Chapter 12
They walked a few blocks to the mall, and Peter directed her toward an upscale boutique, Annie’s Evenings.
“I looked in the window of that place the last time I was in Denver. That was about two years ago.”
“I know the designer there. She’s very talented, and she’s going to love dressing you.”
Do I really want him to buy me a dress? I don’t want to feel indebted to him or anyone. “You know, I really don’t need a fancy dress. I brought some slacks and a nice blouse.”
“We’re going to Ruth’s Chris Steak House followed by a fund raiser. You need a fancy dress. Trust me on this.” He smiled and held out his hand to her.
She huffed out a sigh and took his hand. When she did, she felt a zing, that same zing she’d felt when they kissed. “All right we’ll see what they have.”
“That’s my girl. So excited about shopping.” He rolled his eyes. “Most women would be ecstatic to shop to their heart’s desire and not pay for a thing. But not you. Why?”
“Because I’ve done this before. Then the man wanted something in return that, I didn’t agree with.”
He nodded once. “Ahh. I am not him. I don’t want anything but a date to the fundraiser and then for you to lie low for a while. Horace will make a mistake. Especially if he believes he’s already won.”
“Do you really believe so?” She’d been living in a panic-free bubble for a few hours and the mention of Horace’s name brought back the turmoil her life was in.
She looked at him with hope in her heart.
“I want my life back. I want my gallery back. The insurance won’t begin to cover the costs of the paintings and I doubt after this that the artists will be willing to let me have of their work for the new gallery once it’s built.
” She covered her face with her hands to keep from crying.
Peter would lose all respect for her if she broke down in tears.
She had to hang on for a while longer. She dropped her hands and took a deep breath.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll just build from scratch, like Jim and I did the first time.
Hopefully, Horace won’t burn it down again.
But…Heather.” She couldn’t stop the sob this time.
“No one will ever replace her. She was special, Peter. She understood the artists, and me, too. She made sure we met at a good place and came together on the contracts. I don’t know what I’ll do without her. ”
He lifted her chin with a single knuckle. “I’ll always show in your gallery, before any other. When the new place is built, I’ll do a one-man show, if I need to. If they see me there, exclusively, then other artists will come.”
She looked up at him as tears filled her eyes. She refused to let them fall. “You would do that? Why? We hardly know each other. Why would you help me like this? Bringing me to Denver, taking me shopping, and in general trying to take my mind off the entire situation at home.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I like you, and it won’t break me to buy you a new dress.”
She sighed, grateful that he is being rational and calming her. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I kind of like you, too. You’re an amazing artist.”
“I’m more than an artist. Besides, I’m not sure I’d be as successful if not for the Ranger’s Walk video games. We’ve turned them into a billion dollar business. My art would not have been seen by millions, if not for those games.”
She pursed her lips and looked to one side. “You might be right. I don’t know but you are phenomenal. You must realize that.”
Peter ignored the comment and looked in the front of the boutique. “Are you ready?”
She took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m ready.”
They walked inside and were greeted by Annie herself.
“Peter!” The woman wrapped her arms around him and laid a big kiss on his mouth. “What brings you to my humble shop?”
He placed an arm around Alexis’s waist. “We need an evening gown and it’s for tonight, so it needs to be something you have available right now.”
Annie frowned. “You know I don’t sell off the rack.”
Peter smiled at her. “Now, Annie. I know you have some beautiful gowns available because of your last show. Maybe even some samples you haven’t shown yet. Miss Armstrong has a lovely figure and should be able to wear any of your gowns.”
Annie pursed her lips as she looked over Alexis. “You are what? A size eight?”
Alexis nodded. “Yes. How did you know?”
“It is my business to know. Now, follow me.” Annie turned toward Peter. “Janine will take care of you while I see to your friend.”
A young blonde woman, dressed in a form-fitting sheath, appeared at Peter’s side. “Follow me, Mr. Kincaid. I’ll get you settled.” She walked toward the middle of the store.
Peter knew from previous experience that there were two Queen Anne chairs with a small table between them, for the men to wait for their ladies.
Janine poured him a glass of champagne before setting the bottle in a bucket of ice on a stand to the side. “Here you go. Please get comfortable. We have some magazines, if you’d like to read.”
“Thank you, but I’m good.”
“Very well. Call me if you need anything.” Janine walked to the back of the showroom.
Peter pulled his phone from his shirt pocket and began scrolling his emails while he waited. It didn’t matter what time of day, he had hundreds of emails to go through.”
After a few minutes, Alexis emerged from the dressing room in a red strapless dress. She was all smiles.
The dress was fitted all over and definitely emphasized her assets, but something about it didn’t sit well with Peter.
“It’s lovely, but what else do you have?” he asked Annie.
Alexis frowned but then shrugged and followed Annie back to the changing rooms.
The next dress was black, slinky, and had a slit up one thigh that opened with every step. It drew his gaze to her leg. He shook his head. “What else?”
Annie sighed. “I have one more. You know I always save the best for last.”
“I do know that.”
Several minutes later, Alexis entered the room.
She grinned wide and Peter knew this was the dress.
The bodice pushed Alexis’s bosom to amazing heights thanks to a hidden corset underneath, but it didn’t look like she was just wearing underwear, like some of the dresses he’d seen.
Flowing gently from the waist, the skirt was full enough to allow dancing and gently swayed as Alexis walked.
The dress was a midnight blue with spaghetti straps that were probably just for show and the gown was covered in what Peter knew were tiny, sparkling diamonds. Annie never worked with fakes.
“That’s it. Alexis what do you think?”
She turned around in front of the mirrors, checking the dress from all sides. “I love it. Do you really think this one is it?”
“I do.”
Annie smiled and fussed with the back of the gown, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles. “He’s never wrong, dear. If he likes it then it looks phenomenal, which is true. This is definitely the dress for you.”
Peter stood and went to Alexis. He took her hands and looked into her eyes. “We’ll take it, Annie. Thank you. You’ve come through yet again.” He held Alexis’s gaze. “You look beautiful. Even more than you usually do.”
She smiled and turned a pretty pink color. “You’re crazy. I’m not beautiful. Cute…maybe, but not beautiful.”
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, remember?” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. He wanted to do more than that, but he would have to wait for that…if she would let him.
Annie stood nearby, her hands clasped in front of her. “Shall I wrap it up, Peter?”
He kissed Alexis’s hand. “Yes, we’ll take this one, along with the undergarments you have her wearing with it.”
“But, of course. You could do nothing else.” She turned toward Alexis. “Come, my dear. Let’s get you out of these clothes and get them ready for travel. If I know Peter, he’s got you ensconced in his home, which is some distance away.”
As Alexis drove the Mustang back to Peter’s house, she glanced over at him. She wasn’t sure she was happy that Annie thought she was just another woman that Peter brought home. “So, do you have a lot of women you buy clothing for?”
Peter chuckled. “Are you jealous?”
“No. You’re allowed to buy clothes for whoever you want. I’m not the fashion police.”
He cocked his head to one side and lifted an eyebrow. “Wasn’t that the show where Joan Rivers critiqued what celebrities were wearing to events?”
She laughed. “If you remember that show, you’re showing your age. It’s been off the air for about eight years. I know, because I loved it. It lost something with the death of Joan Rivers, though.”
“I bet. She was a one-of-a-kind talent.”
“Yes, she was.” She was quiet for a while. “You didn’t answer me. Do you buy clothes for a lot of women?”
Peter sighed. “I buy clothes for my mother and sister. They both like that boutique, and Annie has their measurements so I can be sure that whatever I buy will fit. And because she’s very familiar with both of their tastes in clothing, I know what she picks out will be something they’ll like.
It saves us all time and heartache at Christmas and birthdays. ”
She released a pent up breath. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” He looked out the passenger window, presumably at the scenery.
She knew better. “It’s obviously not fine. You’ve become very quiet.”
“All right.” He looked over at her. “I don’t like being questioned like I’m some sort of lothario out to take advantage of women. For the record, I’m not.”
She clenched her jaw, knowing she was wrong.
She needed to stop judging all men by the one asshat she’d dated…
Horace Beecher. Thank goodness, she’d come to her senses quickly and stopped dating him after about six weeks.
“I know, and I’m sorry that I made you feel that way.
I…I was feeling jealous and inferior, knowing that you’d bought clothing for someone else. ”