Chapter 21
Alexander
“Alex, this is insane.”
“I want to have a fancy evening with you, and you didn’t bring a fancy dress. So it’s not insane for me to buy you one.”
“I feel like I’m in Pretty Woman. It’s gonna be clear I don’t belong here.”
“I never saw that movie, but you’re definitely a pretty woman. So …”
She playfully backhands me in the abs. Conveniently, I had just exhaled, and they were flexed. I watch her notice that fact and turn away. I chuckle.
“Hello. And welcome. How may I help you today?” The woman spends ninety percent of her greeting time looking at me.
It annoys me because we are in this women’s boutique to shop for Ivy.
But she doesn’t react to my presence, so points to her that she has the good sense not to act like a big fan.
Or maybe she isn’t a fan, and that’s fine too.
“I need a dinner dress,” Ivy says. Clearly, she noticed the woman’s attention was focused on me and wanted to get the woman back on track to what she should be doing, and who she should be paying attention to.
“Alright. Come with me. Sir, you can wait in the lounge outside the dressing room.” I follow the direction of her lifted hand to an area filled with tufted chairs and proceed to wait. My phone vibrates in my pocket just as I sit.
GREY
What are you doing in a women’s clothing store?
ALEXANDER
How do you know where I am?
I look at my message settings with Grey and sure enough I’ve been sharing my location with her.
ALEXANDER
Remind me to never let you use my phone again.
GREY
*crying laughing emoji* Don’t worry, I’d never use it for nefarious reasons.
I unshare my location.
GREY
Rude.
GREY
So really… What are you up to? Are you with Ivy? *big smile emoji*
ALEXANDER
I am, actually.
GREY
SQUEAL! That’s so exciting! I want the details!
I’m trying to formulate the words to tell Grey about Ivy and what it is we’re doing when Ivy comes out of the dressing area.
And she is stunning. Don’t get me wrong, she has been absolutely beautiful in her more casual clothing, but there's something about how the dress hugs her curves that makes me stand. It’s green, a shade darker than her eyes, and as I approach her eyes pop, but I notice concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s so short. The woman assured me it was appropriate, but I have never worn anything this short.”
“We don’t need to get this one if it makes you uncomfortable, but I have to say … you have incredible legs, so if any of your discomfort is self-consciousness, there’s no need for that. I promise.”
I run the back of my hand down her bare arm because I can’t not touch her right now, and smile as I see gooseflesh pop up in the wake of my touch.
“I’ll keep it as an option.” Her voice is a near whisper, and it makes me want to touch her again. To hold her and whisper to her about everything I find incredible about her. But I don’t. Keeping my word to keep the touching to a minimum will be the most difficult part of all this.
“Good,” I say before returning to my seat.
She comes out several minutes later in a red dress and I swear my heart stops for a moment.
You’d think I would be immune to beautiful women, but there is something about her beauty that’s real and pure, and that you don’t find in Hollywood.
At least I haven’t seen it. And that it’s the packaging of this incredible, funny, and smart woman. It’s almost too much.
Once more, I’m on my feet.
“You like this one too?” she asks, and I realize I haven’t spoken.
I clear my throat. “I like it very much. Do you?”
“Yes. I like this one and I think I like the green one too. I made friends with the length when I got back in front of the mirror. Which should I get?”
“We’ll get both, and if you only wear one while you’re here, that’s okay.” I slide my hands into my pockets to put something between them and the beauty standing three feet from me.
“That’s silly; I don’t need both.”
“I’m going to buy you things. It might not be real,” I whisper, stepping closer. “But we’re pretending like it is and if you were mine, you’d have both dresses, and anything you wanted.”
“You can’t buy me, Alex.”
“I know that. But I can’t help but want to give you things.”
She gives me a soft smile. “Well, thank you. I love them. And this one is so soft.”
I look for anywhere I can touch it without stepping over a line she might have.
“It looks soft.” Maybe I can touch the back.
“You can touch it.” She takes my hand and brings it to her waist, and I groan internally. I never should have touched her in this dress. The fabric glides like water, and the warmth of her skin underneath sends my nerves into a frenzy.
“It’s better than soft.” I’ve never been more excited to make a purchase.
She smiles, unaware of my inner turmoil. “It is.” She turns, heading back to the dressing room. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She throws a smile over her shoulder, and man, if it doesn’t make my heart pick up even more speed.
I’m in trouble if I can’t convince her to make this real.
I dropped Ivy off at her hotel to see her family and get ready, and by the time I got home I decided to have dinner here.
I asked Mrs. Brown to cook, and she was as thrilled about it as I knew she would be.
I went to mum’s garden and cut some flowers.
I put them in a vase, and while I’m no florist, I think it looks nice.
I’ve showered and changed, and now I’m knocking on her hotel door.
It opens and I’m expecting Ivy, but instead, I look down and find Peter.
“Anizey’s almost ready,” he says before turning and going back to the sofa where Juniper is watching a cartoon I don’t recognize.
“Hey, Alexander,” Val says as she walks into the room.
“Hello—” I begin, but Ivy walks into the room and, despite having seen her in the dress earlier in the day, the breath is stolen from my lungs. She’s worn the green dress and done something with her eye make-up that makes them stand out even more. She’s nothing short of stunning.
“She looks good, doesn’t she?” Val says as I continue to stare.
Ivy shakes her head and grabs her bag. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.” I’ll go anywhere with you. “You look more than good. You’re—” Ivy looks a little uncomfortable and I remember our audience. At least I hope it’s because of the audience, because she is going to have to get used to compliments from me.
I extend my hand to her, and she takes it.
“I’ll see you guys later,” Ivy says, and leads me out the door. And, like I assume our lives would always be if we were truly together, I follow her because my heart leaves me no other choice.