23. Mila #6
“Mila, is it on yet?” Ryker asked, his voice lower.
In response, I opened the curtain and glared at him to show him that I was angry at his impatience.
“Wow,” he said when he got a look at me, his eyes widening and a slow grin spreading over his face before he gave a loud whistle. “Worth the wait.” He grinned, his eyes traveling down my body and stopping at the long slit that went up the legs. “Definitely worth the wait.”
“Let me see you, Mila.” Lara hurried over, and her eyes also widened as she glanced at me. “Wow, you’re hot.”
“Yes, she is,” Ryker said in response as I just stood there, grinning like a fool, feeling more flattered than I’d ever felt in my life.
“Now, you just need to get some new heels to go with your new dress,” Lara said with a grin.
“I have heels.” I shook my head at Lara. I wasn’t going to go crazy with Ryker’s credit card.
“Not that match that dress,” Lara said and grabbed my hand. “Turn around.” She spun me in a circle. “Wow, the back is gorgeous as well,” Lara said, and she nodded at me as I faced her again. “Great pick.”
“The dress is amazing.” Ryker’s eyes searched mine as I looked at him before he whispered, “Almost as amazing as you.”
“Thank you,” I said, my heart racing at his words. What did they mean? Was he really falling for me?
“I’m proud to call you my fake fiancée,” he said, his eyes moving away. “I couldn’t have picked anyone better for the role.”
“Thanks,” I said, my smile falling. Was he answering my unasked question? Was he putting me in my place in case I got any other ideas?
“You look gorgeous, Mila. Simply beautiful,” he said, looking back at me, his expression bewildered. “I should go,” he said and took a step back.
“Go?” I asked, confused by his sudden turn. “You just got here.” I began to feel uncomfortable.
“And I see you’re in good hands.” He looked at Lara and then back at me. He kissed me on the cheek, and then gave me the most beguiling smile. “I’m going to go back to work now.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling breathless as I smiled back at him. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he said, his eyes becoming closed off again. “Don’t eat.”
“Okay,” I said again, nodded, and watched him as he walked out of the store. Then I turned to Lara. “I’m not sure what just happened there.” I looked at her with wide, confused eyes.
“He likes you.” She smiled at me, but I could see that she looked dazed as well. “He’s a crazy, psycho stalker, but I think he might have real feelings for you.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah.” She nodded and then reached over and grabbed my hand. “Though I don’t know what that means. I don’t know if he even knows. I don’t know if he realizes. And I don’t know if he wants to be that guy.”
“What guy?” I frowned at her, not really understanding.
“The forever guy,” she said slowly. “I don’t know if he’s comfortable with his emotions.”
“What do you mean?” I said, my voice rising.
“I don’t know.” She shook her head and shrugged. “Ignore me. Let’s get you out of this dress so you can buy it, then we can go and get you some new heels.”
“Lara.” I laughed at her insistence that I get new shoes as well. “This dress is enough. I don’t want him to think I’m taking advantage of him.”
“Oh, I don’t think he’ll think that.” She turned around.
“If anything, he’s taking advantage of you,” she said as she walked away.
I went back into the dressing room, heart racing as I ignored her whispered words.
I didn’t want to think about anything too deeply.
I didn’t really understand what was going on between Ryker and me, and at this point, I didn’t want to.
“I’ll take this dress, please.” I walked up to the sales lady who was now looking at me with a certain admiration in her eyes. I was positive it was because she’d seen Ryker and was probably wondering how someone like me had landed a stud like him.
“Certainly, madam. Anything else?” She beamed at me, and I tried not to roll my eyes.
“Nope. I would’ve bought some other dresses for the balls I’m going to next month, but I think I’ll go elsewhere,” I said as I pulled out my new black card and dropped it on the counter. “Thanks, though.”
She picked up the card, her eyes cold as she looked at me. “Can I see some ID, madam?”
“Of course.” I stared at her sweetly as I took out my driver’s license.
It took everything in me not to gloat at her and tell her I told you I could afford a dress in here, biatch.
Though, of course, I didn’t. Not only because it would have been childish, but also because it wasn’t really true.
I couldn’t afford crap in here, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.
“So who was that young man who just came in?” she asked me casually, and I could see that the other sales lady was paying attention now as well.
“My fiancé.” I grinned nonchalantly.
“Oh.” Her lips thinned as she glanced at me again, and I smiled widely at her. At that moment, I felt like a million dollars, and I was going to remind myself to never judge a book by its cover in the future as well.