He covered his mouth, and she didn't understand what happened. He then said, "You'll bedisappointed with what's inside these,Belle."
"Whatisit?"
He shook his head and pushed one of the boxes toward her. "You can open it. They are allforyou."
She swallowed, unsure what happened. Then she unwrapped the box and said, "It'sclothes."
He crossed his arms. "It's options to wear to thehospital."
No one ever bought her options for outfits. She wasn'tand never would be bought. Shestoodup.
"We agreed, Peter. I have my ownclothes."
He nodded his head, like he understood. "My secretary and my sister decided to send them. Don't feelobligated."
"Do all your dates get thistreatment?"
"I don't normally take my dates to meet myfamily."
It was Christmas, and his secretary sounded efficient. She stood and staredat him. "I feel weird. I have a full time job, though I've not had much timetoshop."
He shrugged. "Then don't wear these and givethemaway."
Perhaps she was being overly sensitive. Peter was nothing like she'd been warned. Sheswallowed.
"It is pretty, though, and red is a Christmas color. I'll wear it. Are the other boxes your outfitchoices?"
"My name is here."He flipped open a box and revealed a gray business suit and a red tie. " This one is for thehospital."
The dress fit perfectly.Belle fixed her lipstick. It must be nice to have servants that took care of everything, though technically a secretary wasn't. Without knowing even her name, the woman knew her size. At some point, it would be polite to tell her ‘thank you’ as Belle personallyhated shopping. She checked her lips in the mirror and then stared at herself. She lookedpretty.
She left the bathroom and saw Peter on his phone WIFI, checking emails. She walked over and took his phone out of his hands. He gazed at her, and she dropped it on the bed. "No working today. You're with me, and you promisedbrunch."
He offered her his arm. The second she looped herarm with his though, he leaned over and kissed hercheeks.
"No one dares me,Belle,ever."
"Such apitythen."
As he led her past the bed, he pocketed hisphone.
She pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing as she said, "Guess they left you for me as they lacked thecourage."
As they descended the stairs in her suite and headed toward the mainroom, Peter then asked, "How do you know people are generally afraidofme?"
Her eyes widened, but then she squeezed his arm. "It's how you talk about you being just like your father, and how youdescribehim."
He nodded as he held the door open for her. "What specifics haveIsaid?"
She checked her pocketbook for her electronic key and followed him out. "That you protectedyour siblings from his wrath and that he told you that your mother didn'tloveyou."
He reached over and rubbed her arm. "I didn'tsaythat."
She pressed the elevator key. Her heart leapt in her chest, and she refused towonderwhy.
She swallowed and said, "It's implied. What happened the day your mom left then if your father didn't tellyouthat?"
The elevator dinged.Then he answered, "Vicki was about to turn one. We had a birthday partyplanned."
