Page 46 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

She pulled a few items and disappeared behind the velvet curtains of the fitting room. Meanwhile, I sipped on the cold champagne, trying to appear disinterested while my heart raced with every movement I heard from behind those curtains.

I had been joking before, but the thought of choosing slutty outfits for her to wear seemed appealing. Shopping was tedious on the best of days, but if she would do a little dress-up for me, I could sit here all day.

Minutes ticked by slowly until finally, Kaira emerged. The transformation was nothing short of stunning. The blouse draped elegantly over her, paired with a tailored skirt that accentuated her round hips and flowed gracefully around her legs. She looked refined and powerful.

“I vote yes,” I said, sitting up. “Add it to the pile and try on the next one.”

Kaira’s cheeks flushed. She looked away quickly. “Do you really think so?” she asked, her voice small. “Just like that?”

“Absolutely.”

With a timid smile, she looked at herself in the mirror again and nodded. Then she scampered off to try the next one, already more comfortable with the process. Good. No reason we couldn’t enjoy ourselves.

As the hours went by, I watched her transform. Her posture straightened, her eyes lit up, and she started smiling more—genuine, unguarded smiles that made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t entirely understand. She was getting used to the idea of dressing like she truly was my fiancée.

We moved on to the next store and it was the same process. I sat and waited while she carefully chose piece after piece.

“You look incredible,” I said as she stepped out of the fitting room in a sleek black cocktail dress that hugged her curves perfectly.

She frowned, tugging at the hem. “It’s too tight.”

“It’s perfect,” I countered, standing to adjust the fabric slightly. “Trust me.”

“It’s too short. I don’t wear things that show so much thigh. I look better in loose skirts.”

“The hell you do,” I said. “That’s perfect.”

“I don’t know, maybe I should look for something a little less—well, a little more.”

“No. That goes on the pile.” I gestured to another dress waiting on the rack outside the dressing room. “Try that one.”

She scrunched up her nose. “I don’t think girls like me should be wearing dresses like that.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I’m not a model, Roman. I don’t have the legs or the butt for that. More like, I have too much of both.”

I gave her a slow, deliberate look, my eyes tracing over her form. “You’re exactly the kind of woman who should be wearing dresses like that,” I said firmly. “You’re real. You’ve got an ass and hips. Try it on. For me. Please.”

Kaira bit her lip, looking uncertain. “Fine. You don’t have to beg. Jeez.”

She turned to head back into the fitting room. I didn’t miss the fact there was a new sway in her step that hadn’t been there before.

As she disappeared behind the curtain once more, I leaned back in my chair and realized I had found a crack in her confidence. She was self-conscious about her body. Maybe everyone in the world was, at least a little bit.

Still, I didn’t like that. She had a rocking body. So, what if she wasn’t a size two. Watching Kaira grow into herself, buoyed by the expensive clothes and my occasional encouragement, felt like a victory.

When she emerged again, the dress she wore was a bold blue that clung to her in all the right places—the sort of dress designed to make a statement in any room it entered. As she stood there in front of me, nervously tugging at the edge of the sleeve, I had to wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth.

“It’s not too much?” she asked.

“Keep it on. You’re leaving in it.” I got up and paid for the dress and the other outfits that made her look like the confident, stunning woman I knew she could be.

By the time we left the last boutique, Kaira was practically glowing. Her arms were full of shopping bags, and her smile hadn’t faded.

“You’re spoiling me,” she said as we climbed into the car.

“That’s the idea,” I replied, unable to hide my satisfaction. “Now, how about we get some food?”