Page 17 of Temptation In Lingerie (Bare Naked Designs 2)

No matter. He should have been here. To support her. To hold her hand. Instead he did it

from a distance, letting her think that when she spoke, nobody was listening. Eventually she would get fed up and take off. No longer. Even if his ideas of taking their relationship to the next level weren’t going to be put into action, Aleks knew he could be there for her. More than he ever had before. And it started now.

“Why don’t you give me the grand tour?”

Chapter 8

“A tour?” Carrie looked at Aleks with shock and confusion. Since when was he interested in her store? In anything having to do with her.

“Why not? I’m already here. Besides, when I recommend your store to every woman I meet I should at least be able to picture the place.”

“Okay.” She stepped out from behind the counter. What was going on with him? First, his constant bashing of the men she dated then their intense makeout session. Now he was taking an interest in her livelihood. If she didn’t know any better, Carrie would think the man was interested in her. But this was Aleks, so that was highly unlikely.

“This is the front counter.” She giggled. “Obviously.” Carrie should be taking pride in her accomplishment not being a nervous, giggling freak. “We have the computer system. Behind here is where we keep the bags and tissue paper.” She motioned to a cupboard behind the counter. “I changed the bags, trying to go for a signature theme. Black bag, with my BND logo embossed in black, and white tissue paper.”

“Slightly naughty, sexy and seductive. I like it.”

“Exactly. But we do carry plain white ones for the brides.” Why was she rambling on about bags? But when she looked at Aleks, he seemed genuinely interested.

Carrie took a few steps closer to him. “On the sales floor we have all our merchandise. Everything is easily accessible. The hooks are no more than six feet off the ground. I try to make this place as self-serve as possible. No pushy sales people, no one should feel uncomfortable.” She pointed to the back corner of the store. “That’s where I display my designs.”

“Why do you hide them in the corner? Why not right when you walk in?” He walked toward the front door and stopped in front of the first display. “What does–” He glanced at the label. “– La Perla have that you don’t have?”

She couldn’t help the smile. Men really didn’t know anything about this stuff. “La Perla is lingerie royalty.”

Aleks looked confused.

“They are like the Harry Winston of lingerie.”

He still looked confused, so Carrie put it into terms he would understand. “Like the Yankees

of lingerie?” Recognition finally lit up his face. “I would be classified as the newest expansion team.”

“For now.”

His confidence in her boosted her own, made her want to reach that much further.

Carrie watched him sift through the rack. Aleks was still dressed in his suit, and he looked good enough to eat. Desire bloomed inside her. With the show this weekend she didn’t think she would have an opportunity to take a chance and put her seduction plan into action. Now was as good a time as any. She’d been hot and bothered ever since their heavy makeout session, wondering how far it might have gone if they hadn’t been interrupted. How magnificent it would have been.

She needed to close the deal. Finish what they started. She needed to close the book on her unrequited love–lust! It couldn’t be love. Then why does your heart hurt when you look at him?

Aleks Turko was the perfect man for a no-strings-attached romp in the sack. If she had any hope of moving on, that’s exactly what she needed to accomplish.

“There’s more in the back.” More room for us to spread out and fuck like animals. She opened the door marked private and showed him her tiny office.

“How many people do you have working for you?” he asked.

“Two part-time girls and Amie helps when she can. I’ve been thinking about hiring an assistant manager to take care of the store so I can focus on designing full time.”

“That’s a great idea.”

“We’ll see.” She closed the door. “If you step through here...” Carrie motioned to the dressing room.

This was her favorite part of the store. It was painted a deep red. On the facing wall were two fitting rooms sitting one step above the floor. Black tapestry hung by a gold curtain rod to cover each space. A black settee was positioned against the closest wall facing the stalls.

On the far wall a three-way mirror was positioned in front of a round step. Mirrors that Carrie had spent days searching for, ensuring they were the infamous skinny mirrors. Dim lights illuminated the space for maximum comfort. Absolutely no fluorescents. She had a lamp in the corner for extra light when she did final touch-ups.

Aleks entered the room before her. “Wow! This is like something out of Moulin Rouge.” “How do you know Moulin Rouge?”

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