Page 117 of Morally Black Betrothal
I had to stop myself from laughing at the fourth one. Meanwhile, Brendan’s unforgiving gaze shattered every clerk’s shallow condescension. Within seconds, they would dash off for a manager, who would inevitably jump into keen ass-kissing mode as soon as they spotted Brendan’s face and credit card.
Champagne. Espresso. Even a steak lunch. We were offered it all.
“Why are you askingme?” Brendan demanded once we were settled at Prioretti, a particularly ritzy boutique full of little black dresses from Italy. “I’m not the customer.Sheis. If my girl isn’t happy, then I’m not happy. And you do not want me to be unhappy. Understood?”
The clerk and Brendan both looked up as I stepped in front of a mirror to examine myself.
“And how are we feeling?” the clerk asked nervously. “Would we like another glass of champagne? Maybe some caviar?”
I snorted. Five for five.
“I’m good, thank you.” I was more interested in the way my Brendan was watching me through our reflections in the mirrors.
He clearly liked me in black and had insisted on several pieces at the other stores we’d been to. It wasn’t a color I typically wore unless I was at the bar. I gravitated more toward pastels and softer colors. But I couldn’t deny the way I felt in this silk dress that fit me like a second skin. Or the way I shivered when Brendan looked at me likethat.
Like he wanted to kiss me again the way he had last night.
Like he wanted me to kiss him back.
“What do you think?” I batted my eyelashes. That heated regard brought out a coquette I never knew was in me.
Brendan cleared his throat, then discreetly adjusted his pants while the clerk wasn’t looking. I wanted to drool. I’d felt just a hint of what the man had going on down there when he’d pulled me onto his lap, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it some more when I was falling asleep last night.
Or in the shower this morning.
Or right now, when he was watching me like a panther on the prowl.
“We’ll take it,” he said with a mild croak and turned to the clerk. “The others as well. Have them packed up and sent to this address.”
He whipped out the same card that he’d handed to the managers of the other stores, along with his Amex. Apparently, when you spent money like he did, you didn’t have to carry your shopping bags like a normal person. Everyone took care of everything for you.
“Of course, sir.” The clerk’s eyes had practically converted to dollar signs as he dashed off to ring up the order. “Right away!”
Brendan rose and approached me as I headed back into the dressing room. “You look…dangerously good in that dress,” he informed me as he crowded me into the little room.
“Not too poured into it?” I pulled at the silk. It was a little more revealing than I would typically choose, but it was definitely coming home with me now.
“Perfectly poured in.” Brendan ran a finger up my arm, then played with the thin strap over my clavicle. His lower lip found its way between his teeth, and he chewed for a moment before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my cheek.
His scent of sandalwood and dew enveloped me. For a moment, I thought he might kiss me again. I wouldn’t have fought him. I was starting to feel like that was a losing battle anyway.
“Brendan,” I whispered.
He shuddered. “Yes?”
He was waiting. Waiting for me to ask, just like he said.
I opened my mouth. But nothing came out.
His eyes shifted their focus to a spot over my shoulder, and he stepped away. The absence seemed to expand through my whole body.
“Someone was filming us through the shop window. It’ll make a good TikTok or whatever. Get dressed. I need to make a call, so I’ll meet you at the front.”
Of course. It wasn’t about the dress. It was about what we looked like buying the dress together. How could I have forgotten?
“And do we need any intimate or foundation garments?” the clerk asked when I approached the front desk with the last dress to add to the clothes he was hanging into a bag.
“Er, sure, I’ll take a look, I guess.” I looked at the other side of the store, where Brendan was on his phone, currently deep in conversation with someone—likely work. He’d had to take several of these calls today.
