Page 95 of Keeper
Through the door, Olivia and I both heard Ainsley’s faint but mesmerized murmur:“Oh, wow.”
“How’s it look?” I asked.
“I can’t believe how perfect it looks,” she said. “Iloveit, Tanner. But …”
I mouthed the words to Olivia:we’ll take it.
“No buts,” I said. “I bet you look so beautiful. Come on out, I wanna see you.”
Ainsley cracked the door open, keeping herself hidden behind it. She looked so jubilant and happy, she glowed. I couldn’t wait to see the rest of her in that gown.
I waved her out. “C’mon out. Show me.”
“No!” she cheerfully protested.
“Why not?”
“You said it’s special, so I’m going to save it for a special occasion.”
My lips twisted wryly. It burned that I’d have to wait, but I knew it was the right call.
“Damn,” I murmured.
“But Idowant Olivia’s opinion,” she said, cracking the door open a little more.
Olivia squeezed through the door and into the fitting room. A jealoushmphescaped me—she was witness to what Ibadlywanted to see.
A minute later, Olivia came back out.
“Well?” I asked impatiently.
“It’s like it was made for her,” she said quietly. “A perfect fit. You’ll love it on her, Mr. Vaughn.”
“Let’s get it, then,” I said, breaking into a big smile.
I paid for the silk dress, which was carefully wrapped in tissue paper, boxed, and placed in a gift bag. On the way out, Ainsley hooked her arm through mine and pasted herself closely to my side.
“Thank yousomuch, Tanner,” she said. “I don’t even know what to say. I’ve never owned anything that nice in my life. You make me feel like a princess.”
Hearing thatwas precisely why I’d wanted to spoil her.
“My pleasure.” I grinned. “But won’t you need a new pair of shoes and a bag to wear with that dress?”
The realization that I was right made her feet drag to a stop.
“Crap,” she murmured. “Okay, yes, I do. But we’re going to find a bag and a pair of shoes at the Galleria, at a store of my choosing, and I don’t want you arguing with me. Deal?”
“Deal,” I said as we made our way back to the car, arm-in-arm.
32
Ainsley
Tanner drove us home, holding my hand as we sped down the highway after a quick and successful trip to the Dallas Galleria. The Galleria wasthe kind of mall I wasmuchmore likely to be found at in my real life. There, I found a shimmering sequin clutch at Zara and a pair of slender pumps in ivory at Nordstrom, both for a very reasonable price, thank you very much. He also made sure I got all my makeup essentials from Sephora.
Yep—he’d spoiled me rotten today. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve it—but I couldn’twaitto try my new clothes on. But there was nothing I wanted to wear more than the dress he’d picked. I wasdyingto wear it for him—classy, elegant and sexy, it was easy to see how the gleaming-white silk evening gown had grabbed Tanner’s eye. The fitted bodice tapered from a narrow waist to a drapey, flowing skirt that nearly touched the floor. And with every step, the deep slit gave a glimpse at my bare thigh—averysexy touch.
The boy had good taste.Verygood taste. (Expensive taste, too. But hey, we can work with that.)
