Page 51 of Enough

“I have the means to do whatever you want.”

“But it wouldn’t be the same without you here,” Claudia groaned.

“Who said I would be going anywhere?”

Claudia stared at him for a minute, a smile lifting her lips. She burst into laughter.

“Why do you find that funny?” He said; amusement in his eyes.

“I appreciate you living that dream with me for a moment. It was really nice of you.”

“Dreams can become a reality, when you wish.”

Claudia blushed, sliding her hand into the palm of his. Their fingers joined and Jaden held a light squeeze on them. I need to snap out of it, Claudia thought. But she didn’t want to. Jaden wasn’t making the plunge she was surely taking any easier. In fact, he made falling in love with him unpretentious. Just get through this trip Claudia, and you can gradually separate yourself from him.

“We should probably go inside.”

Claudia tugged his arm pulling him along, ignoring the penetrating gaze he held on her. They strolled into Barney’s and browsed around.

“Oh, this is nice.”

Claudia held up a one-piece jumpsuit. The material felt like silk against her skin. She twisted her lips as she judged the piece of clothing.

“Maybe too tight on my hips though.”

Jaden grabbed the jumpsuit out of her hands, “Only one way to find out.” He scanned the retailer looking for signs of a changing room.

“I don’t know…” Claudia whined.

“I’ve got a feeling I know exactly how it’s going to fit.”

“Do you?”

Jaden wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I do.”

Claudia giggled. “Maybe we should wait until I have more items or this could be an all day, trip. Have you ever shopped with a woman before?”

“From what I was told when I was about nine years old with my mother.”

Claudia twisted her lips. “That hardly counts.”

“No?”

She shook her head. “No baby, I don’t think it does.”

Jaden didn’t miss the endearment that left her mouth. It settled warmly inside him, and unable to resist, he reached out and touched her lips. The warm pad of his thumb caused Claudia to shudder, and the need to suck it in her mouth became immense. But as soon as the thought entered, Jaden dropped his hand and took a step back. His nostril flared, and he took his vision everywhere but her. Claudia peered at him, confused, then looked away. She moved along the aisles pretending to be absorbed in the catalog. But her mind was on him and what she would do about the flames that arose when being around him. After an hour of browsing and picking out clothes, Claudia made her way to the dressing room.

At the entrance, Jaden paused, and she turned to him. “Are you coming?”

“Inside the dressing room with you?”

“Yeah, I may need help with a zipper or two.”

Jaden’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. In a husky voice, he spoke, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, chérie.”

Claudia loved it when he called her that, and she wondered if he called every woman he held up with the same.

“Why not?”

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