8. Evan #2
“I’m not following,” Nick said.
“We’re not going to an event.”
“We’re not? Is that why you told me to wear my own clothes?” He smoothed the front of his shirt. “You have no idea how hard it was to find something you’d approve of in my closet that you didn’t buy me.”
I traced my gaze down his lean frame. He’d put on a pair of skinny jeans, a thick leather belt with an ornate brass buckle, and an oversized striped t-shirt that hung off one shoulder and had an asymmetrical cut so one side snaked down his thigh and the other ended just above his belt.
He looked incredible, and the eclectic outfit highlighted his tight and toned physique while also giving a playful and fun vibe.
“You do approve, right?”
I lifted my gaze to his anxious face. “I approve. You look gorgeous, as usual.”
His cheeks pinked as he smiled shyly. “Thanks. So do you. But you need to learn what casual means.”
“I know what it means.”
“Do you?” He gripped the grab handle above the window next to him. “Only a rich person would have padded holy-shit bars in their car.”
“Holy-shit bars?” Vlado and I asked together.
“Yeah.” He wiggled the grab handle. “This thing. You don’t call them holy-shit bars? That’s what my brain yells when I have to grab it.”
I chuckled. “I’ve never heard anyone call them that before.”
“Probably because Vlado’s a good driver. I love my friends, but I spend a lot of time hanging on for dear life when I get rides from them. But anyway, slacks, a shirt, and tie is business wear.”
“He’s wearing loafers,” Vlado said. “So at least his feet are casual.”
“Those aren’t loafers, they’re boat shoes. And you’re wearing them with socks.” Nick wrinkled his nose and shook his head ruefully. “You’re too young and too hot to have those on your feet. I mean, you might as well just put on some Crocs.”
“Oh god, can you imagine Ev in Crocs?” Vlado howled.
Nick cackled. “My life will not be complete until I see that.”
“I will never wear Crocs.”
He put his folded hands under his chin and fluttered his eyelashes cherubically, even as his expression stayed devious. “Pretty please.”
“No.”
“Boo. You’re no fun.” He heaved a dramatic sigh and looked at Vlado. “Does he ever take that fuddy-duddy stick out of his ass?”
“Pretty sure it would need to be surgically removed at this point.”
“Probably,” Nick agreed. “You’re a saint for putting up with him for so long.”
“He’s not so bad when he relaxes.”
“He knows how to do that?”
“Are you two done ganging up on me?”
“We’re not ganging up on you.” Nick smiled serenely. “We’re simply having a discussion about you while you eavesdrop. So really, who’s being the rude one here?”
“We’re about five minutes away,” Vlado said.
“From where?” Nick peered out the window. “You still haven’t told me what’s going on.”
“I thought we’d go shopping.”
“Shopping?” He whirled toward me, his expression hopeful and guarded in equal measure. “Like what kind of shopping?”
“Like the kind where you buy stuff.”
“Har har har.” He fake-laughed and rolled his eyes. “You’re soooo funny.”
“Your eyes are going to get stuck like that.”
“Google told me they won’t, so Imma keep doing it.” He rolled his eyes again, this time in a slow, deliberate arch. “Ow.” He squeezed his lids shut. “Remind me to not do it that way again. Can you sprain your eyeball?”
“No,” Vlado and I said together.
“Good to know.” He blinked rapidly, like he was clearing his vision. “So, shopping.” He made a tell me more motion with his hand. “Elaborate.”
“I’m taking you shopping so you can pick out what you’d like to have available while you’re staying at my house.”
“You really need to stop talking like you memorized a thesaurus.” He flicked my thigh. “Everyone in here knows you’re smart. You don’t have to keep trying to prove it with your big words and fancy sentences.”
Vlado’s lips pressed together to stifle a laugh.
“I’m taking you shopping so you can pick out your own wardrobe,” I said dryly, the corners of my lips twitching as I held back my smile.
“Really?”
“Really. You’ve dropped enough hints that you think my stylist has no taste and you’d prefer to choose your own clothes.”
“It’s not that she has no taste, it’s just that her taste is boring. It’s fine for you because you’re supposed to be boring. But my sparkle needs the freedom to shine, and it can’t do that if I’m dressed like an assassin.”
“An assassin?”
“Or secret agent.” He shrugged. “It was cool the first few times because I look damn good when I’m dressed to kill. Heh, get it, dressed to kill, assassin?”
“Very clever,” I said flatly as Vlado laughed and said, “good one.”
“Vlado thinks I’m funny.”
“Vlado also thinks whoopee cushions are funny,” I pointed out.
“You don’t?” Nick clucked his tongue disapprovingly. “Such a fuddy-duddy. But anyway, like I was saying. The assassin look was fun for a while, but it’s boring to always be in slightly different versions of the same suit. Fashion is supposed to be fun. Boring black is not fun.”
The car slowed to a stop. “We’re here,” Vlado said.
“Where?” Nick twisted around and pressed his face to the window. “I can’t see shit. Am I gonna get yelled at again if I open the door and get out like a normal person?”
“You’re fine.”
Nick scrambled out of the car. I slid across the seat and climbed out after him.
“I have no idea where we are.” He looked around. “You said we were going shopping?”
“We are.”
The door to the unmarked building in front of us swung open.
“Evan,” Bridgette greeted as she and her assistant approached us.
“Bridgette.” I bent down so she could air-kiss my cheeks.
“It’s so wonderful to see you again.” Her pasted-on smile was as fake as always. “Shall we go inside?”
Wordlessly, we followed her into the front of the store, which was set up like a small lobby and separated the main entrance from the showroom.
Nick leaned close and whispered in my ear.
“This place looks like a fancy doctor’s office.
” His hot breath fanned over my neck. Goosebumps erupted on my skin and I suppressed a shiver.
My neck had always been an erogenous zone, which was another reason I wore shirts with collars.
“You’re not trying to trick me into getting my kidney harvested, right?
I know you only need one to live, but I’d like to keep both of mine, thank you very much. ”
I covered my laugh with a quick cough and turned my head to whisper back. “I promise there’s no organ trafficking going on here. Just shopping.”
“Okay.” He looked at Bridgette. “Sorry, just had to ask a quick question.”
She scanned Nick from the top down, her expression dimming as she eyed his clothes. “It’s a good thing I cleared my schedule.” She made a disapproving sound. “I can see we have our work cut out for us with this one.”
Nick’s smile fell and his shoulders stooped.
A rush of possessive anger moved through me. No one spoke to Nick like that in my presence.
I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and pulled him against me. “Bridgette, this is Nick. My boyfriend .”
Her eyes doubled in size. “Your boyfriend? I thought you were bringing a…companion.”
“You were mistaken.” The outside door banged shut as Vlado joined us in the lobby. “Is there someone available to assist Nick while he shops?”
“I’d be more than happy to—”
“Not you.” Nick snuggled up to me and wrapped both arms around my middle. “Someone who isn’t a judgey mcjudgerson.”
“Of course.” She waved to her assistant, finally acknowledging her. “Elizabeth can assist you with whatever you need.”
Nick moved to stand in front of me, still hugging me tight. “What’s my budget?”
“No budget.”
He blanched. “Are you sure?”
I nodded.
“Are you sure you’re sure? I know you’re loaded, but you have no idea how much I love to shop. I need to know if you mean it, or if you’re just saying that and I’m supposed to magically know what the limit is.”
I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I mean it. No limits. Today is about you getting spoiled.”
“Okay, but what about parameters? Am I only shopping for event stuff, or can I get other stuff too? You need to give me something to work with or my brain is gonna go rogue and I can’t be held responsible for how much of your money I spend.”
“Get whatever you need to build a complete wardrobe. I mean it. No limits.”
“Thank you.” Nick squeezed me tight enough he forced the air from my lungs, then pecked a kiss against my lips. “I hope you’re wearing comfy shoes today,” he said as he spun toward Elizabeth, “because I’m ready to do some serious damage to both your store, and Evan’s credit card.”
“Comfy shoes are locked and loaded,” Elizabeth said with a genuine smile. “Right this way.” She motioned for him to follow her into the showroom beyond the lobby.
Some of the tension left my body. Nick would be in good hands with her.
“Christ on a bike!” Nick exclaimed as he peered into the back area. “Now this is how we shop! RIP to your credit card!” He rushed through the door and disappeared into the showroom.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Bridgette asked me, crisply.
“Yes.”
She perked up.
“Nick will need some refreshments while he shops.”
Vlado made a sound in his throat.
“Us too,” I added.
“Of course.” She nodded, her expression returning to its default tightness. “Anything else?”
“No.” Looking at Vlado, I waited until the click-clack of heels on the polished floor indicated Bridgette had left.
“You pissed her off.” He smirked.
“She pissed me off,” I growled.
“Come on. Let’s park our asses in those comfy chairs and relax while Nick has his fun.”
* * *
“I realize Evan said no limits, but I can’t allow this.”
I looked up from my phone at Bridgette’s voice.
She yanked a few garments off the rack Nick had loaded up with things he wanted to try on. Meanwhile he stood a few feet away, his head down, looking like he wanted the floor to swallow him up.
“You might not have rules where you come from, but in my store—”
“What’s the problem?” I asked loudly, watching Nick.