I have been trying to dissect my irrational attraction to her, but I’m coming up empty-handed. I usuallygo for tall, leggy types. She is the exact opposite. And yet…
“Did you see how much it costs?” she whispers, the tag dangling between her fingers.
“No. I don’t particularly care. It’s a dress. How much could it be?” I shrug.
“It’s three thousand,” she hisses, and glances at the shop assistant while ducking a bit. Like she can hide from the price.
She acts like it was a hundred thousand. I snatch the dress from the rack. “Do you want it in more colors as well?” I shove the dress into her hands. “Get changed.”
Her eyes widen before she looks at the dress again. She wants the dress, the desire all over her face as she chews on her bottom lip.
I groan. We’re going to miss the whole thing.
“You really are desperate not to show up solo if you’re willing to cash out such an insane amount of money to take me.”
“Insane?” I would pay ten times more to spend time with her, but I just hike my shoulder and take out my credit card. “Just hurry up, finally.”
She shakes her head as she enters thechanging room.
“Wow, I didn’t expect this to be such an eventful occasion.” Cora kicks off her heels and leans against the balustrade.
The heat and humidity cling to us on the outdoor patio of the venue. We’re standing under a canvas awning, in the shade, but the sun is still beating down on us.
“And you didn’t want to come.” I lean beside her, shedding my jacket.
“If I had known Declan would punch someone, I would have gotten front row tickets.” She giggles and takes a sip of her cocktail.
Yeah, that happened. My partner caused a scene, but I guess the other asshole asked for it.
“You got front-row tickets.” I turn and lean on my elbow, studying her profile.
Most of the guests have left, with only a few still loitering around, but Cora doesn’t seem ready to dash. And I’m not going to rush her. She seems relaxed and carefree, just like she was at the gala.
The few minutes in her bistro were not enough to judge, but it’s like she breathes with more ease after she steps out of there.
“You’re staring.” She looks at me, rolling the small straw from her drink between her lips.
“You’re beautiful.”
She cackles. “Yeah, I better be in a three-thousand-dollar dress.”
She picked a deep green color. The fitted bodice hugs her torso, and a flared skirt falls just below her knee. The cut is classical, and yet she makes it look sinful.
The neckline is too high for my taste, but fuck if she isn’t sexy wearing it. Ishouldhave bought it in all the colors for her.
“You increased its value tenfold.”
“Oh, you’re good.” She grins at me.
And I grin back. This woman makes me feel lighter. Carefree. Liberated.
All the things I’ve been faking. With her, they sneak in uninhibited.
“Let’s go.” I put her drink on a nearby table and take her hand.
“Where?” She snatches her shoes from the ground and lets me lead her back inside, so we can get out of here.
“Since I practically hired you for the rest of the day, I plan to make the best of my time with you.”
