When we stepped inside the small boutique, I instantly surrendered the dress-searching part to Hilary and sauntered toward the lingerie section sheepishly.

Yes, lingerie. I hadn’t worn it more than a total of two times in my life, but I felt tonight it was needed in the whole package Hilary was helping me prepare. And to ensure the night lived up to the pressure behind it, I felt lingerie was called for.

Tonight was going to be more than just a simple dinner date—it would be the end of the chase for Logan. After I was through with giving him everything he’d wanted the past few months, now on my terms, the sexual tension brewing between us would be sated and give us the closure we both needed to move on.

I found a black lace corset with garters attached to hold up the black sheer stockings. Perfect. It was everything I wasn’t, which was exactly what I was going for. I wanted to have sex with Logan—to give my body and his everything they’d been craving, the release that was desperately needed at the other’s hand.

It was my choice, my desires, and in my control. I plucked the hanger holding the corset from the rack and, with a smile on my face, headed over to find Hilary. Tonight was about letting go of my inhibitions and feeding the sexual need I’d been starving far too long. It had nothing to do with anything other than that, so Logan wasn’t going to get the other side of me tonight.

No, he was getting the sexual, aroused, just-a-one-night-tryst Cassandra. The real, sweet, carefree me was getting locked up, sealed in with my emotions, tucked away from his alluring charm.

I had to admit it excited me, holding the fine lace in my hands, envisioning his expression when he saw me in it. Yes, it was definitely the right choice.

The smooth red dress Hilary found was not one I’d have chosen. I wouldn’t have called it slutty or even sexy enough to accompany such vulgar lingerie, but she insisted it was exactly what I needed. It was very short, but that was the extent of sex appeal it exuded. In spite of the extra-tight fit and low cut (but not so low cleavage would show), the buttons running up the front gave it the look of a lab coat.

“I was thinking something more like this.” I held up a tiny hot-pink dress that would barely cover a Barbie.

“Logan’s been after you all this time for a reason. You’re hard to get, and if you go at him too eagerly, he’ll see through it. This,” she held up the red number, “is what you need. Something with grace and,” the corner of her lips curled up, “buttons.”

“Buttons? Since when are buttons sexy?”

I wasn’t feeling it until she stepped to the side, revealing a mannequin wearing said red dress and flicking her fingers over the top button, releasing it. She slid her hand down in a slow, caressing trail and flicked the next one open.

Oh yeah, we need buttons.

“Logan’s going to want to take his time after chasing you so long. Let him slowly unwrap his present, and then you can greet him with the wonder of lace underneath. By then, he’ll be drooling too much to stop, and he’ll be putty in your hands.”

I did like that, but it was hard to image Logan being putty in anyone’s hands. He was always so cool and confident. The mission was to bring the man to his knees and give him all the sex he could handle until he was completely satisfied and ready to move on to the next girl.

A pang struck through my heart. Damn it, why it did hurt so much thinking about him moving on? We weren’t good for each other, so I only hoped after that night we’d be nothing more than neighbors with a past who could say hi while getting the mail and experience no weirdness or enormous gravitational pull toward one another.

“Up next? Hair, nails, makeup, and…waxing.”

I swallowed. Waxing? “Is that really necessary?”

“Yeah, you’re right, your nails look great au natural. He’d know you were trying too hard if we did them up.” She walked to the counter, handed over the dress, and took the lingerie from my hands.

“Oh, and I have the perfect heels you can borrow.”

That was good, since I was officially draining my savings with the three hundred dollars’ worth of clothing I’d never wear again, but it was worth it. It’d probably be the best three hundred dollars I ever spent.

With an anxious and excited smile, I handed over my debit card and watched the cashier wrap the items in tissue paper.

I leaned over to Hilary while waiting and whispered, “I’m not getting waxed.”

With a bright smile, she grabbed the bag from the woman and gave me a we’ll-see-about-that grin before strolling toward the door.

I took the receipt, blood draining from my face, and gave a quick thanks to the cashier before following.

The salon was one I’d frequented before with both Hilary and my mother, but that was for hairstyling, never makeup, and the only waxing I’d ever experienced was on my brows once. I couldn’t imagine it being the same thing.

What was Hilary thinking? Just my legs, or..? I blanched.

“Hey, Maya!” Hilary greeted the receptionist. “I called last night for an appointment. Cassandra needs the full got-a-hot-date package!” Maya was a girl we’d grown up with, but still, Hilary didn’t need to announce it to the entire salon.

“Good for you, girl! About time. So who’s the guy?” Maya asked, stepping out from behind the desk.

My mouth remained shut. I wasn’t planning on dating Logan, so I wasn’t sure what to tell her.

“Nobody from around here. Just a guy she met a while ago who’s coming to visit her for the night,” Hilary piped in, saving me. I gave her a grateful yet subtle smile.

“Oh really? Got to tell you, I was hoping to hear it was Logan West. That man is…mmm, dangerously hot. Not enough words to describe a guy that good looking. I’d give him a date he’d never forget if he asked, but from what I hear, he went from screwing around with most of the easy girls in town to not even buying a girl a drink. Figured it had to do with you.”

Something about that brightened my mood.

“Nope, not me,” I said softly.

I began to relax until she told me to follow her as she began walking through the rows of hairdressers toward a door in the back. Hilary shooed me away as she sat on the sofa in the front and opened a magazine.

I was on my own and had no clue what I was in for, so I just followed along, leaping in and hoping it was worth it.

“Everyone’s been gossiping about how much you and Logan were hanging out in the fall,” Maya continued as I stepped into the small quarters that held a long counter and massage-style table with a terrycloth towel covering it that reminded me more of the one at my OBGYN than the spa.

I sat with my hands shaking, fingers nervously kneading together while Maya took a seat on a stool, preparing materials and checking the temperature on a vat of wax as she rambled.

“And that sexy show you guys put on, on the dance floor at Haven on New Year’s Eve? Damn girl, you had me hot and envious just watching! Hope you didn’t think that went unnoticed.”

I flushed, embarrassed. “Well, nothing’s happening anymore with Logan. So where exactly did Hilary tell you to wax me?” I gulped way too loudly, a cold sweat breaking out over my forehead.

Her stool swirled around, a bemused smile covering her small, freckled face.

“Oh God, you look like you’re about to pass out! Are you all right?”