Page 31 of Playmaker

I wasn’t sure if she had no taste at all, or just was so freaked about spending money that she refused to think about what looked good. How could I calm her down?

“Let’s make a deal. We’ll go in there, check out what they have. You promise not to look at price tags, and we’ll see what you choose. If you can pick out something on your own that works, then you won’t need me the next time.”

The way she jerked in her seat told me she hadn’t thought there would be a next time.

“But if you can’t pick out the right things, then you need to listen to what I tell you looks good. I know what will work at the club. There’s no point in learning to play and learning what to do in the dining room if you don’t look the part, because these people will notice.”

She ran her teeth over her lip.

“Do you want this, or not?”

The brand woman had disappeared out of the doorway, obviously picking up that we would be a few minutes. Hopefully not too many.

Finally, a long, capitulating sigh. “Okay. But you have to be honest. No pretending my taste sucks just to prove your point.”

Didn’t think any pretending would be necessary, but I offered her my hand to shake. It was just a handshake. No big deal. But when our hands met, there was a spark. She felt it too, snatching her hand back like I’d shocked her.

I reminded myself that we weren’t going there. Callie would think I’d set this up to seduce her, and I wanted her with me at the wedding. I didn’t do relationships, so even if she was interested, sex would mess things up.

* * *

Callie

This was soover-the-top it was ridiculous. All I wanted was to walk in the store, look at some racks of clothes, reminding myself that I was spending money to make my future secure. Pick some things out that were my size, and if I absolutely had to, try them on for Mr. Fussy.

Of course, that was too simple for said Mr. Fussy.

Cooper introduced me to the woman who’d put this together.

“Valerie, this is Callie. She’s looking for something she can wear at Briarwood. She works for Anderson, Krys and Chan, and we’ve been practicing for their tournament this fall.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Callie. Did you like the things I sent over earlier?”

“Yes, they were lovely.”

“I’m so glad. Well, I’ve pulled a couple of racks of options that might work for you, Some of this isn’t available yet, but for our best sales ambassador we’re more than happy to share items from our new lines.”

Valerie led us through the back storage room to the retail space. In front of the dressing rooms were two racks of clothes, like I’d hired a personal shopper. I didn’t think the store was open, since there were no customers, but there were still a lot of people wearing the store polo shirt, folding clothes or swishing hangers. A lot of people. Like everyone who’d worked for the store, ever, was in there somewhere. All watching Cooper.

Some of them were watching me. I understood the surprised look on their faces. I didn’t get it either.

“Why don’t you see what you like?” Valerie suggested.

I smiled, like this was no big deal. Internally, I sighed. Legal issues were so much easier to figure out.

I wasn’t here to impress Cooper or pick things out that he liked. I was paying for this, so I would choose things that lasted. I knew what I liked. Basics. Neutrals. Classics. Clothes that would stand the test of time, wouldn’t come in and out of fashion, wouldn’t attract attention. Too many people talked to my bustline, so I did my best to minimize it.

I started flicking through the hangers, but what I was looking for wasn’t what was on offer. I wanted black and brown and maybe some navy blue. Instead, there were colors, everywhere. “I don’t see anything in neutrals.”

“Neutrals?” Valerie asked.

“Brown, black, navy…”

Valerie looked from me to Cooper. “Um, our golf line is more…varied in color. Our clients prefer bright shades, or pastels. Because it’s usually summer, sunny and hot.”

Right. If you were out for hours on those greens, black would swelter. “Of course. I was thinking about work clothes.”

I slowed down, checking the clothes more carefully. This was going to be a little more difficult than I’d hoped, but I could do it. No pinks or reds. That much had been drilled in over the years, so I skipped past those. I’d thought I was safe with green, but apparently not.

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