you or not, and I don’t care, ’cause I know you’re mine.”

  “Well then,” she says breathlessly as she grins at me. “Yours? Okay.”

  “Yup,” I agree. “Also, just a warning, I went a little overboard.”

  Her eyes dance as she looks at me. “Really? Why do you say that?” I pull into the airport and see my family’s plane. I glance over at her, and her eyes are wide. “What in the world?”

  “Told ya,” I say, parking and getting out. I grab all my stuff and then head around to help her out.

  “We’re going on a plane? For a date?” she asks incredulously.

  “Yes. Some say I’m bougie.”

  She snorts. “I say I agree with some.”

  I take her hand and lead her toward the plane, locking my truck behind me, and she mutters, “Well, shit.”

  I look over at her. She’s looking at the sky. “What?”

  She gives me a sheepish grin. “Never mind.”

  “No. What?”

  “I forgot to put my rainwater catcher out, and it looks like it’s gonna rain. My plants love rainwater.”

  I blink. “Woman, you drive me nuts,” I say, and I quickly text Dart to set out a bucket. “I asked Dart to put something out.”

  She leans into me. “You’re the best.”

  She kisses my jaw as the flight attendant welcomes us. “Mr. Adler and guest, welcome. Sir, we do need her ID.”

  I forgot. “Shit. Sugar, you got your—”

  She’d already pulling it out of her little purse, handing it to the flight attendant. “I’ll bring it back to you.”

  “Sure,” Angie says, and together we walk up the stairs into the plane. “So, where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Her smile is unstoppable as we take our seats and buckle in. “Is this a new plane?”

  “Yeah, Mom upgraded a few years ago.”

  “Okay. I didn’t think this was the one we took to the championship,” she says, looking around. “This is nice.”

  “You haven’t even seen the back yet. This is just the seating section for takeoff. The back has lounge chairs and couches.”

  Her eyes widen. “Oh wow.”

  “We’ll go back as soon as we take off.”

  “Awesome,” she says as the flight crew gets ready for takeoff. “So, how many girls have gotten this kind of Owen Adler treatment?”

  I give her a look. “Um. None.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. How many guys have gotten you in a dress like that?”

  Her lips tip up. “None in the last two years.”

  “Before?”

  She grins. “I used to wear dresses like this to parties.”

  I hold her gaze. “Well, honestly, I think you look way better now.”

  Her eyes light up. “You think so?”

  I bop her on the nose. “I know so.”

  She takes my hand in hers and strokes her fingers along mine. Our fingers play as we wait to take off. I make sure to thank the captain and the copilot before they enter the cockpit. It’s hard to remember I’m supposed to be polite when all I want to do is kiss and touch Angie. She sits all pretty and proper beside me, smiling and being absolutely lovely. I love the way her hair is falling along her shoulders and the curve of her jaw. I find myself reaching out and brushing her hair off her shoulder to kiss her bare skin. Her breath catches as I trail my tongue along her collarbone and up her neck. I find her earlobe and suck it between my lips, biting it softly as she brings her hand up to rest against my cheek.

  Into her ear, I whisper, “I want you so, so bad.”

  She turns into me, moving her other hand up my thigh before she grabs ahold of my ice-hard cock, making me jump in my seat. I bite her below her ear, and I can feel her smiling as she says, “Easy, boy. So many eyes on us.”

  I scoff. “I don’t even care. We’ll give them a hell of a show.”

  Her giggles are strained and full of all things dirty. She takes ahold of my jaw just as the captain announces we’ve been cleared for takeoff, and then she moves my head slightly so our eyes can meet. Such heat and goodness are in her eyes, and I moan with desire. She leans in, and I take her mouth with mine. I don’t know how we miss the damn plane taking off, but then again, maybe I do. Being lost in her kiss would make me forget anything, really.

  I hear a throat clear, and I pull back to find the flight attendant smiling down at me. “I apologize, but you’re able to move to the back for the next hour. We have a cheese and meat tray and champagne arranged for you.”

  “Thank you,” I say roughly, and I stand, guiding Angie up and in front of me. “Right through the curtains, baby.”

  She starts for the back, and I turn to the flight attendant. I jerk my thumb toward Angie and say, “I will give you a hundred bucks not to open those curtains.”

  Her eyes widen. “But I’m supposed to serve you.”

  “Unless you’re putting her on a silver platter for me, no offense, but I don’t need you.”

  She’s completely taken aback, and since I’d rather my mom not know about that comment, I add, “Three hundred if you promise not to tell anyone.”

  Dollar signs flash in her eyes, and she nods eagerly. “That will not be an issue, sir.”

  She hands me Angie’s ID, and I hand her three hundred-dollar bills and nod. “See ya in an hour.”

  I step through the curtains and shut them behind me to find Angie sitting on the couch with cheese in her fingers and a grin on her face.

  “They have Gouda! I love Gouda!”

  I want to grin at her cuteness, but if I don’t get between those legs, I might cry.

  Sob, really.

  I throw my phone and her ID in the chair and slowly take off my jacket. Her brows come together as I pull off my tie and throw it on top of my jacket. “What are you doing?”

  “You,” I say simply, unbuttoning my shirt and taking it off.

  “Me?” she asks, her mouth dropping open.

  “Oh yes. You.”

  “Here?!” she squeaks.

  “Oh, sugar, you’re lucky I even made it this far.”

  I move toward her, undoing my pants to give my cock some room, and I can tell she doesn’t know what to do. Her eyes are so wide, they look as if they’ll fall out of her head, and her hand still holds a slice or three of cheese, but hell, I don’t care.

  She can eat the cheese as I eat her.

  I bend down on one knee, taking her ankle and untying her shoe. I throw it to the side, taking her other ankle as she asks, “What about the flight attendant?”

  I shake my head, throwing her second shoe over with the first. “I paid her to stay out of here.”

  “You did?”

  “Fucking yes, I did. Angie, come on, I can’t handle you.”

  Something moves in her eyes as I push her legs open and reach up her skirt for her barely there thong. She lifts her ass for me, and I pull it off and to the side before kissing her inner thigh. I take ahold of her hips, bringing her to the edge of the couch as I drop to both knees. Her breathing is so fast, and she’s in shock as I push her dress up her body. I think it finally registers what I’m doing, and she stops me with her cheese hand. “Owen—”

  “Please,” I practically beg. “Enjoy your cheese that I picked out for you, and let me enjoy you.”

  “Good God,” she mutters, her eyes crazy. “It’s not that. Just my stomach—”

  “Angie, baby, please. In this moment—and really, all moments, but right now, this second—I want you to think of everything you are, not what you think you aren’t. Because, to me, you’re everything.” I run my thumbs along the insides of her thighs, lightly touching her center. “You are sexy, delectable, fucking gorgeous, and I may die if I don’t get my mouth on you at this very second.”

  Her breathing stops as her eyes hold mine. I beg her with mine—to trust me and to believe me. Then, by the grace of God, she slowly lifts up her foot, setting her heel on the front of the couch before doing the same with the other. I’m practically drooling as I take her by her hips, pushing the fabric of her dress up and then bringing her center to the edge of the couch and toward my lips. I suck her whole into my mouth. Her whole pussy. Everything explodes inside me. I can feel the blood coursing through my veins and throbbing hard within me. I’m answered by the most incoherent sound from her, and I want more. So much more. I slip my tongue between her lips, basically French kissing her pussy as my fingers bite into her bare skin. I can feel the dips and stretch marks in her skin, and I want to lick them, taste them, but first, I want to hear her scream. I find her bundle of nerves between her wanton lips, curving my tongue around it, and lap at her as she starts to rock against my mouth. My name falls from her lips in a way that makes my toes curl in my shoes. I slide my hands along her hips to her thighs before moving them between her legs to open her wider for me. Her pussy is bare, pink and shiny, and I can’t get enough. I hold her lips open and flick my tongue against her clit as she gasps and squirms beneath my mouth. I move my thumb into her entrance, filling her as I continue to demolish her clit with my tongue.