He keeps his hand on my back as he walks us to the rear of the store, follows me into a changing room, and locks the door. “I don’t know, but I’m not giving them the opportunity to ruin our day.”
Butterflies scatter through my belly when I hearour. “I thought you liked being in the media.”
He frowns at me. “What gave you that impression?”
“You’re a regular on gossip sites.”
His head shakes slightly and he lets out a disgruntled sigh.“Just because my face is constantly plastered all over the internet doesn’t mean I seek out the attention. I’d much rather my personal life not end up as fodder for the rest of the world.”
I try not to let the surprise show on my face. I’d always assumed he enjoyed being in the public eye, like Eloise. Seeing him try to avoid the cameras and hearing that that isn’t the life he is interested in don’t fit with the person I assumed he was.“You’re an attractive billionaire. People are curious about you.”
His eyes crinkle at the sides, and his lips turn up into a smile. “You think I’m attractive.”
My cheeks flush hot, and I’m suddenly very aware of how tiny the space is between us. “I’m sure women tell you that all the time.”
“There’s only one woman whose opinion I care about now” His eyes slide lower, and his gaze drops to my mouth.“Are you going to try the dress on?”
The small changing room feels even smaller. The butterflies in my tummy go crazy, tickling me, making me want to laugh.
But there’s nothing humorous in the way Owen’s eyes darken.
I make a spinning motion with my finger.
He sucks on his bottom lip and drags it between his teeth before turning around.
I hang the dress on the wall hook and grip the bottom of the dress I’m wearing, ready to pull it off.
My eyes flick to the mirror and lock with Owen’s. His back is still turned away, but his head is tilted to the side, watching my reflection in the mirror on the side wall.
The erratic butterfly buzz slows to long, sensual strokes, stoking the desire that’s quickly building.
He smiles, shakes his head, and turns back to stare at the blank wall in front of him.
My heart thunders, but I grip the hem of Eloise’s dress and pull it off. Who is this version of Charlotte? She isn’t nervous. She’s curious and excited.
I stand there in my bra and panties, waiting for him to look again.
But he’s being agentleman.
I hang Eloise’s dress on the hanger, then slide the maroon one over my arms and let it settle around my hips. “Zip me?”
He turns around, and his gaze starts at my legs, slowly roaming up to linger on my hips before looking over my shoulder and locking his eyes with mine in the mirror.
His fingertips brush the bare skin of my lower back. The spark of electricity is wild compared to earlier, racing through my veins and settling in my breasts.
He pinches the base of the zipper and slowly slides it up. Warm air rushes across my neck, his lips so close to my earlobethat I can hear the uneven shudder in his breathing. “How does it feel?”
Too right.
“Light and soft.”
There’s a dark, seductive intensity to the way he watches me in the mirror.“Where?”
Everywhere, but with the way he’s looking at me, I feel it in one spot most. “My thighs.”
His fingertips touch the hem of the dress, lightly brushing my knee. “Here?”
I nod.
