20
The sidewalks teem with business people. Dog walkers. Women pushing expensive-looking strollers. I glance at the street sign on thecorner.
I stop in the middle of the pathway. “Um. What are wedoing?”
“You’ll need a dress to wear tonight,” he says, like I should know why the hell we’re on MadisonAvenue.
Cocking my hip to the side, I cross my arms over my chest. “I have plenty of outfits,Elijah.”
“Do you have one fromLinvan?”
I catch my reflection in one of the shop windows before I wave a hand over my trusted skinny jeans and point down at my scuffed Converse. “Um, I don’t shop at places likethat.”
Elijah glances over his shoulder and shoots me a lopsided grin. “I know, but Ido.”
“You’re not getting me anything from a store likethat!”
“Whynot?”
“It’sexpensive!”
That garnishes no response. Elijah just continues to strut down the sidewalk in his crisp collared shirt and slacks. This man isridiculous.
“Look, if a designer dress is a requirement for this kink party,” I laugh, “I’m probably not the girl you need totake.”
He stops so abruptly that I bump into him. There’s a slightly unnerving smirk settling on his face as he inches closer. “You, Demi, are a woman, not a girl, and there is no other woman I would take besidesyou.”
Embarrassment burns through me like acid. This man, six years my junior, acts more mature than I do, and I know it. My brows knit together just before he takes my hand and pulls me through adoorway.
I fan the overwhelming scent of roses and fresh cotton away from my face when I cross the threshold. Some people may find that aroma delightful, but it reminds me of a funeral home. White tile, white walls, white display cases. The only color in this store belongs to the garments meticulously spaced apart. “Wow,” I mumble under my breath as I take it all in. It’s so neat, I’m afraid to touch a thing. I’m used to department stores with racks overflowing with hodgepodgeclothing.
Elijah beelines to a mannequin donning a sapphire-blue, one-shoulder dress. The skirt is asymmetrical but accentuates the perfect curves of the plastic model. The delicate silk ribbon tied around the waist adds a touch of feminine flair. It’s perfect and gorgeous and—Linvan, which I could never, everaccept.
“Do you like this one?” he asks, pinching the fabric between his fingers and rubbing it back andforth.
“I mean…” I clumsily walk up behind him, staring at the garment. “It’s gorgeous, butit’s—”
“Mr.Banks.”
The click-clack of heels come from behind me, and I spin around. The saleswoman glides across the floor as though it were a runway, and her long, slender legs almost make me believe it is. Her blond hair is cut in a blunt edge, and her bright-blue eyes are rimmed in thick liner. She looks like the editorial in amagazine.
“Katherine,” Elijah smiles before kissing hercheek.
A spark of jealousy lights inside me, but I quickly snuff itout.
Katherine cast a disinterested look in my direction before her gaze returns to Elijah. “What can I help you with?” She bats her long lashes, and I want to roll myeyes.
He skims a hand over the fabric. “I’d like to see this. On her.” He nods towardme.
I hold my hands up, slowly shaking my head. “I reallydon’t—”
She eyes me over. “Size six?” She doesn’t wait for an answer before walking to the wardrobe and shuffling through the garbs. She plucks one out and holds it up; the LED lights catch a hint of purple in the fabric. “Anything else Mr.Banks?”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he looks at me. “Is there anything you’d like totry?”
“No.”
“That’s it for now,Katherine.”
