Being The Object of Desire

Tara's ex-husband took the house, the confidence, and any belief that someone would ever look at her with hunger instead of pity. Now he's bringing his trophy girlfriend to the biggest industry gala of the year, and showing up alone means admitting he won.

Her best friend has a solution: bring her son Trevor as a fake date. He owns a suit. He can talk shop without embarrassing himself.

Trevor has a counter-offer.

He doesn't do fake.

He's twenty-two. He never once called her Aunt Tara. And when she challenges him to prove he wants this — to make her feel like a woman, right now, no inner-beauty speech — what comes out of his mouth makes her grip the edge of her dresser and forget to breathe.

Three days later, a black dress arrives at her door. The note says two words.

You will wear this.

He told her to be ready two hours early. She was going to need the energy.