Page 42 of Accidentally Mine
She nodded.“You’re twenty-three, doll.You can’t live your whole life in a box.Isn’t that what your dad always said?Take a chance.”She grinned.“Besides, he makes one hell of a bodyguard.”
I motioned to the box.It was from Daniela Corte, a designer whose dresses I would never be able to afford in my wildest dreams.He lifted the lid.“Your aunt helped with the sizing.I chose the style.”
I reached in and picked up the spaghetti straps of a slinky red chiffon dress smattered with tiny white polka dots.It had a daring plunging neckline and a ruffled slit on the skirt that would leave little to the imagination.I stared at it, speechless.This was the dress he liked, the kind he thought would look good on me.
Clearly, he thought I was a lot sexier than I actually was.
“All right?”he said, his voice even.“There’s no dress code where we’re going, but I think you’ll be more comfortable in this.”
“Where we’re going?”I asked.That was kind of presumptuous.I hadn’t agreed.
Oh, who was I kidding?My body had already agreed, judging from all the goose bumps popping out over my skin.In fact, I was freaking thrilled to see him again.So thrilled I wanted to jump into his arms.
“L’Espalier,” he said.Just like that, with no flourish whatsoever.As one would sayMcDonald’s.
My eyes bugged out.I couldn’t even walk on the sidewalk outside that place without feeling poor.Anthony loved throwing his money around, but not with me in tow.He was happy keeping me home, away from the eyes of other men.I remembered with a shudder the black eye I’d gotten the one time I’d gone to Starbucks with him and an overeager barista had writtenGorgeouson my cup instead of my name.That was the last time we’d gone out in public together.
“Who are you trying to impress?”I managed, tingles swirling just beneath my skin.
“You, doll,” Auntie said with a laugh.“And it’s working.”
Hell yes, it was.
I dreamily gazed at the dress.There were two strappy heels lying in the box under it.It felt wrong to put it on.I hadn’t showered or shaved, and I felt the urge to do a pit sniff.I grimaced as I looked down at my ripped jeans and t-shirt.
“Go use my shower,” my aunt said, reading my mind.“Just hurry up or you’ll miss the reservation.”
“But…I just got here,” I protested weakly.“I can’t just leave you alone.”
“Ernest is coming to keep her company,” Brent said, checking his watch.“He should be here in a few.”
Ernest?Was he serious?Seemed like they’d thought of everything, having whole conversations behind my back.I had to admit, though, I wasn’t exactly upset about it.After all I’d been through over the past few days, a night of just relaxing, having a good dinner, some wine.It sounded like heaven.
Not to mention, I’d be accompanied by a man who made my toes curl.
“All right,” I said, picking up the dress and heading into the bathroom.
I took a shower, getting myself cleaned up as best as I could in the strange bathroom.I slipped on the dress, realizing I couldn’t wear a bra with it, and…holy cleavage.It bared most of my back too, with straps crisscrossing every which way.The ruffled slit went nearly to my upper thigh.I’d never worn anything like this before.I felt exposed, but also sexy.
I gathered my damp hair up on my head and left a few loose tendrils hanging down at my temples.I only had pink lip-gloss in my pocket, so that was all the makeup I wore.Stepping into the high heels, I checked myself in the full-length mirror.
Whoa.I barely recognized myself.
I stepped out and Brent’s eyes immediately found mine, then went lower.He rocked back on his heels.For the first time, I thought I’d knocked a man speechless.
“Ah…” he said, stroking his chin.“That’s gorgeous on you.”
I smiled, feeling warm all the way down to my toes.
He bridged the distance between us as his eyes swept over me.Then he took my hand and said in a very low rumble, “What I mean to say is,you’regorgeous.”
No one had ever told me that so sincerely, so intensely.I could barely breathe.
“See?I told you my girl cleans up well,” my aunt called.“Nice frock.”
I fingered the silky material.It was quickly becoming my favorite wardrobe piece, ever.Soft and flowy and feminine.I wondered if I could manage to never have to take it off, or if I could wear it until I died.I felt like Cinderella, dancing around in her new—red—glass slippers.
I fussed around my aunt for the next few minutes, asking if she’d taken her medication and eaten and whether she was feeling okay, until Ernest showed up, carrying a shopping bag of take-out trays from the Back Bay Bistro and a bottle of red wine.Marie’s eyes lit up like Christmas.
