Simple Perfection (Perfection #2)(48)

All three of them began talking at once. I was a little overwhelmed but I liked that they wanted to talk to me. I started with Jasmine. "I have no idea who Marc Jacobs is. I bought this dress on a shopping spree with my best friend at a thrift store in Atlanta." I could see the fascination in her face at the idea that I'd shopped in a thrift store.

"I do have your dad's eyes. It was a pleasant surprise but yours are equally beautiful. You have your mother's fantastic hair." Jocelyn blushed prettily and I wondered if she was the shy one.

"And yes, I do live on this beach. It's a wonderful place to live," I told July.

"Do you always shop in thrift stores? I've always wondered what they were like inside."

"I can play the piano. Do you play the piano?"

"Do you know how to surf? I've always wanted to surf."

Again all three of them asked me a question at once.

"Girls, let Della sit down and breathe. You will have plenty of time to drill her with questions, but don't scare her away just yet," Jillian said before I could start answering their questions again.

Woods pulled out my chair and I took a seat. He then took the one next to me. I was seated across from Jillian and he had taken the seat across from Nile. July sat to my right. Jimmy came up and put my napkin in my lap.

"Sweet tea, Miss Sloane," he said as he set the glass down in front of me. I could see the impressed gleam in Nile's eyes as he watched Jimmy deliver our drinks and appetizers without our having ordered.

"Thank you, Jimmy," I said, smiling up at him.

He shot me a quick grin before leaving the room.

"He is swoony. I saw him when we came in and he winked at me," Jasmine said from across the table.

I bit back a smile. Jimmy was beautiful and he knew how to make women of all ages drool over him. And while they were checking him out, he was checking out their men. I'd caught him appreciating Woods's backside on more than one occasion.

"Jasmine, please," Nile said, frowning down at her.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"July just kicked me. I was just asking her to pass the bread and she kicked me," Jocelyn said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"All right, girls. That's enough," Jillian said, then looked over at me apologetically. "They were in the car all day and now they're overly excited about being here and meeting you."

"I'm fascinated. I've never been around little girls like this. Or sisters. It's very entertaining."

Jillian's laugh reminded me of tinkling bells. "You may not feel that way anymore before the meal is over."

Woods's hand slid over my leg and rested on my upper thigh. I had faced Nile the first time alone but it was nice to have Woods beside me now.

"I invited Nile to play a round tomorrow morning with me, if that's okay with you," Woods said, leaning closer to me as he spoke.

I liked the idea of his getting to know Nile. "Of course. That's fine," I assured him, and smiled over at Nile.

"Are you married?" one of the girls asked. I glanced back at them and saw Jocelyn elbow July.

"She's not wearing a ring. Don't ask that," Jocelyn hissed.

"No, we're not. But it's okay for her to ask," I replied, unable to keep from smiling at them. Their constant fighting made me wish I'd had a sister.

"Why not? You live with him, don't you?" July asked.

"July." Jillian was the one to scold her this time.

"It's okay, really. I want them to ask me questions," I assured her. Then I looked back at July. "I do live with him. He's my boyfriend."

"Mommy and Daddy lived together for two years before they got married," Jasmine announced from across the table.

I saw red splotches appear on Jillian's face but she just laughed and shook her head. "You need to stop listening to adult conversations. I swear, you know more than you're supposed to," Jillian said as she tried to cover her amusement.

"Does that mean you will be getting married, too?" July asked.

They really weren't going to let the marriage thing go.

"Maybe I will get married one day. I don't know that right now."

"Let's ask Della questions that don't pertain to her personal relationships. Okay, girls?" Nile said with a stern voice. I watched as all three nodded with a look of defeat.

"I have a boyfriend. Can we talk about him?" July asked.

"I would love to hear about him," I assured her. She beamed.

I heard Jasmine sigh from across the table. "Great, here we go," she muttered.

Woods

Della had opened up more than I expected to Nile and his family. Mostly it had just been to Nile's daughters. They had been drawn to her, too. Watching it had been heartbreaking and amazing all at the same time. Della could have had a normal life. Her father was a good man.

I had also watched Nile most of the night. He had watched Della and his girls, too. The pleased look on his face was hard to miss. He might never be someone that Della considered a father but I had hopes that she would form a relationship of some kind with him and his family. I thought she needed it.

"Tell me what you thought of Nile and his family," Della said as we walked into the house. She had been quiet on the ride back and I had left her alone with her thoughts. It was a lot to process without my trying to pull things out of her.