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in front of the closet, wishing she’d had time to shop for something new. She’d already worn two of her designer outfits, and she had only two more. Tucked in the back of her closet was the one dress that she’d made just before coming to New York. It was a bit racy for a work-related dinner engagement, but it did accentuate her curves in all the right places. She pulled it from the closet and slipped it on.
    The black sheath hugged her curves, and the scalloped hemline rested just above her knees, not too short for a professional dinner, though a bit snug. The scooped neckline slimmed her bust, and she’d cleverly designed the sleeves with cutouts at the shoulders and tightly fitting material around her biceps. Riley might not be model thin, but she had well-defined shoulders, and they drew attention away from her slightly thick waist.
    She spritzed on Gucci Première perfume, which she’d gotten at a great discount when she worked at Macy’s, and slipped her still sore feet into a pair of black-and-white Marc Jacobs pumps. Thank you, Macy’s .  She stood in front of the mirror and surveyed herself from head to toe. Her hair never let her down. It was her easiest and most pleasant attribute, not too thick and with a natural wave she could accentuate with a twist of a brush. There was no denying the width of her hips or the fullness of her breasts, and even if her waist carried a few extra pounds, she was pleased with how she looked in the dress she’d designed. She shook her head, giving her bangs a playful look as they swept in front of her eyes. Date or not, she was ready, and she looked damned good.
    The knock at the door shattered her confidence. Riley froze, her eyes wide. Suddenly she had to know if Josh had asked her on a date or not. She walked into the living room and stared at the door. Move. Answer it. I can’t. You have to .
    With the next knock, Riley took a deep breath and reached for the doorknob.

Chapter Seven
    JOSH CHECKED HIS watch. Five fifty-five . He was sure he’d said six o’clock. He hadn’t actually picked up a woman at her apartment in months. Most of his dates were arranged by acquaintances or friends—favors for women who were trying to find a place for themselves in the fashion industry. He’d typically sent a car to pick them up or he’d met them at the intended location. That strategy had kept the option of being intimate up to him, not up to circumstance. The idea of dating women he rarely thought about the next day didn’t used to bother him, but over the past year, as he’d watched Treat fall in love with Max Armstrong, and more recently, Rex fall in love with Jade Johnson, he found himself longing for the contentedness they’d found. The way his brothers looked at Max and Jade made Josh long for the same connection, and the way Max and Jade returned that adoration, with looks of love that were nearly tangible and loving touches as they passed by, only made him want it more. It was time. He’d spent years dating whomever he was expected to date. Now it was his time to choose for himself.
    The door swung open and Josh’s jaw dropped. He’d seen more models than he could count, and he’d dated some of the most beautiful women in the country, and yet, standing before him, Riley Banks surpassed them all in a stunning black dress. She looked wholesome and sexy. She looked real .
    “Hi,” she said with a wide smile, fluttering her gorgeous, thick lashes.
    “Wow, Riley. You look gorgeous.” Josh leaned forward and kissed her cheek, inhaling deeply. “Not many women wear Gucci Première. It’s one of my favorites. With hints of bergamot and blackberry mixed with the musky scent of sandalwood, it’s the perfect scent for you.”
    “You noticed?” she said softly.
    He saw the wonder in Riley’s eyes and felt as if his discerning senses were showing again. He’d always been so entrenched in the fashion industry that he tended to memorize scents, textures, and of