Page 51 of Broken Rules
The man smiled. “It certainly was. Now, come with me, Miss. I will show you what dresses we have.”
Savannah twirled in front of the mirror. She wore a rose-gold shift-dress covered in layers of tassels, which shot straight out as she spun, revealing sheer burgundy thigh highs held in place with garters. Kitten heels and a feathered headband completed her outfit. She gave her chin-length blond curls a tousle.
Then Damien walked back into the room, drawing her gaze. He wore a buttoned gray vest over a crisp white shirt and a striped tie. Black and white wing tips peaked out beneath straight-legged trousers. A grey fedora completed the look. When he tipped his hat to her, her stomach fluttered. His quiet, effortless confidence took her breath away.
She smoothed her hand over his broad shoulder. “You’re the only man I’ve ever seen appear more dangerous in a suit.”
He chuckled softly, drawing her close. “You look like a felony waiting to happen. He slowly ran his hand up her inner thigh. “Just checking for a hidden flask.”
She smiled and angled her body, then drew her skirt high, showing him the outer part of her left thigh. “You just have to know where to look.”
“Are you ready to pose?” Ted said as he entered the room. He pulled down a background photo with a black Ford model A.
Damien laughed, the sound deep and rich.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“We’re Bonnie and Clyde. All we need are the guns.”
“You mean like these,” Ted called out, his voice muffled as he shuffled through the contents of a jam-packed closet. An instant later, he turned, holding two plastic old-fashioned gangster machine guns.
Savannah wrinkled her nose at them. “Not so much.”
“Perhaps a glass of champagne as a prop for the lady and a pretend cigar for me,” Damien suggested. “You can be Daisy Buchanan and I’ll be Jay Gatsby.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Savannah beamed.
“Wait for it,” Ted said excitedly as he began pulling down a new backdrop.
Savannah squealed when she took in the painting of a lavish room with black and white tiled floor, gilded mirrors, and an extravagant chandelier.
“Welcome to Long Island,” Damien said to her, his amber eyes filled with warmth. He cupped her cheek. “Your joy is always so immediate. You wear your heart on your sleeve, Savannah. That takes courage.”
She rose up on her toes. “Call me Daisy,” she purred, pulling him in front of the backdrop.
Ted dragged a faux leather arm chair into the frame. Damien sat down and reached for her. She perched on his lap and accepted the pretend glass of champagne from Ted.
“Shall we smile?” Damien asked.
She shook her head. “We have to look bored and completely tortured all at the same time.”
A smile upturned the edges of his lips. “Bored but tortured. Got it. Ted, we’re ready when you are.”
When they were done, it felt strange, leaving the dimly lit world of make believe and stepping back out into the bright sunshine and onto the busy boardwalk. She glanced down again at their picture. Perched on his lap, she absently fingered the long strand of plastic beads that hung down to her waist. Her head was tilted back, showing the elegance of her long neck. To her pleasure, she really looked “too cool to care” but with a secret glint in her eyes. Then her gaze shifted to Damien. The sight of him made her heart pound. Unlike her, he looked exactly like he always did. Effortlessly confident and impossible to read.
“This is an interesting place,” he said at her side, drawing her gaze away from their picture.
She glanced around at the vendors selling fried foods and a trio of tattoo artists working right out on the boardwalk. “I have to be in the right mood, but I love coming—” She felt him stiffen at her side and stopped talking.
Following his gaze, she spied a small black SUV slowly moving toward them on the crowded main drive. He clasped her hand and quickly led her toward an arcade.
“Friends of yours?”
“No, but I know who those men are.”
He stopped just inside the entrance, then turned. From a distance, they watched the car park.
He looked at her pointedly. “It would appear that Joe’s post has started trending.”
