I get up and intercept the waitress who was just bringing us our check, then follow her to the cash register to pay. This is my mission and I have to take charge of it. Even if just by paying for our meals while we’re here.
Because I’m liking the way he’s taking charge of things just a little too much. If I let it continue I might just let him take the reins altogether. And that won’t do at all.
10
Nico
Since I have her in the car and who knows when she’ll agree to go along with my plans next, I drive straight through the town as we leave the diner. And don’t stop until we reach San Diego.
“I didn’t think we were going this far,” she says as I pull onto the ramp that goes to the city center.
“Yeah, I doubt we’d find a decent store anywhere around here other than in San Diego.” Most women appreciate being taken shopping, the more high-end the store the better. I have a feeling Alice might be an exception to that rule, but her eyes did light up a little bit as I say it.
And maybe a little more as I pull into the underground garage of a Bloomingdale’s.
“Honestly, this is too much. All I really need is one dress for tomorrow and that’s it,” she says as we’re riding the elevator up to the store.
“Nonsense,” I tell her as the elevator doors open on the ground floor. “If we’re gonna play the part of two rich house hunters looking for a quiet place to raise our family then wegotta dress the part. I might pick up some stuff myself. But you just knock yourself out, it’s on me.”
She was already browsing the rack with discounted summer dresses—all of which would probably look stunning on her—but turns and gives me a sharp look. I do love her sharp looks.
“I have money.”
“So do I,” I say and laugh. “And I want to spend it on you.”
Now, most women would melt hearing those words and I’d be in for a killer blow job later, or sometimes right there in the dressing room of the store. But again, Alice is not that sort of woman. And I very much like that, for some reason.
“Why don’t you go do your shopping and I’ll do mine,” she says. “And we’ll meet back here in half an hour.”
I was very much hoping she’d model some dresses for me before buying them, but knew that was too much to hope for. So I just agree and wander over to the men’s section.
I don’t really need anything, I packed enough. In the end, I spend my half an hour looking for the perfect evening dress for Alice. Since we don’t have to be back in that sorry-ass town, and even sorrier motel room, before tomorrow, there’s no reason why we can’t spend the night in the big city having some fun.
I end up finding the perfect dress—pale silver to go with her hair, just short enough and tight enough to show of her attributes, but modest enough that maybe she’ll consider it.
I’ve also had time to browse the internet and find us the perfect restaurant and the perfect night club to party in after dinner.
She’s already waiting for me by the elevators, holding two large shopping bags. I’m glad she didn’t just get that one dress she was threatening would be all she’d buy, but not so glad that she paid for it all herself.
“What is that?” she asks as she sees me carrying the dress. “You’re not going dressed as a woman, are you? Even in thisday and age I doubt those Catholics in that small town would understand that.”
“Funny,” I say wryly even though I’d prefer to actually laugh. She seems in a much better mood, which is good to see. But then again, shopping never fails to put women in a better mood, and it seems to be a universal truth.
“No, this is for you,” I add. “For tonight when I take to you to dinner and we check out the Circus night club.”
Her face twists, suggesting she likes neither of those ideas.
“Come on,” I say. “It’s our last night of freedom and fun before all that boring surveillance shit begins. It’ll be a blast. I’m sure you could use a couple more drinks after that shock earlier, and I could really use a night out with a beautiful woman. It’s been a while.”
I actually mean that I could really use a night out with her. Because I’ve been waiting for that for a long time. The closest I came was spending two hours with her by a bonfire at one of their biker club parties. And she didn’t even want to dance then. Tonight will be different.
“I don’t know…” she says, but touches the dress. The fabric it’s made of shines like silk and feels like a second skin. I’m sure she likes that.
“Come on,” I insist. “I hear San Diego is the place to be for a good time on the West Coast. It’ll be good for both of us. What’s the last time you went out-out?”
She looks at me with a softness in her eyes that suggests the answer is actually never. There’s also fear in her eyes. For whatever reason.
“Oh, OK then,” she finally says. “Might as well. I’ve heard that the San Diego nightlife is good too.”
