Page 95 of The VIP Doubles Down
“Fiction can be more powerful than reality,” Gavin said. “I don’t want other men eventhinkingthey can see your skin under the dress. And there’s the cleavage.”
He caught sight of Miranda’s face as she threw a glance past him, her eyes dancing with laughter. Turning, he saw the corners of Luke’s lips twitch. Gavin snapped, “Just because your wife is wearing a perfectly respectable dress, don’t lord it over me.”
“I thought I looked like a dangerous siren.” Miranda posed with one leg thrust out through the high slit of her sheath. Now that Gavin wasn’t focused on Allie, he saw that Miranda’s crimson pour of a dress covered only one shoulder and clung to her curves in a way that might be considered sexy. If Allie hadn’t been standing beside her, looking like a deliciously sensuous sea goddess who had risen from the waves on a clamshell.
“You’re in trouble now,” Luke said.
“He only has eyes for Allie, and that’s the way it should be,” Miranda said. “I just wanted to point out that ball gowns are not meant to be conservative.”
Allie stood in front of him, her expression both hopeful and wary. Gavin started to reach for the edges of the neckline to pull them together before he realized it would require a very intimate touch. So he just gestured in the general direction. “Can’t they do something to make the dress less revealing?”
“I’ll ask,” Allie said, tugging at the fabric in a way that made her breasts plump up. Gavin wanted to groan. “But it will ruin the line of the bodice if they change it too much.”
Luke’s broad grin reminded Gavin that he had an overly interested audience. “Ah, well, we wouldn’t want to ruin any lines. Humor me in one thing, though. Avoid standing in front of bright lights.”
Allie laid a hand on his forearm. “Promise. I think the front is kind of low cut, too, but the rest of it is so pretty.” She swished the skirt with her free hand, destroying the last of his resistance with that simple gesture of childlike pleasure.
Miranda swayed up to her husband. “And do I have your seal of approval?”
“Am I allowed to tackle anyone who looks at you too long?” Luke asked, setting his hands on her hips and drawing her between his knees.
“Define ‘too long,’” Miranda purred.
“More than three seconds.”
“That will make for very brief conversations.” She smiled and kissed him in a way that let everyone know that, for Miranda, there was no one else in the room at that moment.
Gavin clenched his fists to prevent himself from dragging Allie between his legs and ravishing her soft, sweet mouth as well. Instead, he cleared his throat in an irritating way. “I understand they have very comfortable rooms upstairs.”
“Go to hell, Miller.” But Luke released his wife.
Miranda’s lips curled into an impish smile as she faced Gavin. “You might consider a necklace to draw the eye away from the, um, dramatic neckline.”
“Of course,” Gavin said, leaping down from the stool. “We will go in search of jewels to adorn you. I understand they have a selection available here for that purpose.”
Allie narrowed her eyes at him. “Is the jewelry included in the ticket price, too?”
“No, but we can just borrow them for the evening, like the Oscars.”
“Oh, that’s all right, then.” He saw the tension leave her shoulders. “Are you coming, Miranda?”
“Tempting, but I’ve got my own jewelry back at Nathan’s house,” she said. “Although if you need a third opinion, just text me.”
As Gavin picked up his notepad and thrust it in his pocket, Luke said, “And I’ll be happy to offer my opinion, just like you did after our visit to Miranda’s farm.”
Gavin muttered something unflattering about Luke Archer, but Allie felt Luke’s comment soak into her heart like a balm. She remembered the story of Gavin intervening in Luke and Miranda’s courtship. Now it seemed as though Luke believed there was something similar between Gavin and her.
However, a more immediate concern was Gavin’s reaction to her dress. She wasn’t entirely convinced that he approved of it. On the other hand, she loved the way his face had gone tight with lust when he looked at her chest. So maybe it was worth a little immodesty.
She couldn’t help sighing inwardly over the way the giant blond athlete had engulfed his tiny wife with his body, handling her as though she was both precious and hungered for. Miranda was so warm and down-to-earth, yet she had captured the love of the superstar quarterback. The thought fanned the tiny, unwarranted flicker of hope that burned deep inside Allie.
“The jewel room is through there,” another black-clad dress assistant said in answer to Gavin’s question.
“I don’t know much about accessorizing with jewelry,” Allie said, suddenly nervous about the next step in her fashion adventure.
“Oh, I’m sure there will an expert more than willing to help you.” Gavin propelled her forward. “Maybe we can find one of those drapey collar necklaces that hang down very low.”
“Gavin, I don’t have to wear—”
