Chapter 15
Morgan
While Danielle tried on the last dress—well, the last one she was willing to try on—Morgan took a moment to check her messages. One was from Jen popping in to see how the shopping was going. No surprise there.
Another was from the other piercer from the shop asking if Morgan could take her shift on Wednesday. No problem, especially since she would take Morgan’s shift the following week.
Before she could reply to either of them, her attention was drawn to the sound of the curtain sliding open once again.
“What do you think?”
Morgan stared at Danielle as she exited the fitting area with her arms held out to the sides. Her brow was raised in an inquisitive expression, waiting for Morgan’s response.
But Morgan was physically incapable of giving that response. Her voice was caught in her throat, and her mouth hung open, unable to move.
“That bad?”
Morgan shook her head quickly. “No, no. The opposite of bad. And then some.”
Danielle laughed softly, turned to the mirror, and twirled a little. “I don’t know what that means, but I think I like this one.”
When Danielle had pulled it off the rack, Morgan didn’t think much of it.
It was the dowdiest of the bunch as it dangled from the hanger.
It had a vintage-ish look to it with a large brown and cream floral print.
A dusty rose background, of all things. It had slightly puffy shoulders with cinched three-quarter length sleeves, and it hung at mid-length, just below the knees.
But Morgan had figured it wasn’t her dress, so she’d kept her opinions to herself.
And boy was she glad she’d shut up and waited for the reveal.
The dress was absolutely stunning on Danielle. The color looked so lovely against her skin tone, and all the parts that Morgan thought she disliked looked like they were made for Danielle.
“Gorgeous,” she said a little breathlessly. Then she quickly blinked and started again. “The dress. The dress is gorgeous.”
The only thing it was missing was a little jewelry. Maybe something small and simple, not to compete with the pattern. Morgan was pretty sure she might even have some beads to match.
When Danielle turned to her, a small, hesitant smile played on her lips while her cheeks revealed just a hint of pink. The sight of those lips and cheeks made Morgan grateful she was sitting because her legs felt weak and her head too light to remain tethered to her body.
“I think this is the one,” Danielle said.
Morgan gave a definitive nod. “Then let’s get it.”
While Danielle changed back into her clothes, Morgan went to the desk to pay for it. The salesperson had seen which dress Danielle selected, so she charged it to her card.
Danielle exited from behind the curtain with her cheeks much redder now.
“Never mind,” she said. “Do we have time to try one more?”
Morgan furrowed her brow as she tried to puzzle out what Danielle’s objection might be. She’d been so excited about that dress a minute ago.
“What happened? I thought you loved that one.”
Danielle leaned in close and whispered in Morgan’s ear. “It’s over five hundred dollars.”
Morgan shivered at the feel of Danielle’s breath against her ear. She fought to keep her mind on track and on the situation at hand.
Cost consciousness she could understand. But it wasn’t necessary in this case.
“I already paid for it. We’re good to go,” she said. “Well, after you give it to the salesperson over there, so they can put a bag over it.”
“I can’t let you do that. It’s too much!”
“I promise, it’s fine,” Morgan said, gently taking the dress from Danielle and handing it over the counter.
“Even though I cut off my family and the cash that came with them, I have a trust fund from my grandmother. I never touch it except to use the money on other people. At least this way, some good can come to the world through their money, even if they won’t do anything good with it. ”
And there was that look. There was always that look. The moment the trust fund was mentioned was the moment things changed.
Not that there was anything to change.
After all, nothing had changed with Jen. Knowing about the money hadn’t changed anything between them.
So why did this feel different?
“Your mom’s family has money, then?”
“That’s what funded Mom’s campaign,” Morgan said. “Grandma was a good person. She was on the board of a couple of non-profits. Donated wherever she could. Her biggest sin was supporting my mother.”
Danielle looked utterly confused by all of that.
Or maybe it was shock.
The money did that. It’s why she hated telling people. Why she hated relationships. Well, one reason. Because the money was always there.
And the whole thing about money changing people was real. Once they found out about it, they always expected things to be different. For Morgan to be different. And she had no interest in changing who she was and what she wanted for anyone.
“Sorry, I’m just surprised, I guess.” Danielle took the dress the salesperson handed her, now protected by clear plastic.
“I mean, you don’t act like someone with a lot of money.
Not that I know what people with money act like.
” She pressed her eyes together, then opened them again. “Can we forget I said anything?”
Morgan found herself laughing at Danielle’s reaction and the adorable look of panic on her face. As much as she hated talking about money, this was at least a different direction than she was used to these conversations taking.
“It’s fine. I promise.” Morgan aimed a hand at the door. “Now let’s get you back to Lila.”
Danielle seemed to relax at that, and the brightness returned to her expression. She gave a little nod, then they headed outside to Morgan’s car.
Once all the doors were closed and the engine turned over, Morgan put her hand on the gearshift, but a hand on top of hers brought everything to a halt.
“Can we forget I said anything? Seriously.” Danielle bit her lip. “I’m really so sorry. I was out of line. And I don’t know anything about your family or you, really, and I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Morgan didn’t know any other way to stop the flurry of apologies than to reach up and take Danielle’s face in her hands and stare into those mossy green eyes.
“Danielle. You’re fine. It’s all good. I promise.”
She suddenly realized how close their faces were to each other, and all she could think about was how close Danielle’s mouth was to her own, coupled with that intoxicating combination of jasmine and springtime that was Danielle’s perfume of choice.
Danielle reached up and placed her hands over Morgan’s, squeezing them slightly. “I just want you to know that I don’t think any differently about you. I’m sure people are weird around you about it, and I don’t want to be one of those people.”
Morgan wanted more than anything to tell Danielle that she wasn’t one of those people. Not yet, and probably never could be.
Instead, Morgan leaned forward and kissed her.
She froze against Danielle’s mouth, shocked by her own move, and unsure if she’d made a terrible mistake. She was about to yank her face away and apologize profusely when the most surprising turn of the afternoon took place.
Danielle relaxed against her and returned the kiss with all the warmth that could only come from Danielle. The kiss was bright and inviting and tender, and Morgan wondered how that kiss could perfectly encapsulate the woman on the other end of it.
Morgan felt the heat crank up between them, and part of her brain wondered just how far she could take this moment in the boutique’s parking lot.
“Wait,” Danielle said with another quick peck before shifting backward closer to her door.
Morgan’s stomach dropped. “Oh, gosh. I am so, so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“No, no, it’s fine. You’re fine.” A strained grin stretched across her face. “We’re fine. I think? It’s just that I, uh, should maybe get home.”
“Right. Home. Back to Kim’s.”
Morgan felt everything tighten as panic set in. Because no matter how much Danielle said it was fine, it definitely wasn’t. She’d screwed this up. Whatever this was before now.
The money hadn’t done it.
Morgan had.
All she could do now was force a big smile as she put her seatbelt on and said, “Let’s get you back to Lila.”