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“You like it?” she asked, some of her insecurity creeping in. For a moment I couldn’t do anything more than nod, feeling an unfamiliar anger at her trepidation. I wanted to hurt whoever had made her doubt that she was beautiful.
Sadly, I knew it was likely to be culture shock in general, but it could easily have been someone specific as well. Had my lie for her earlier made her feel that?
I couldn’t tell what she was feeling but it was as if a cloud passed over her thoughts as well, the original happy face becoming pensive as she stared into space a moment. The assistants bringing her the parts of their third choice brought her back to this time and place, and then she smiled as she took it all inside to get changed.
She was quicker with the last two outfits, neither of them quite as good but both likely to be necessary. I encouraged her to get them anyway, but she frowned.
At this point both assistants did their job well and hurried away to get bags and boxes for all the items she had already said she wanted.
“We’ll let you figure out the other bits and pieces you want. Just bring them over to the checkout or give one of us a call, and we’ll come back to help,” Jane said as she also left.
Kit frowned, still wearing the fourth outfit, some slacks and a pretty blouse that brought out the blue in her eyes. She fiddled with the sleeve as she stared at the floor in front of me.
I put my plate down and went over to her, not wanting to hide anything from her anymore. She still didn’t look up so I took her hands and pulled her in close.
“You look amazing. In all of them,” I told her, hoping to remove some of the sadness from her face.
“Do youreallythink so?” Her big blue eyes looked up at me, searching my face as if the truth might be written there and she desperately needed to know the answer.
“Entirely. I mean, I thought you looked hot in the tight jeans earlier too. They hug your ass...” I smiled as she relaxed a little and the corner of her mouth twitched up, but she looked away again. “What is it?”
She didn’t answer me at first, but I wanted to give her time and space to talk. I thought I knew what the problem was, but I wanted to let her put it into her own words.
“Earlier, when we got here,” she replied, beginning to explain and confirming what I feared.
“I lied.” I said the words when she faltered.
“Yes. Why? If you thought I looked good, why did you imply that I didn’t?”
“It’s complicated, but it wasn’t to hurt you. There are some…easy ways to manage judgmental people. Almost all people want to help another in distress. But if they think you’re deliberately acting out, or challenging their way of life, they get…defensive.”
“So you lied?” She clearly still didn’t understand.
“After those other women upset you because of their narrowmindedness, I wanted to make sure it didn’t happen this time. They might have been fine, but this way they thought you were in distress and they could help. That’s all.”
She frowned but nodded. I exhaled a little, glad she was taking it okay. I hadn’t realized how nervous I was about it. I didn’t want to hurt her with the lie.
“It’s a little manipulative, you know.” She lightly punched my arm, but she was smiling.
“If it keeps you from being upset by the not-so-nice people in this world, I’ll manipulate away. It’s my job to protect you. As well as screw your brains out and enjoy having you as mine.”
This made her chuckle and I pulled her in even closer, making sure she could feel the effect she was having on me. Her eyes went wide.
“You really are attractive. In everything you’ve put on today. So how about we take all of the rest of this to the checkout? You can even keep this on and we’ll take the tags to be scanned. Or however they do it.”
Again Kit looked away from me as if she didn’t dare meet my gaze. What had I done to upset her now?”
“I’m not sure I can get all these,” she replied, her voice small.
“You’re not. I’m getting them.” I lifted her chin with my finger and made sure she could see the seriousness in my expression. She blinked a few times.
“Thank you,” she said eventually. “I… You’re far too kind to me sometimes.”
I smiled and began to remove the tags from the clothes she was wearing. “You’re very welcome. I like to spoil someone now and then. What’s the point in having all this money if I can’t enjoy spending it?”
With the matter settled, I helped her gather all the accessories that were supposed to be included in the outfits and took them to the checkout. I didn’t ask her if she definitely wanted them all, not wanting to make her worry any more, but I also didn’t feel as settled about my decision to pay as I had. She hadn’t resisted or tried to pay at all.
It was probably just my fears and my past, but it certainly would have helped if she’d tried to pay for some of it or argued a little. She’d given in right away and let me pick up the tab.
