Page 41 of Reluctant Surrender

“That is so nice of you to say.” Marilyn squeezed her hands then pulled her closer, draping her arm over Maggie’s shoulders. “Lukas said you had some trouble and most of your clothes were destroyed.”

Maggie’s shoulders slumped. “Yes.”

“He mentioned one of my dresses was among the casualties.”

Maggie glanced over at me with questioning eyes. The woman really needed to understand there was nothing about her that went unnoticed. She wasn’t like some women who fawned over clothing as though they were their life’s blood, but she had beautiful fashion sense. I’d recognized the few items of Marilyn’s that she’d had in her wardrobe.

Marilyn walked over to a rack with a sole black garment bag. She unzipped the bag and pulled it open. Maggie gasped.

“My dress!” She hurried forward to touch it.

“Well, not exactly. It’s new.” Marilyn grinned. “But it’s yours now.”

“Oh, my god.” Maggie touched her fingers to the soft fabric of the chiffon white and blue striped dress. “This is amazing.”

I walked over to a chair in the corner of the shop. This was going to take a while and Maggie didn’t need me hovering over her.

“She needs no less than ten complete outfits, and the dress we discussed earlier.” I leaned back in the chair and hooked my ankle over my knee.

“What? No.” Maggie stepped toward me. “That’s way too much. I can’t afford that,” she whispered to me, her face flaming.

“You don’t need to.” I leaned to the right and caught Marilyn’s attention. “Ten complete outfits, no less; if she sees something she likes just add it.”

Marilyn nodded. “Of course. I know exactly where we’ll start. She’s on the petite side but has very womanly curves.” She clapped. “I’ll be honest. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to play this role; let’s have some fun, shall we?” Marylyn linked her arm through Maggie’s and whisked her away to the other side of the store.

I wasn’t playing fair, I knew that. Maggie might want to cause a scene and refuse to play along, but she really did admire Marilyn and there was no way she’d do anything that might insult her.

The clothing was going to run me a small fortune, but as I watched Maggie start to relax and enjoy herself, the money didn’t matter. Seeing her smile, hearing that pretty laugh of hers was worth everything. I’d give up everything to see her so oblivious to the real-world dangers and just enjoy herself.

Maggie deserved the best of everything, and I was damn well going to give it to her.

Chapter 20

Maggie

“I’m going to pay you back. Every penny.” I pointed my finger at Lukas’ retreating back as we entered the bedroom.

“We’re not discussing it.” He disappeared into the closet.

After the extraordinary time at the Chrysta boutique, Lukas insisted on taking me to dinner. I thought he’d drag me to some high-rise restaurant where I’d have to ask him to translate the menu, but instead, he took me to a local diner near the house. It was a Polish diner that served only home-cooked meals. Lukas ordered from the menu, and I happily gobbled up everything that was brought to the table.

But now that we were home and I could have a serious discussion with him, he was going to have to understand that I could not accept such an extravagant gift. I was going to pay him back. Somehow.

“I’m serious, Lukas. You can’t spend that kind of money on me. It’s not right,” I called through the closed closet door. I snagged my nightgown from the top dresser drawer and laid it on top while I stripped out of my clothes.

“I can spend as much money on whatever I want. That’s the beauty of being the boss, Maggie.” His dark voice sent a warm shiver down my spine. It amazed me how even such a casual remark could have such an effect on me simply because of his voice.

“Well, you’re not my boss,” I muttered with my back to him.

“Really?”

I reached for my long nightshirt, but his hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling it back behind me.

“Lukas, what the hell.”

He jerked me back against him. Against his warm, naked body.

“You really don’t think I’m your boss?” he whispered into my ear, sending another hot streak of arousal through my body. “You think this body doesn’t obey me, doesn’t belong to me?”

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