“You know office-manager makeup, and just-flirty-enough-bartender makeup. But do you know sexy-casual-pizza-date makeup?”
“That’s very specific, but probably.”
“No probablys.” Nina ticked a finger in the air. “My bathroom. I set it all up. I got a stool for you, since you’re six inches taller than me.”
“Six and a quarter inches.”
“Rub it in, Legs.”
Being Nina, she took nearly half the time Morgan had left to perfect her work.
“I think my face gained five pounds.”
“Worth every ounce. Just look at that face. You’ve got those beautiful green eyes, but now they’re amazing! I do good work.”
She couldn’t argue, not when her eyes looked huge and the green deeper, and her skin dewy and fresh despite （because of?） the endless layering and blending.
“The red gloss on the lips really works,” Nina decided, studying the results of her labor. “The matte would’ve taken it over to sexy-sexy. This is good. You have perfect lips, just full enough, just wide enough. Go get dressed.”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“Staying in.” Nina followed her into the bedroom, just to be sure Morgan wore what she’d already chosen.
“Really?”
“Plenty of Mama’s leftovers from last night. I’m taking a rest and beauty night. Bubble bath, hair mask, face mask. A long bubble bath with a glass of wine and candles. An evening of self-care. Then I want to hear all about your date.”
“It’s just pizza.” And now all this prep made her nervous.
“You’ve got to start somewhere. God, you’ve got a great ass,” she added as Morgan wiggled into snug jeans. “A yard of legs topped by a tiny little ass.”
Morgan looked over her shoulder, shook that ass. “You hitting on me?”
“If Traveling Guy doesn’t, something’s wrong with him.”
“I’m not looking for hits.” Morgan slid into the bright blue sweater. “Maybe, depending, a subtle nudge could be acceptable.”
Under Nina’s watchful eye, she changed her earrings for some dangles, pulled on her best boots, then slipped on the stone-gray leather jacket, a Christmas gift from her mother.
“Do I pass?”
“Casual sexy personified.” Nina took a small atomizer out of her pocket. “Walk through the spray,” she ordered, and spritzed.
With an eye roll, Morgan walked through.
“Perfect. Now we’re going to have a drink.”
“I’m going to have a glass of wine with dinner.”
“You’re going to have a quarter of a glass now, just to smooth everything out. And if you go nuts and have two glasses with dinner, take your date on a walk around Market Street, down to the park and the pond and back. In fact, you need my blue floral scarf. It’ll add just the right touch.”
At seven on the dot, despite Nina insisting she shouldn’t be right on time, she walked into Luigi’s.
It hummed in the way she thought a good restaurant should, and smelled of sauce and spice and melted cheese.
It relieved her to see Luke already in a booth, and the smile he sent when he saw her didn’t hurt her ego one bit.
He slid out of the booth as she approached, took her hand, kissed her cheek lightly. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
“Only just got here. Terrific jacket,” he commented as he helped her take it off.
“A gift from my mother.”
“She’s got excellent taste. I ordered a bottle of red when I got here. I hope that’s okay. We can change it if you want something else.”
“Red’s fine. How was your weekend?”
“Productive. I did take your advice, spent a little time at the Inner Harbor.” He gave the waitress that smile when she brought the wine.
“Have you decided on what you’d like?”
“Maybe give us a few more minutes.”
“No problem. Take your time.”
Luke lifted his glass. “To a pleasant evening in good company. I really thought you might change your mind.”
“And miss free pizza?”
He laughed. “What do you like on it?”
“Anything, everything, or nothing. Pizza is never wrong.”
“You’re talking my language. Now, how was your weekend?”
“Also productive. Nina and I planted some pansies. They make me smile every time I come home or leave the house.”