Page 33 of Only If You Dare

I am asking her, Bella. But she won’t answer me, what do you suppose we do about that?

A sizzling heat crawled over me, and I paused to take a breath.

Are you saying I am her?

I took the dress off the rack and shuffled through for others in different colors. After picking out a blue, pink, yellow, soft green, and red, I decided that was enough when it came to dresses. I needed to calm my racing heart, but these exchanges between Julian and I were becoming more personal by the minute. I wasn’t in denial as much as Santana thought. I kept it real with myself. I wanted to know more about Julian, and it had nothing to do with being an investigative reporter. But I didn’t know what kind of games Julian played, and I didn’t want to find out.

My phone beeped again.

You’re the only reason I’m in Houston, Bella. What you do with that information is up to you.

My eyes traveled over the words again and again. If I had any doubts before, I didn’t now. Nevertheless, I had to know.

Why?

My phone beeped.

I want to know you, Desiree. In every single way. I would’ve preferred having this conversation in person and not through text.

I was stunned; my heart doing a tap dance on my chest. What Julian said, every word of it, was how I felt. Instead of responding, I put my phone inside my purse and put my mind on what I was doing at the moment.

I strolled through the aisle, and a mannequin caught my eye. Wrapped around the mannequins’ head was a hijab. I took another glance around the store to find mannequins that wore scarfs that gave the same cover without the religious semblance.

They’ve got these scarfs in all colors. Maybe I’ll grab a couple.”

Pulling the material off the figurine, I wrapped it around my head and practically covered my mouth. Doing a quick turn, I looked to Santana.

“How do I look?” My voice came out slightly muffled from the blanket of material covering my mouth.

“You look hot,” she said.

I shuffled my eyes side to side. “Hot as in, I’m going to burst into flames, or hot as in sexy,” I said lowering my voice to a feminine depth.

Santana laughed and imitated my voice. “Sexy,” she said.

I scrunched my nose. “Really? I need a mirror.” I strolled to the counter and modeled in the mirror. “Mmm, does look alluring doesn’t it?”

“Mmhmm,” Santana confirmed.

“Alright, I’ll take it.”

We both laughed and Santana shook her head.

“What?” I said. “If I have to dress the part, I might as well look good doing it, am I right?”

“Yes, that you are.”

“Alright then, the scarf works.”

I unwrapped my hair and went back to the mannequin, grabbing a few other colors including white. Back at the rack, where I found the other dresses, I scoured the stand for a white Arabian dress. When I found it, I trudged to the dressing room. I only needed to try on one to know how the rest would look and feel against my skin.

After completing my look, I stood staring at myself in the full-length mirror. My transformation stunned even me. Not only did the ankle length dress and scarf look incredible against my figure, but I was pulling off the whole Middle Eastern look as if I belonged there. My eyes traveled to my bare feet. I’d need to complete this look with sandals or wedge heels. The material was so thin I shouldn’t have a problem with the weather at all. There was a knock on the dressing room door.

“Come on out so I can see,” Santana chimed.

I opened the door and stepped out. When her eyes widened, I knew I had a winner.

“That’s absolutely gorgeous on you.”

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