Chapter 9 #2
“My character is wealthy, calm, cool, and collected. He seems the type to say I’ll wear this out.”
Okay, I mean. Probably. But still. I drawl, “I’d just love to see how they get the security tag off those slacks while they’re still on your body.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll pop up on the counter for them.” He stops short in front of a mannequin, then proceeds to strip it. Or, at least, its headwear.
Without warning, he plops the wide, floppy brim of the pale sun hat atop my head.
I peek from beneath it at the villain committing so many heinous crimes before me.
Truly, causing mayhem in a department store isn’t the flavor of villainy that I expected, but being the poster boy for a sketchy website ad labeled Retail Workers Hate Him is probably the best I’m going to get in real life.
Warmth grips his cheeks as his eyes heat, and he uses a single finger to delicately tip the hat back by another centimeter. “Precious,” he murmurs—like he means it with every cell in his body.
Gracious.
If I met him even a singular month ago, I’d be duped.
I’d believe he’s actually in love with me, in some kind of deep or real way.
Alas. It’s been one week and barely a handful of days since we’ve had any chance to get to know one another.
And I don’t care how good he is at acting, love takes longer to ferment than sourdough.
Skimming the racks in the woman’s section, he removes a pure white sleeveless dress with a billowing, beautiful skirt. “Put this on for me. I’ll see if my clothes are still around while you do.”
I glance at the tag. “This is Ralph Lauren.”
“Is it?”
“It’s four hundred dollars.”
“Your point?”
“What if I try it on and like it? I’m still recovering financially from my impulse casket buy.”
“That’s fine. I’m not.”
My brows elevate. “Are you…implying that you’d buy me a dress?
After I’ve coerced you into the purchase of a more vampiric outfit for yourself?
” I wiggle a finger at him and his attire.
“All that is probably over a hundred dollars, too. The shirt definitely looks expensive. And fitted men’s pants can’t be cheap. ”
He looks down. “I don’t think these are fitted. I don’t think anything in this store can truly, properly, be considered fitted.”
“Oh?” Is that right? Well. “They fit you very nicely. I’m shocked they had your height in stock.”
Bemused, Dominic regards me. “I’m a regular size and height for men.”
I glance across his broad chest at the way the shirt tapers off his shoulders, which implies it’s for someone with more gut than he possesses.
I like the loose-fit since it’s giving Westley—from Princess Bride—era linen male garments, but I’m pretty sure he had to unbutton the collar in order to survive the strain his shoulders are putting on the material. “Are…you?”
“Yes.”
Huh.
Tenderness melts into him. “You’re stalling. My other clothes might not still be there if you keep stalling.”
I tangle my fingers behind my back and gaze blamelessly past the brim of this hat. “It’s not my fault you got me attached to the idea of you hopping up on the clerk’s counter to get the security tag evicted.”
His thumb and forefinger locate my chin, forcing my attention back to his crimson face. “Come now, little lotus. Behave yourself.”
Now that…that gets my heart to do a thing. “Lotus?”
“A summer flower. An unblemished symbol of purity. It’s saintly.” His tongue dampens his bottom lip as his gaze trails to my neck, and he turns my chin to more properly view my pulse. “And, also, one hundred percent edible.”
Oh…my…word.
“Dominic?”
“Yes, little lotus?” he purrs.
Manic swells in my chest. “I mean no offense, but…were you a theater kid?”
He clears his throat, and the spell breaks. “N-no. I was…”
“You were…”
His gaze trails off me, then he pulls his touch free, too. “A mathlete.”
A…mathlete?
Forgive me, sir, but whence did thy manner come? Nary a soul obtains this much rizz within the confines of numerical calculation.
My head tilts, and the hat falls off my head.
Narrowly managing to catch it before it hits the floor, he half chokes on a follow-up: “Also, I was in chess club.”
“Nerd!” I declare, pointing.
Ears burning, he says, “Y-yes. Well. I did say I was often assailed for my particularly unremarkable activities and character.”
I snort, taking the hat to redress the mannequin. “What a bunch of idiots.”
“Idiots?” he echoes, offering me the white sundress as he strips the mannequin of its hat once more.
I resign to accept the proffered garment.
“Sure. I’ve gotten to know you for two days, and I can already confirm that I’d be bored by now if you were anything particularly unremarkable.
I’ll admit, I thought you were dull for a moment, but I’m pretty sure that’s just because I was offended nothing caught on fire your first night with me.
” Lifting the hanger, I turn toward a dressing room.
“If I like it, I’ll pick up a few extra shifts at Bear’s and pay you back with my tips. ”
A beat passes, and I assume he’s headed to retrieve his clothes from the other dressing room until a tickling sensation of fingers runs by my hair, stopping me in place.
Breath grazes the nape of my neck. “I’d prefer you pay me back with your blood, sweet saint.
Whatever it does to me, my body is ready to become a vessel for you. ”
Blood rushes to my face, and he kisses the blotting on my cheekbone as he lets my hair fall back against my neck.
When I dare to look at him, his smile etches itself in my brain. Violent red paints his skin. Hopeful, enamored blue eyes contrast the wild shade. Shamelessly, he drops the hat on my head again. “I like this. It suits you.” Warm, he steps back. “I’ll get you both if you like them together, okay?”
I bunch the fabric of the Ralph Lauren dress in my hands. “O…kay.”
Silent, he turns, and I watch him stride back to the other dressing room.
It…doesn’t make sense.
He’s genuinely considerate, cautious, and clear. The man might be the most sincere person I’ve ever encountered. And I’d never suspect someone like that to fall in love so swiftly or commit so deeply to this kind of insanity.
There has to be more to this story than I can see.
I can practically taste it.
There’s a mystery here.
And I need to watch it unravel in my hands.