100% That Witch - Celia Kyle Page 0,9
from the top of her chest of drawers. The little fella settled on the floor, right next to a sparkling basset hound puppy whose ears were so long, he kept tripping over them.
“This is getting out of hand,” she muttered to herself and went back to pawing through her clothes. The entire contents of her closet had been tossed on the bed, and Tiffany turned over one black outfit after another looking for just the right one.
Hollow House had done her the courtesy of blacking out the windows so she could traipse around in her underwear in a blissful panic. The notion of a date with Rhys had her buzzing to the tips of her fingers. Her step was so light, she practically hovered above the floor with excitement.
Holding up a black top with a plunging neckline, she checked out her reflection in the mirror. “What do you think? Too chesty?”
The line of cooing love birds roosting on her headboard merely cocked their heads at her.
“Ugh,” she groaned. “You guys are no help.”
She cast the top aside, and the next one in the pile stopped her in her tracks. It was perfect. Just a little scooped in the front, but with a wide open back. There were slits in the sides to show plenty of skin. It felt a little on the slutty side, but she told herself the black color made it classy.
Not only that, but thanks to the cut, she’d wind up wearing it without a bra. Given how aloof Rhys could be, she figured her obvious signals might just win her brownie points. Divesting herself of her bra, she slid into it and gave herself an appraisal in the full-length mirror. What she saw sent a litter of polka-dotted puppies scrambling across the carpet.
It wasn’t slutty at all.
Inviting, a little naughty, but it suited her petite frame perfectly. She wriggled into a mid-calf skirt with safety pins running up along the outside of each hip, and studied herself. There was no way he would be able to resist her. She was irresistible, even if she did say so herself.
“Okay, kids,” she said as she stepped into the hall and pulled the door closed behind her. “No wild parties while I’m gone.”
“Not bad,” Nathan said from the sofa as she came down the stairs. “Thumbs up.”
“Thanks.” Her pale skin flushed pink at the compliment. Especially because Nathan wasn’t exactly disposed to them. If he said anything at all, you could count it as gospel.
“So,” he said, running a lazy hand down the center of his bare chest. “When’s loverboy coming to pick you up?”
“We’re meeting there,” she said blithely.
“Huh.” Nathan’s brow furrowed, and it stopped her in her tracks.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He waved a dismissive hand, and Tiffany shrugged off the little niggling doubt in her stomach. She looked good, she felt good, and she was going to win this guy.
She gave herself one last look in the mirror by the door. Oh yeah! Gripping the knob, she gave a tug, but it held fast.
“Are you serious?” Another tug, but Hollow House wasn’t budging. “Come on, you’re gonna make me late.” Still no luck. “Always playing jokes,” she muttered.
The house left her no choice but to tattle to mommy. “Kelly!”
“What’s up, babe?” Kelly wandered out of the kitchen, licking peanut butter off a spoon. Her eyes danced and she let out a whistle at Tiffany’s outfit. “Hey, hot stuff!”
She ran a finger through one of the slits in Tiffany’s top, poking at the sensitive skin beneath. “You’re on fire.”
“I would be if the house would let me out,” Tiffany pouted slightly.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Kelly gave the newel post a hearty smack and called up at the ceiling. “Behave, will ya? Gal’s got a date tonight.”
The door came ajar with a grudging squeak. Not wanting to risk it clapping shut again, Tiffany blew her roommate a kiss and teetered out into the night. Her thigh-high stiletto boots looked magnificent, but they made for a precarious journey. Particularly with the hustle she was putting on.
Talbot’s Tavern wasn’t a far walk, but she was winded by the time she arrived. Her plan was to get in, grab a stool in view of the door, and arrange herself so that Rhys got a serious eyeful when he came in. She’d even dreamed up the casual, hooded-eye look she was going to greet him with.
She stepped through the door, and her lips parted in surprise.
Rhys was already there.
He sat at the bar, looking half-heartedly