Page 62 of The Acquisition

Colt pulled out some clothes from his bag and started changing out of his suit.

"What are you doing?" I asked confused. One second we were discussing our relationship, and the next he was distracted.

"I thought I'd hit the gym." He continued to dig through our luggage. "Looks like we're going to have to go shopping."

I couldn't keep up with the rapid changing of his focus. He was all over the place today. "Why are we going shopping? Don't get me wrong, I love a good shopping trip, but why?"

He scratched his head. "I forgot to mention that Hans invited us to a ball, didn't I?"

"Yeah, I think it got lost somewhere in your possessiveness."

He swatted me on the ass. "Get changed. We need to build up your stamina. You're going to need it."

* * *

Colt held my hand as we strolled down the sidewalk in front of a bunch of high-end boutiques. I was stiff and sore from the punishing workout Colter subjected me to in the interest of ‘building my stamina.’

He pulled me into a shop with frilly dressed mannequins displayed in the window. "Hans recommended this shop. He said they have a good selection."

I ran my hands across the dresses hanging off the racks. "Of what? These dresses look like desserts."

The shop attendant rushed through the displays to reach us. I could tell the moment she saw Colt. Her brown eyes opened wide and she was rendered mute.

"We need a gown for a black-tie ball this evening," Colt said.

She beamed up at him. His phone alerted a message, and the moment he turned away she frowned at me. I could see her trying to work out what our relationship was. As if she had a chance with him if I weren't with him.

"How about I get you settled into a dressing room and bring you some selections?" she suggested.

"That sounds fine," Colt replied without looking up from his phone.

I shrugged and let her guide me into a room. After a few minutes she handed me a few dresses. Each one was worse than the one before. Still, I tried on each one, hoping they looked better on than they did on the hanger. They did not.

"Are you going to show me any of the dresses, brat?" Colt called through the door.

I scowled at my reflection in the floor length mirror. I looked like a cupcake. No way in hell was I parading in front of my hot husband in this monstrosity. I still wanted to have sex later.

"No. These are horrible," I grumbled.

He chuckled. "Maybe you should have looked through the selections yourself."

I grunted. He had a point. Pulling my clothes back on, I stepped out of the dressing room.

Colt sat in a chair outside the dressing rooms still scrolling through his phone. The sales lady fluttered around him, straightening tables while watching him surreptitiously.

I stepped closer and his head snapped up. "Help," I sighed.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket. "I think we should search for ourselves."

If I was holding out hope there were understated dresses in this place, that thought was quickly crushed. Rack after rack of taffeta, ruffles, and bows in pastels greeted us. My chance of attending this ball not looking like a pastry was slim.

The sales lady rushed over clutching a dress the color of Pepto Bismol. "I think I found the perfect dress."

She smirked at me as Colt studied the ugly dress. "It is fabulous, yes? Perfect for your secretary."

"My wife," Colt snapped. He cast me a withering glare that spoke volumes. He was done keeping things under wraps. I knew we were going to have to figure out how to speak to Evie soon.

"That dress is revolting," Colt redirected his irritation back to the sales lady.

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