Wrong (Breaking the Rules) by K Webster Page B

gym after work?”
    “Let’s do it.”

 
     

    “Try this one,” Andi instructed, dropping a red heap of silky material over the dressing room door. She’d made me try on at least fifteen different dresses and I was getting bored. This gala was way out of my comfort zone, but it was a necessary part of my job.
    Slipping it up over my hips and then shoulders, I admired how I looked. The material hugged every curve, making me look more voluptuous than I had ever seen myself to be. The neckline was low but not slutty. None of the other dresses had caught my eye. In fact, I really didn’t care what I wore. But now that I saw myself in this red beauty, I knew it was the one.
    Spinning to see the back, I reminded myself I was going to be there for work, not socializing, even if Jordan did call it a date. He was going to be rudely awakened when I wasn’t by his side the whole time.
    There was something certifiably wrong with me when it came to Jordan. This great, hot-as-hell guy was completely into me and I just felt the need to push him away.
    Mostly, I wanted to slow things down. After the mugging, I started piecing together some ideas that maybe Cole was the perpetrator. It was strangely coincidental that the day after Daddy told me about Cole’s vendetta I was robbed by a really large guy who could have fit his profile. It would have seemed like a fluke had the guy taken Jordan’s wallet too. Since he had only been interested in my purse, which housed identification that would prove who I was, the signs pointed to him.
    “How does it look?” Andi asked from the other side, interrupting my thoughts.
    “I need you to zip me up, but I actually think it looks nice.” Unlocking the door, I pushed it open for her to come inside. When she saw me, she gasped as her eyes perused my body.
    “Nice? Cut the crap, Pepper. You look gorgeous! Jordan is going to shit himself when he sees you in that dress!”
    I frowned at the mention of his name, but she was too busy checking me out to notice. Hurrying over to me, she zipped up the dress. We looked into the mirror together, and I actually felt sexy for once in my life.
    “Andi, let me use your phone. I’m going to ask my mom if I can borrow some of her jewelry. She is forever going to fancy events, and I bet she’ll have something to go with this.”
    She handed it over to me, and I smiled at my reflection as it rang. The dress went all the way to the floor, so I would need to wear high heels. I bet Andi had something I could use.
    “Andi darling, how are you?” my mother breezily asked into the phone.
    “Mom, it’s me, Pepper. I’m calling from Andi’s phone. Mine is being replaced.”
    “Hi, sweetie. Everything okay?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.
    “Yeah, everything’s fine. I was wondering if I could borrow some jewelry for the gala Thursday night. Andi and I just found the perfect dress, but it just needs a little something extra to complete the look.”
    “Why of course, darling. Will you have a date?” she questioned in a hopeful tone that made me feel guilty for not ever trying to date after the Cole incident.
    “Actually, I do have a date. We’re sort of casually seeing each other, but he’s a good guy. You and Daddy would like him. I think everyone likes him.” I hadn’t meant to tell her about Jordan, but I wanted to make her proud.
    “Oh my God, Elizabeth! This is exciting news. You must bring him for dinner tomorrow evening. We’ll rifle through my jewelry then. Text me a picture so I can pull some pieces that might work.” She was talking excitedly, and I wasn’t about to correct her for calling me Elizabeth. If anyone could get away with calling me that, it would be Mom.
    “I’ll ask him. I can’t promise that he won’t be busy, but we’ll see. See you tomorrow, Mom. Love you.”
    “Love you too, hon.”
    After I hung up, I handed the phone back to Andi so she could take a picture to send to Mom.
    “Let’s get this bought