Chapter 4 – Georgie
4
GEORGIE
“I think,” I say eyeing some of the price tags of clothes, “that your brother would not appreciate it if we bought a sundress for more than I make in two weeks.”
Hazel rolls her eyes. “He won’t even notice.”
I frown. “Still.”
“Look, you’re helping my brother out of a bind. This isn’t just a family get together, this is a huge gathering of the movers and shakers of the city.”
In other words, my clothes would make me stand out—and not in a good way.
“Don’t look like that.” I glance up at Hazel, who is shaking her head. “Your work clothes are fine, but just not right for this. Plus, you get to keep all of these.”
“I couldn’t possibly do that.”
“You can and you will. Now, go try these on,” she says shoving a bunch of clothes hangers at me. I would fight her, but Hazel is a force of nature when she gets her mind set on something.
I trudge back into the dressing room as she goes about picking things that I know won’t look good on me.
The moment I put the green dress on, I sigh. The material is so soft, and the way it molds to my body makes me feel like a princess. I zip up the back and turn to face my reflection. I had been wrong. The sleeveless dress looks like nothing special on the hanger, but it fits me perfectly. The simple design, with it nipping at my waist, then flaring out, stopping just above my knees, doesn’t overpower my small frame.
I’m still marveling at the way I look in the dress, when an abrupt knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts.
“Sir, you can’t be in here,” a woman who sounds a lot like the saleslady says.
I frown at the door.
“I need to talk to the woman in the dressing room,” Silas answers.
“Mr. Prescott?”
“Will you open this stupid door?”
“Sir,” the woman pleads.
“I promise not to look at anyone but my girlfriend.”
The irritation in his voice would probably make me laugh, but I’m too astonished.
I open the door and find my fake boyfriend standing there glowering at me. The moment he sees me, his expression lightens. His gaze travels down my body, then back up. The intensity in his eyes has me fidgeting.
“Mr. Prescott, you cannot be here.”
He rolls his eyes and urges me back into the dressing room. I stumble back and he joins me in the little room, shutting the door in the face of the salesclerk.
“That was rude.”
“I like that.”
He’s not talking about being rude. The way he’s eyeing the dress, he means the dress.
“Are you sure? Hazel picked it out for me.”
“My sister is right for once.”
“Twice.”
“What?’
“She said that I should pretend to be your girlfriend. Was she wrong? Did you change your mind?”
I can’t keep the desperation out of my voice. The idea that I will lose my first chance to step away from the creditors almost makes me cry.
“No. Not at all. In fact, I think we should get to know each other better.”
I frown. “Like how?”
“I was telling a friend?—”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, he won’t tell anyone, or my sister will beat him.”
“Oh, you’re talking about Milo.”
His frown is back, and it makes him sexier. I’m pretty sure all his expressions are sexy.
“You know Milo?”
I shrug. “I just know he’ll do anything your sister asks him to do, and he’s also your friend. I’ve never met him.”
“Oh,” his frown fades. “Well, he suggested that we should spend a little time together. That way we will be more comfortable around each other.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” I nod. “I can do that.”
“Tomorrow? We have to head out Friday and tonight I have a late meeting.”
“Yeah. I can do tomorrow night.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
“No.” Ugh, the thought of him coming to my apartment makes me sick. “I’ll come to you.”
He nods. “I’ll text you the address.”
“Okay.”
There’s a little knock on the door.
“Really, Silas, what would Momzilla say?”
I giggle at the irritated look on his face. His intense gaze searches my face, and I feel the breath back up in my lungs. God, he really is the prettiest man I have ever met in my life.
“Sorry.”
“Never be sorry for such a beautiful sound.”
Oh, no, my heart does a little jig and I shake my head.
“What? You don’t believe me? It is a beautiful sound.”
“No, it was something else.”
I was telling myself not to fall in love with him. That would be embarrassing to admit out loud.
“Silas MacKenzie Prescott, open this door right now.”
He shakes his head, but he does his sister’s bidding. “What do you want?”
Hazel is standing there with her hands on her hips.
“Jessica is about to have a meltdown.”
“Who the hell is Jessica?”
Hazel tips her head towards the saleslady, who is standing behind her with a worried look on her face.
“I apologize for my intrusion.”
I snort and he looks back at me. We share a secret smile.
“Silas!”
He blinks as his smile fades away. “I’ll expect you around seven tomorrow?”
I nod.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he says, all prim and proper and sounding more like Silas than he has since he arrived. We all watch him leave and suddenly, I feel a little sad he’s gone.
“What on earth was he doing here?” Hazel asks me. Then her gaze focuses on me. “Wow, that’s amazing. I love that on you.”
I look down at the dress and back up at her. “I like it.”
“I think this will be perfect for Mom and Dad’s brunch on Sunday.”
Once Jessica gets called away, Hazel presses me back into the changing room much like her brother did.
“So, what was he really here for?”
“He wanted to get together tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I got that.”
“So we can get to know each other. Milo apparently suggested it. Said it would be better if we spent more time together.”
“Well, at least Milo is good for something.”
I snort.
“What?”
“Please. Like you don’t have a big old crush on the man.”
She sniffs at me. It’s her tell when she is about to throw out a big old whopping lie. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, sure.”
“Anyway, I want you to try that other dress on. Friday night there’s a little cocktail thing and some dancing.”
Panic hits me. “I don’t know how to dance.”
“Doesn’t really matter. It’s not like they are going to be jamming to rock and roll. I mean, my folks might like it, but a lot of their friends are a little stuck up. Plus, Silas isn’t much of a dancer either.”
“I would say they should do what they want because it’s their anniversary. If their friends don’t like it, they shouldn’t come.”
Hazel gives me a brilliant smile. “Momzilla is going to like you. Now, chop-chop, let’s try on a few more outfits so you can get ready for your date with my brother.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Okay.” Her tone tells me she doesn’t believe me. I could argue with her, but when Hazel gets her mind set on something, it is best to let her go.
Once I’m alone in the dressing room, I look at myself in the mirror, and I realize I want this to be a date. Who wouldn’t want a date with Silas? Okay, so some people would find him boring. He’s gorgeous, but he’s all about work and he’s so serious all the time.
For me, it isn’t just those amazing looks but his mind too. I’ve been privy to the emails he sends to his sister, and she’s had me look over some of the proposals they work on.
He has a very sexy brain.
“Are you even changed yet?”
I roll my eyes and remind myself that this is for the weekend. I need to make sure that I remember that, or I’ll end up with a broken heart.