Page 59 of How to Prevent a Fumble

Like a goddamn glove.

The pants sit on his thighs in the most delicious way, showing off every single muscle he has in them.

I have to look away.

“Look okay?” Leo asks with a smile, turning around.

“Mhm,” I say simply, not taking my eyes off his face. He’s not going to catch me checking him out, that’s for sure.

Remember Briar, he’s on your Absolutely Not list.

“Great. Ready to go?”

The only thing I can do is nod, and when I stand up, I suddenly feel like a slob next to him in my simple skinny jeans, halter top, and jacket. I know we’re going shopping first, but I can’t help but worry about how underdressed I am next to him.

“Thank you for taking me shopping,” I tell him. Although I don’t want my brother spending money on me, I’ll gladly take Leo’s. After all, I may have to be fake engaged to him. He owes me for what I’m putting up with.

Unlike the last time I was in his car, I feel a little more at ease now. I was so caught up in looking natural and worrying about what the new publicist was going to do or say—a reasonable fear, considering the very real outcome of that meeting—that I wasn’t able to fully get comfortable.

But this time? It feels like I’m just in the car with a friend.

“I owe it to you. I’ll take you for a shopping spree again soon, or I’ll just give you my card and you can go with the girls. I don't care which, but I know you need some new clothes.”

A lot of my clothes were conveniently missing from my place, which is a little fishy if I do say so myself. I’m not sure what Tony or anyone else needs with a couple of dresses I had on my hangers, but I hope they enjoy them. Truly.

The only things I have at Leo’s is sweatpants, a couple pairs of jeans, a lot of t-shirts, and a few dresses.

“We’re not going anywhere over the top fancy, right?” I ask him.

“Do you mean for dinner or for shopping?

I shrug, not entirely sure which one I meant myself.

“Dinner is definitely fancy. But it’s one of my favorite spots. As for shopping, I’m not sure. I don’t really go shopping with women, so I had one of my teammates' wives suggest a spot.”

So what I’m hearing is it’s probably going to be super expensive.

When we’re finally there, Leo finds a parking spot before we climb out, heading toward the large glass doors of an incredibly fancy looking storefront.

A beautiful woman with long brown hair greets us with a large smile. “Hi! You must be Briar. It’s so nice to meet you! My name is Kayla. Leo tells me you’re here looking for an outfit for a nice dinner?”

This is already overwhelming.

“Uh, yeah I guess so,” I say, shooting Leo a look. But he’s already walked a little ways away, looking over the clothing racks of some of the most beautiful clothes.

Kayla starts heading to the back and I follow close behind like a lost puppy, not sure what else to do. “Do you have any particular style?” she asks, looking over racks as we go.

“No, I don’t think so. I mean, I have some sun dresses but nothing too fancy. I’m usually wearing jeans or sweats or something like it.”

“Do you wear a lot of skirts?”

“No, but I do like them.”

When I got divorced, a lot of things changed. Tony was a rich man, and I had gotten used to living that way. But living off of the little he gives me has been hard, and has left little room in the budget for new clothes at all.

While in a past life I would have experimented and stuck with a style, I’m not there anymore. I deal with what I have, and go with it.

She nods. “Great, and I assume you want a more upscale, classy feel from this?”

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