“What do you mean?”

“Rhys called me, and he wanted to surprise you,” Kate says and claps her hands.

“So we are going to help you get ready, and then the three of us are going to man the fort for the next twenty-four hours.” Savannah pulls the cookies out of the oven, turns it off, and takes my hand to lead me upstairs.

“But I have to work.”

“We’re working for you,” Charly says.

“But you guys have to work.”

“Jesus, is she slow?” Kate shakes her head. “We took the rest of today and tomorrow off so you can too, and so you can go have fun.”

“Fun.” I follow my sisters into my bedroom, sit on the bed where directed, and frown at the three women. “I don’t have time for fun.”

“Yes, you do.” Savannah takes the bag from Charly and pulls the contents out. “Now, Charly brought you some gorgeous new wedges. I’m totally jealous over these shoes.”

“You’re welcome,” Charly adds as she emerges from my closet with my smallest suitcase and about seven outfits draped over her arm.

The shoes are seriously pretty; black patent-leather with a peep-toe.

It’s too bad I haven’t had time to paint my toenails.

“So, we’re not allowed to tell you where you’re going,” Kate begins as she and Charly sort through my tops. “But we can say that you’re going out for dinner tonight, so you should wear something flirty and pretty.”

I’m getting better at flirty.

“And tomorrow is more casual.” Van grins as she finds some black lacy underwear in my drawer. With the tags still on them. “Who are you saving these for?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. They probably don’t even fit anymore.”

“Yes they do,” Charly says and passes them to me. “Go put them on while we pick out your outfit.”

“You guys got really bossy.” I march into the bathroom, leave the door open, and strip down to try the underwear on.

“Come on, let us have fun.” Van calls from the other room “We never got to help you get ready for special dates before.”

“You were at college, or married and off having lives of your own,” I call out calmly as I shimmy into the pretty underwear, then smile when it fits perfectly.

“Oh, those are divine,” Kate says with a sigh as I walk out of the bathroom. “I have a weakness for pretty underwear.”

“Rhys will love it,” Charly agrees with a nod. “But I think the wedges are better suited for tomorrow. For tonight, you need fuck-me heels.”

“Do I own fuck-me heels?”

Charly looks stricken as she dives back in my closet, then reemerges a few moments later with a sexy pair of black heels that I forgot I even owned.

“These are awesome,” Charly says with a satisfied grin. “And perfect for tonight. And I might borrow them later this week.”

“Your feet are bigger than mine,” I remind her.

“Have I taught you nothing?” Charly asks with her hands on her hips. “Beauty is pain, Gabby.”

“So, why do you think you’re never getting laid again?” Van asks as she approves a black dress that hits me mid-thigh, with white chevron stripes. “Rhys obviously likes you.”

“Because I don’t think he wants it.” I wrinkle my nose and all three girls stop what they’re doing to stare at me.

“Do we have to have the talk?” Van asks, then turns to Charly. “I told you we should have given her the talk.”

“Well, she got pregnant and had a baby, and I just assumed she already knew the basics.” Charly shakes her head in disbelief. “Of course he wants it, sweetie. He’s a man.”

“Well, we’ve kissed, and touched, and…”

“Has he buried his face downtown?” Charly asks with raised brows.

“Uh, yeah.”

“He wants it,” she replies. “Guys don’t go downtown for nothing, trust me.”

“Well, with Sam gone, he’s been sleeping in here with me,” I begin, then bump Kate’s fist when she offers it. “And I just figured we’d have actually had sex by now, but yesterday was a cluster and I was so exhausted last night, I was practically already asleep by the time I crawled in bed.”

“Well, you won’t have that issue tonight,” Kate says with an encouraging smile. “Nothing at all to worry about. We have this covered, and you can just take the night off and have a good time.”

“And by have a good time, she means get laid,” Van says helpfully. “You know, in case you didn’t know.”

“Thanks,” I reply as I pull the dress over my head and step into my shoes. Charly zips me up from behind.

“Oh, this looks fantastic!” she says with a happy smile. “Now, your hair and makeup.”

“It’s just dinner. It’s not the prom or anything.” But I turn a circle, pleased with my reflection. How long has it been since I wore anything other than jeans or shorts? I don’t even remember.

“Oh, here, put this in your purse.” Charly hands me a silver packet.

“Just one?” Van asks with a frown, and I let the whole string of condoms fall in a long line, dangling from my fingers. “Oh, good.”

“Well, whether he wants to do it or not,” I say with a giggle, “we’ll be safe.”