William seems enraged. “The ordinance…”
“It’s not even official.” Knox rubs his temples and shuts his eyes. “We’ve been having this conversation forever. It is simply a piece of writing that you’ve drawn up.”
“And the inhabitants of this town are thankful to me for it!”
I doubt that. And the way Knox smiles at William’s words leads me to believe I’m right. He looks at the street musician apologetically. “Keep on playing your Christmas tunes, Vaughn. It’s the middle of December. It’s totally fine.”
William looks like he’s about to explode. It takes all I’ve got to keep a neutral expression. The way this little thing has totally unnerved him is just too funny.
He points at Knox then at Vaughn. “We’re going to have a word about this at the next city council meeting.”
Knox rolls his eyes. “Whatever, Will.”
We move on, and for the second time since arriving in Aspen, I am introduced to the exquisite side of this little town.
“This is where, above all, the tourists go shopping,” Knox says.
I look at the elegant clothing in the shop windows and am amazed as one designer outfit after another catches my eye. “There’s no way we can buy anything here,” I say. “It’s all far too expensive!”
He shrugs and waves me to follow him across the street. “Look at it as your work uniform.”
I follow him to a store withValentinowritten above the entrance. “Sure. My work uniform for over a thousand dollars?”
“Will it make you feel any better to know that Dad can take it off his taxes?”
“A little.”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
We step inside and it’s like I’m no longer in Aspen. Everything looks so different! No rustic wooden floor, no fire going in a fireplace. It’s as if the town had two sides. And I have to admit that I prefer the magical winter wonderland with its cute little cafés, comfortable restaurants, and small decorated streets where everyone knows each other.
Seeing as we don’t have much time left, I need to find a dress here, but I have my doubts after trying on the first one. The saleswoman has me try on various cuts and colors she thinks match my eyes, but I’m not enthused about any of them. Not because they aren’t nice, but because they simply aren’t me. The version of me in one of these expensive things…just isn’t me.
I come out of the fitting room with two more dresses, shaking my head. The saleswoman purses her lips but doesn’t say anything when taking them back and hurrying off.
With a sigh, Knox gets up from the velvet-covered stool. “It’s just for one evening, okay? Afterward, you can burn the thing for all I care.”
“I know. It’s just…” I lean my head against the fitting room wall. “No idea. It’s just weird.”
“I get it.” His voice sounds sincere. I think he truly understands me. “But give it a shot, can you? You can pretend it’s not real. A role play, just for one evening.”
I smile faintly. “Well, okay.”
The saleswoman returns. A strand of hair has come loose from her ponytail. She looks hopeless as she holds up another dress. “This is the last one in your size.”
With a thankful smile I take it and disappear into the fitting room. It’s a black dress that goes to just above my knees, the fabric is decorated with pearls and sequined fringes. I like the V cut, it shows off my collarbone, and, interestingly enough, that’s the part of me I like the most. Through the chiffon shift, my body will be covered at all the right places and, I’ve got to admit, I like the dress. With a somewhat unsure smile, I come back out.
Knox looks up from his paper. I can see him swallow. His glance wanders from my face across my body, and his lips part for a fraction of a second before he catches himself. “Okay,” he says slowly, rubbing his thighs. “I was just about to say something, but, ummm, sorry… You lookso beautifulthat I forgot.”
My smile grows wider. “I’ll take it.”
For a while we walk through the streets of Aspen in silence. I am happy that Knox is carrying the black Valentino bag that has my new dress. Somehow, I would have felt uncomfortable with it, and I think Knox knows it.
Having left the area of the expensive shops behind us, next to Abercrombie & Fitch I see two women pointing at us and squeaking. Or rather, at Knox. I elbow him in the side to draw his attention to his fans but by then they’re already falling all over him. They keep on grabbing him everywhere, all the while repeating how he looks even better “in real life.”
“I saw you at the show,” one young woman wearing a red parka and a pink scarf announces.
Her friend wearing teal blue from head to toe agrees enthusiastically. “You were fantastic. And your attitude…really sexy.”
