Queen of First Dates Read online

  “Also, change into something casual and comfortable that you don’t mind getting wet.” Abby continued. “We’ll start with the makeover first.”

  “What?” I pouted. “Do I look that bad?”

  “Not at all, but once I’m done with you, you’re going to look fabulous.”

  “Um, what are you going to do?”

  “You’ll just have to wait and see.” She grinned at me and I watched as she pulled a makeup bag out of one of her larger bags and another bag with a bunch of scissors.

  “Are you going to cut my hair?” I stilled, horrified at the scissors.

  “Just a little trim, to get rid of your dead ends.”

  “What?” I made a face. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I can go to a hairdresser.”

  “No, I got this.” She looked at Stella and they grinned at each other. “Now shoo, change and bring your laptop out.”

  “Yes, boss,” I mumbled as I headed to my bedroom. “Who knew I had so many bosses in my life? Not me? Why aren’t I making more money?” I walked into my bedroom and stared at my welcoming queen-sized bed with the cream cashmere throw beckoning me to it. It would feel like heaven to just get into bed and watch TV right now. I was feeling tired and just wanted to relax. Not to mention that I was extremely nervous at the new look Abby and Stella wanted to give me. Granted, they were both beautiful and glamorous, but I wasn’t sure I wanted them changing me too drastically. I heard the doorbell ringing and knew that Betsy must have arrived.

  “I’ll get it,” Stella screamed out from the living room and I proceeded to take my clothes off and change. I grabbed a pair of gym shorts and a tank top and pulled them on quickly. I grabbed a makeup remover wipe from the bathroom and started wiping my face as I walked back to the living room.

  “Hey, Betsy, are you ready to paarrtty,” I sang as I danced into the living room. I tried to do the robot and then the moonwalk and started giggling as I saw Stella and Abby staring at me with huge grins on their faces.

  “Hey, goofy.” Betsy laughed as she walked over to me and gave me a hug.

  “What’s the surprise?” I asked eagerly, already wanting a cupcake.

  “I’m here.” A deep voice sounded from slightly behind me and I froze. Oh my God, it couldn’t be who I thought it was, could it? I turned around slowly, my makeup remover wipe still pressed against my cheek as I looked into Nolan’s eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” I moaned slightly. “Is this a joke?”

  “Well, nice to see you too, Jules.”

  “We just had lunch.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “What’s he doing here?” I asked Betsy, trying not to give her an evil stare.

  “Well, I thought he could help us.”

  “How’s he going to help?”

  “I have a camera.” He held up his camera bag, and I groaned.

  “There is no way in hell I’m letting you record this to go on the website. No way in hell. Comprendo?”

  “Comprendo,” he said with a grin and then he took his camera lens off. “But I’m not here in a work capacity. I’m here to take your photos.”

  “What photos?”

  “The photos of you for your dating profile.”

  “What?” I shouted. “What photos?” I glared at him and then turned and gave each one of the girls their own individual death stare. “What is he talking about?”

  “Jules, you know that you don’t have any recent photos,” Betsy started, her voice calm as she walked over to me. “You want to have good photos online, don’t you?”

  “Are you trying to say that all my photos suck?” I pouted then, even though I knew as I said the words that they did suck. I couldn’t think of any recent photos that I would want to post on a dating profile. In fact, the best photo I had was from my high school yearbook and that was because it had been one of those glamor shot photos, where I’d been photoshopped and glossed over to look like some sort of glowing supermodel. Needless to say, I couldn’t really use that photo.

  “I’m not saying that.”

  “She’s not saying that,” Stella chimed in and rubbed my shoulder.

  “Well, I’m saying that,” Abby said and shrugged as we all looked at her in disbelief. “I’m not trying to be a bitch, but let’s be real, Jules, you take goofy photos. You’re always sticking your tongue out or doing cross-eyes. That’s fun and maybe even include one photo like that, but you need a hot first photo. Something that will make a guy stop and think, whoa, I need to go on a date with her. You’re a beautiful girl, men will be clamoring to get with you once they see that.”

  “I should be mad at you.” I laughed. “But right now I just want to take these hot-ass photos that are going to make me the most popular woman in Canyon Beach. I’m not taking any bikini shots though. I’m not hoeing myself out for a date.”

  “What’s wrong with bikini shots?” Abby laughed.

  “Nothing if you’re a model or a wannabe actress,” I said as I looked at her in envy. Abby was beautiful. She could have been a Sports Illustrated model with her long dark tresses and big beautiful blue eyes. If she had been anyone else, I would have hated her, but she was also one of the friendliest and nicest people I had ever met. She worked at the Canyon Beach Dog Rescue, but I knew for a fact that she was only paid for half of the hours she worked there. The other hours were considered volunteer hours as they didn’t have much of a budget this year and couldn’t afford to pay her more.

  “You could be a model if you wanted to be,” Abby said and I could see that Nolan was holding in a laugh.

  “That’s not funny, dude.” I pointed at him. “Why are you laughing?”

  “I’m not laughing,” he replied, his face innocent. “Are you going to get changed or are we taking the photos of you in that outfit?”

  “Obviously, not in this outfit.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Okay, who’s doing what?” I glanced at the girls. “Let’s get this party started.”

  “Okay, I’m going to style you,” Stella said excitedly. “And Abby’s going to do your hair and makeup. Betsy is going to get to work starting your profiles.”

  “Profiles?”

  “Yeah, your dating profiles. She’ll sign you up and fill out your basic information and then when we have the photos done, we can upload them and work on your intro together, so we can make sure you sound amazing.”

  “Oh my God, this is going to take all night.”

  “A couple of hours’ work to find the love of your life is worth it,” Abby said as she started pulling out makeup kit after makeup kit from her bag.

  “Love of her life?” Nolan raised an eyebrow as he stared at all of us. “Aren’t you taking this a little bit seriously?” He then looked me directly in the eyes. “Are you hoping to meet the love of your life on this app?”

  “It would be nice to meet someone special,” I said, wondering if he’d already forgotten our earlier conversation. “I do want to get married and have kids someday, you know.”

  “Hmm,” he said and before I could ask him what the hmm meant, he had placed his camera on my dark cherry wood coffee table and headed toward the kitchen.

  “Hope you don’t mind we invited him,” Betsy said with a small smile. “I’m sure he’ll take beautiful photos.”

  “I can’t say I’m overjoyed.” I stared at the camera. “But I guess he’s providing a service I’m in need of.”

  “Yeah, exactly.” Betsy looked happy I was coming around. “You’ll see, it will be great.”

  “It will be fantastic,” Stella said and gave me a sympathetic smile. She knew just how awkward this made me feel. “Absolutely amazing.”

  “I don’t know about all that.”

  “Nolan will have you looking like a supermodel,” Betsy said, and I just rolled my eyes.

  “Don’t promise things I can’t deliver,” Nolan said with a grin and stuck his tongue out at me. “I’m a photographer, not a miracle worker.”

  “You’re so rude.” I glared at him, my mind ru
nning through all my options of clothes to wear so that I could look the best he’d ever seen me. “No wonder you’re single.”

  “No wonder I’m single, Ms. Queen of first dates?”

  “Shh.” I stomped to the door. “Come on, girls, help me choose an outfit and do my makeup before I kill Nolan and get sent to jail for life.”

  “Ha ha, you’re so funny.” Nolan winked at me and I just tilted my head up and walked to my bedroom, my face burning.

  * * *

  “You look absolutely beautiful.” Betsy grinned at me as I stared at my perfectly made up face in the mirror. I looked down at the red dress that Stella had thought would look great on me and then did a little spin. It fit me well and showed off every curve of my body. I grinned at the girls in the room with me; ready to get my photo taken.

  “Guys, you have done an amazing job. Let’s get these photos done now before I chicken out.” I walked to the living room with my heart racing. I knew I looked good, but I wondered if Nolan would even notice.

  “It’s about time. I almost fell asleep waiting for you to doll yourself up,” he said as he got up from my living room sofa. I watched as his eyes widened as he took in my appearance. He stood there for a few seconds just looking me over before his eyes met mine again. I gave him a small smile and waited for him to compliment me in some way.

  “You’re going to wear that?” He blinked at me, his face serious and stern. My heart dropped at his words.

  “What do you mean?” I was confused as I looked down at myself. “Don’t you think I look good?” I hated myself for asking him what he thought almost as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

  “Good for a Vegas show? Sure,” he said as he looked me up and down more deliberately now. “Is this the outfit you want potential dates to see?”

  “What are you saying?” Betsy walked up behind me and questioned her brother. “Why are you asking Jules about her outfit? She looks hot.”

  “But is she going to be looking like that on every date?” he responded. “Or is this some sort of bait and switch?”

  “Excuse me?” My jaw dropped. “Bait and switch?”

  “Well, you’re going to look all hot in the photo and then show up looking like Quasimodo.”

  “You’re so rude.” I glared at him, but I couldn’t stop myself from singing inside. He thought I looked hot. He didn’t want to admit it out loud or praise me, but he’d let it slip.

  “Come on, Quasi, let’s get you posing.”

  “You’re just jealous that she’s hot and you’re not,” Betsy said and then she turned to me. “Ignore, Nolan. He just wishes he could get a girl half as hot as you.”

  “Yeah, that’s been my greatest wish. To get with Jules.” He rolled his eyes.

  “That’s not even what I said, asswipe.” She hit him in the shoulder. “How are you so old and so immature?”

  “How are you so old and so whiny?” he snapped back at her and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

  “You do realize that we’re in some sort of time warp right now?” I rolled my eyes at both of them. “You’re both acting like little kids again.”

  “One of us still is a little kid,” Betsy said.

  “Stop talking about yourself,” Nolan said with a huge grin and we all started laughing.

  “Sorry to love you and leave you,” Stella said as she came up behind us with her bags. “But Abby and I are going to head out now, is that cool?”

  “Sure! Thanks so much for coming!” I gave them both a quick hug. “You’ve made me look amazing. I’m going to have so many first dates now.”

  “Girl, you’re going to be the dating queen of the world.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “Well, at least the dating queen of Canyon Beach.”

  “Yeah, I’ll be the dating queen of Canyon Beach.” I smiled at the two girls that were beaming in front of me. “Thanks for the makeover. I really appreciate it.”

  “And now you know how to do makeup for the dates.” Abby grinned. “And we left you a bunch of clothes to wear so you look fabulous.” She paused for a second. “Not that you didn’t already look fabulous.”

  “What outfits?” Nolan interrupted our conversation with a frown. “Not more dresses like that.” He nodded toward me and I could see his eyes darting to my partially exposed breasts.

  “What’s wrong with this dress?” I asked him, my hands on my hips.

  “Nothing,” he said slowly, disdain dripping from his tongue. “If that’s the look you’re going for.”

  “That’s the look she’s going for,” Stella said and kissed me on the cheek. “Call me in a couple of days and let me know how it’s going.”

  “And email us the photos!” Abby said eagerly. “I’m so excited to see what Nolan comes up with.”

  “I’m sure he’ll make her look even more fabulous,” Betsy said as much for our benefit as for Nolans.

  “Uh-huh. I don’t have all night.” Nolan growled and turned back around. “Let’s get started.” He headed over to his camera, that I noticed he’d set up on a tripod. He turned to look at me and he snarled, “Ready, queenie.”

  “You don’t have to be so rude,” I said and looked down at the ground. What was his problem?

  “Yeah, Nolan. What’s your deal?” Betsy spoke up. “Not funny anymore.” She gave me a look and mouthed. “Men.” I knew she thought he was just being grumpy, but I felt like there was something else going on here. Something I didn’t understand. Did he think that I had gotten dressed up just for him?

  “I have no deal.” His voice sounded sarcastic. “Let’s just get these photos over with. I do have a life and other things to do this evening.”

  “Like what? Videogames and Jessica Jones?” Betsy rolled her eyes as she drawled sarcastically. “I know Netflix can’t wait to see you again.”

  “Maybe I have a date.” His words were sharp, and I felt my heart racing as we gazed at each other for a few seconds. He had a date? With who? Not that I was going to ask. I knew that would be all he needed to keep teasing me.

  “Then let’s get going,” I said and licked my lips. “I’ve got some hot men to meet and date,” I said and slowly played with my hair. I watched Nolan as he stared at me for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing at my words. I was sure that he had something else to say, but for some reason, he didn’t say anything else. I was a bit disappointed but ready to get the night over and done with.

  “I’m going to just take a call,” Betsy said, looking slightly suspicious as she held up her phone. “Grandma Elsie wants to talk to me about something.”

  “Everything okay?” I asked concerned.

  “Yeah.” She nodded with a smile. “I told her I’d call her tonight, so I better do it now. Be kind to each other, guys.”

  “Nolan doesn’t know how to be kind,” I said and she just shook her head.

  “I don’t know how to be nice?” he said as Betsy left the room. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “I wasn’t nice to you in high school when I gave you your first kiss?” He raised an eyebrow at me and I blushed. “And what about when you were a senior in high school and wanted me to be your first lover as well?”

  “Nolan,” I screeched. I couldn’t believe he was bringing this up now. We had never spoken about that night ever and I certainly didn’t want to start now.

  “What?” He stepped toward me. “Wasn’t I a nice guy then?” His eyes narrowed and he looked down at my lips. “I can still remember the way you pressed your body against mine that night.”

  “Nolan,” I whispered, swallowing hard as I also remembered that night. I still couldn’t believe how courageous I had been back in the day. It still seemed like I was in high school when I was around him. I thought back to that night, I’d been sleeping over at Betsy’s the weekend after prom and Nolan had been home for the weekend, studying for his finals.

  “Hey there, nerd.” Nolan grinned at me and my heart skipped a be
at. I hadn’t seen him at all this year, yet his handsome face still made my heart jump. “How was prom?”

  “Good, thanks.” I smiled at him as I thought back to our kiss from three years ago.

  “Who did you go with?”

  “Betsy and a group of friends.”

  “No boyfriend?” He looked surprised as I shook my head. “Are the guys at Canyon Beach High stupid?” he asked and I could feel my face flushing.

  “I guess so.” I grinned and he laughed.

  “You grew up all right. You know that, right?” His expression was serious for a few seconds as he studied my face. “You’re still a kid, but you’re not half bad.”

  “I’m not a kid.” His words burned. I remembered him calling me a kid after our kiss and I hated that word.

  “Kissing lots of boys now?” He eyes gazed into mine with a curious expression and a touch of something else I couldn’t quite read.

  “Yes,” I lied. I’d only kissed two other boys and none of them had affected me quite as much as Nolan had. “Lots and lots.”

  “Good,” he said with a huge grin, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I taught you well.”

  “Yes,” I said as I stared at his lips. “You did.” I then did something that shocked both me and him. I leaned forward and kissed him on the lips hard for a few seconds until he was kissing me back. I felt his arm go around my waist and pull me into him. I gasped as I felt his tongue sliding into my mouth smoothly and I felt his fingers inching their way up from my waist. I ran my hands through his hair and pressed myself into him, my body melting into his. I’m not sure what would have happened next because the front door slamming made us jump apart.

  “You really have grown up,” he said, as he pressed his fingers against his lips. “Who would have thought little Julia Gilbert would be going around kissing men.”

  “I’m not going around kissing men, I’m kissing you.”

  “I’m no good for you, Julia. I have needs that include more than a few kisses.” He winked at me. “I got to go out. I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye,” I said, and I felt a wave of sadness crossing over me as he left. I wanted more from Nolan, but he still thought of me as a little kid. And what needs did he have that I couldn’t fulfill? My entire body warmed as I realized what he’d meant. I grinned to myself as I realized that I could fulfill that need. I hadn’t had sex before, but not because I was waiting for marriage. If I was honest with myself, no guy had ever lived up to Nolan. It would be perfect if he was my first lover as well as my first kiss.