Page 61 of The Betrayer
I wondered whether the dress and the way Rita looked in it would push things over the top with Paul—sexy wasn’t precisely what someone went for at the business dinners. Then again, most of the men I did business with enjoyed something to look at and admire, even if they couldn’t touch it. It might even win me some points with them, if not my son.
Well, if it did, so what? Rita was stupidly hot. Once Paul actually gave her a chance and got to know her, he would be fine. She wasn’t just a ditz in a dress—she was the whole package.
Maybe meeting Paul and feeling like she knew me better would take our relationship beyond the light, friendly dating that had been the rule of the day so far.
Because, even though I had decided that maybe my interest in Rita was just that, interest, suddenly, I wasn’t so sure.
When they were done, Rita changed back into her clothes, I paid for the dress, and Barker made plans to have it picked up once he had finished with the tailoring.
The sidewalk was busy as we stepped out of the dress shop into the cool, wet air.
“Thanks for doing this. I didn’t want to show up looking like I had no idea what I was doing,” Rita said, taking the pickup slip I handed to her.
“Happy to help.” I was still feeling slightly stunned after the vision of Rita in her dress, and talking wasn’t my strength at that moment.
“Barker seemed to know you well. Do you do this often?”
Swallowing, I shrugged—there it was. “I’ve bought dresses here before for other women. You know my history, more or less. It’s something I enjoy doing.”
Rita’s mouth twisted up into something between a smirk and a frown, and she studied me. “I’m not looking for someone to take care of me, in case that’s what you think this is,” she said finally.
“No, I didn’t think that at all. This is just a nice gesture for someone I admire,” I answered as nonchalantly as possible, even though my heart was in my throat at her suggestion. “I wouldn’t think that of you.”
Rita nodded, apparently mollified by my answer. “Okay then, thank you, Will. I appreciate it. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
I was relieved that she still wanted to see me. “Yes, tomorrow morning.”
Rita smiled. “Good. I have to get back to work. See ya.” She waved and turned to head down the sidewalk.
She didn’t seem to feel my gaze following her as she made her way through the foot traffic.
Chapter 25
Paul
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