Page 69 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

She sent off a quick text to Adrian and stripped down to her underwear, digging around her closet for the one thing she’d already planned to wear. Gosh, when had she gotten so many clothes? And how did she manage to cram them all into the dorm’s tiny wardrobe?

After tossing out half the contents, the box in question remained out of sight. She collapsed in the pile of clothes on her rug, too exhausted to keep searching. With a defeated groan, she rolled her head to the side, then let out a cry of victory and reached under the bed to grab the pair of shoes she’d ordered months ago.

She wasn’t one to splurge, but these had been on sale and actually came in her size. The knee-high boots were too fancy to wear to class and too plain for a party, so she hadn’t worn them yet. But they were perfect for today.

Opening the lid, she peeled back the paper wrapping and pulled out two black lace-up boots. The leather still smelled fresh, woodsy and sharp. The soles should be thick enough to keep her feet warm and dry. Hopefully, breaking them in wouldn’t be an issue.

Just to be sure, she tried them on. It took a little extra effort to get her heel in, but after tying the laces up, they fit well. She spared a moment to model in front of the mirror. Not too bad paired with her midnight purple panties and black bralette.

Hm…

Adrian might appreciate getting a picture or two before he arrived. She reached for her phone just as it buzzed and scrambled to read his message.

Sir Adrian

We’ll be outdoors, wear something casual.

Casual. Okay. Stepping around the mess of clothes on the floor, she picked up a soft sweater with lace over the shoulders, then opened her dresser and yanked out a nice pair of jeans. Easy.

Oh no. Looking down, she realized removing the boots would be just as difficult as putting them on. Halfway through undoing the laces, her phone buzzed again.

On my way.

What? Already?

Her eyes flew to the clock, and sure enough, it was a quarter to ten. She’d hardly have time to do anything with her hair or make-up, much less wrestle with these stupid boots. Hopping on one foot, she wiggled out of one before giving up on the other, and then went to her mirror to apply a thin layer of foundation and swipe her eyes with mascara.

The purple ribbon Adrian gave her hung out of her jewelry box, and she grabbed it and tied it in a small bow around her neck. Two birds, one stone.

All she needed was to get her foot out of the other boot and put on—

Her phone rang. She huffed, nearly running into the open drawer to answer the call.

“Hey.” Her voice came out breathy and on edge, but she didn’t have time to care.

“Still getting ready?” Adrian asked on the other line.

She laughed and sat on her bed. “How’d you know?”

“You don’t need to worry about impressing me, Iv, but I figured you would. Mind if I join? I just parked.”

“Sure.” She didn’t want to wait a second longer to see him, even if she wasn’t all put together. “But be warned, my room is a mess at the moment. I’m still getting dressed.”

He chuckled, and the smooth baritone of his voice washed through her. “I thought telling you to wear something casual would simplify things.”

She exhaled. “Is anything simple when it comes to us?”

He paused. “I hope it can be.”

“Right.” Simple sounded really nice. “I hope so, too.”

THIRTY-THREE

If Ivory was getting dressed, he’d be more than happy to lend a hand. It was the least he could do as her chivalrous knight.

They’d agreed to meet at ten, and he didn’t want to be late by a millisecond. Fidgeting on his porch and fighting the urge to smoke hadn’t done him any good. Time with Ivory was too precious to waste. The rest of the day didn’t feel like nearly enough, and he secretly hoped she’d agree to stay the night again.

Hanging his helmet on the seat, he set up the first part of her surprise with meticulous care. Presentation would be essential—hopefully she liked it. Once satisfied, he tied his hair in a bun and let out a deep breath.

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