Page 83 of Aisle Be The Groom
“Is there a right answer? I don’t know, but I think I should. After all, we’re engaged.”
“And I’m his father.”
“True, but technically, you didn’t break a commitment to him. I did.”
“I don’t know, Ozzie.”
“Honestly, I don’t either, but there’s no version that will get us a favorable response. I’ll rip it off like a Band-Aid.”
Gray heaved a sigh. “I don’t like this, baby. I really don’t, but I’ll respect your wishes. If you change your mind, I’ll step up and take the heat.”
I never doubted that he would.
We lingered for too long over lunch, but neither of us wanted to move. When he eventually paid the bill and we left, Gray took the lead once more. I was giddy—maybe I’d had a little too much beer—as I swung his hand and bounded beside him like a lovesick puppy. But I didn’t feel any shame over the way I was acting. Not when Gray didn’t behave much better—pulling me up against him and kissing me right in the middle of the sidewalk.
I could have followed him everywhere, and I did. Right into a shop, but not the kind we intended to stop. A sex shop.
“Gray!” I whispered fiercely, digging in my heels. “What are we doing here?”
“Nothing too kinky.” He grinned. “Just thought we’d get you more of those sexy lingerie you secretly like.”
I spluttered, but before I could say anything, a young woman popped up in front of us. “Hi, I’m Sidney. What can I do you for?”
“Do you really want to go?” Gray asked.
I should. I gave a tiny shake of my head, and his smile widened. “We can stay.”
“Good.” He turned to Sidney, looking and sounding quite confident as he asked to be taken to be shown the sexiest lingerie they had.
For a second, my stomach dropped as I braced myself for Sidney to say they didn’t carry any in my size. Shit. I’d forgotten why I hated shopping so much.
“We just got some new stock I think you will love.”
“And you carry plus sizes?” I asked.
“Of course. My girlfriend’s plus size as well, so I know how difficult it can be when it comes to shopping. I got her input before I opened this place.”
“Wow. You own this place? But you’re so young.”
She laughed. “Not that young. I’m actually thirty, and for years I’ve been working with a Fortune Five Hundred company. Very miserably, I might add. Savannah—that’s my girlfriend—gave me the courage to follow my passion and open this place.”
“That’s so cool.”
“Start-up’s a bitch, but it’s finally paying off. Here you go. What do you think?”
My mouth dropped open. She hadn’t been lying when she said she carried all sizes. And not like some stores either who stocked only a handful of plus sizes to appease us bigger people. She had an eclectic selection, ranging from sultry nightdresses to barely there lace ensembles, all in varying patterns and colors. The silhouettes were flattering, the cuts thoughtful and sexy. I thought of all the ways Gray would strip them of me. And in the case of the edible underwear, to eat it off me.
Gray wandered around while I chose different pieces. He told me to go wild, get everything I loved, and when I only selected six, he sent me back to pick more.
I chose a few more, blushing at some of the options. The bustiers and garters, stockings and corsets were all so decadent. I could never have imagined being in such a place,let alone browsing with such unbridled freedom. But Gray was encouraging me to embrace my desires. His confidence was infectious and made me feel fearless.
When I ventured over to the cash register, Gray had a shopping bag in hand. “What did you get?” I tried to pry inside, but he held it tight.
“No peeking.”
We walked out of the store, our arms laden with shopping bags. And if I should have felt ashamed for buying lingerie to seduce my fiancé’s father instead of a tuxedo for our wedding, I was too happy to dwell on it for long.
If anything, the day only made it perfectly clear how much I’d fallen ass backward and belly up for the man who embraced everything about me. The only thing I’d ever wanted from Carter that he could never give me. To think I’d come so close to marrying him and accepting his poor treatment because he made me feel it was all I deserved.
