Icing On The Date (The Bannister Brothers #1) by Jennie Marts Page A

knock sounded at her door, and her mouth went dry. The prince had arrived.
    She reached for her clutch and noticed her hand was trembling. When had she last been this nervous about a date?
    She needed to get a grip. She didn’t even know if this was a date.
    Striding through the living room, she took a deep breath before opening the door.
    And then she couldn’t breathe at all.
    Owen Bannister stood on her doorstep holding a pink corsage, wearing a tuxedo, and looking so ridiculously handsome that it took her breath away.
    He was flawless in his black tux and white starched shirt. His hair was still damp and curled on the ends, and he smelled marvelous. He grinned, and something inside of her tumbled.
    She was afraid it was her heart.
    His gaze traveled the length of her body, and he let out his breath. “Wow. You look amazing.”
    “You smell amazing.”
    Really? She was such an idiot. Why didn’t she think about her words before she just let them run free all willy-nilly from her mouth?
    He chuckled. “Thank you.”
    “Come in.” She stepped back and inhaled as he walked past her. Oh. My. Gosh. Maybe she shouldn’t have said it, but the man did smell so good.
    Maybe they should forget the fancy party. Forget the dress. Like literally lose the dress and just get naked and spend the night wrapped up in her bed.
    Where did that come from? Her inner vixen was trying to come out and play. But the practical side of Gabby pushed her back. What about the kids? And he had paid for the dinner, so they shouldn’t waste it. And this dress. It was amazing. It would be a shame not to get to wear it out.
    He held out the corsage, breaking into her inner struggle of deciding if they should go out or if she should just forget being rational and jump the guy. “This is for you.”
    A corsage? Wow. She clutched her hand to her chest, as if trying to hold in her heart. It was pounding so hard, she was afraid it might beat through her chest. “I’ve never been given a corsage before.”
    “What? Not even for prom? Or a school dance?”
    She shook her head. She didn’t need to tell him that she hadn’t gone to school dances. That she had already been working by the time she was a junior in high school and didn’t have time for such frivolous things as dances. She’d been intent on saving every dime in an effort to get out of her house and live on her own as soon as she graduated.
    Taking the pink rose corsage from the container, he slid the elastic band around her wrist. “There. It’s perfect.” He stood back and looked her up and down. “You’re perfect. You look beautiful.”
    The compliment, and the way his eyes traveled over her body, heated her skin like a warm liquid moving through her. It sure felt like he was flirting, like he was giving off ‘I want you’ kind of signals. But his signals had been so inconsistent that she couldn’t tell for sure. One minute he was laughing and had her in his arms, ready to make out with her in the toy aisle, the next he was scowling and brooding.
    She gave him a skeptical look.
    “What?”
    “I’m still not sure if I’m doing you a favor or if this is a date?”
    He looked down at her dress then gave her a panty-melting grin. “Oh, this is a date. It’s definitely a date.”
    Her inner vixen woke up and started doing a cheer. Give me an O. Give me a W. Give me an E.N. And give him to me. NOW.
    “You ready?” He held out his hand.
    Was she?
    She took his hand, and he led her out of the apartment and down the stairs. She gasped as she saw the black Porsche sitting on the street. “What happened to the 4Runner?”
    He chuckled as held the door open for her. “Nothing happened to it. I just thought you might like this one better for tonight.”
    She slid onto the expensive leather seat and inhaled the new car smell. “How many cars do you have?” she asked, as he slipped into the driver’s seat next to her.
    He shrugged, which was not an answer. “I like cars.”
    “I