Page 9 of Say it Ain’t So

“What if I don’t like any of them?”

I leaned in and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Bullshit. Of everything you’ve tried on so far, there are exactly three outfits you don’t like. This being one of them.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because of the way you light up when you step into the room. Your smile…” I traced her bottom lip with my thumb, so damn tempted to bend down and taste her. “It’s a thing of beauty.”

Her throat worked through a swallow before she grabbed my hand and twisted her fingers around mine. “I can’t let you buy me an entire new wardrobe, Rylan. I don’t have anywhere to wear most of this stuff.”

“Let me treat you.” This time, I was begging. There was something about her that made me want to spend every penny of my new fortune on her. I wanted to come to her rescue. I wanted to sweep her off her feet.

I wanted to follow through on my threat and tear her clothes right off.

Joss’s eyes zipped back and forth between mine. I could practically see her mind working. Finally, after a long silence, she licked her lips.

“Only a few.”

“A few what, gorgeous?”

“A few outfits, okay? I don’t need all of them anyway. You don’t need to waste your money on things I’ll never wear.”

“A few outfits.” I tightened my grip around her waist, pulling her against me as I tilted my head. “But I get to choose.”

“Rylan—”

“I get to choose.” I swore she shivered as I slid the zipper down her back. She stepped out of my arms, fingers clutching the front of her dress. For a moment, my imagination got away from me. I was daydreaming of her dropping the dress to the floor before climbing me like a light pole. My dick throbbed and, not for the first time since I first saw her, I wanted more than anything to ease it deep inside her and give her the kind of loving she so desperately deserved.

Joss licked her lips one last time before she swung the door shut between us.

It was fucking crazy, how much I missed her even though she was on the other side of that flimsy piece of wood. I wanted the weight of her in my arms, the heat of her body against mine. I wanted her smiles and her tears.

I wanted her to be mine.

“Last one.” She came out again, and this time it was almost too much. The dress she was wearing had a halter top and was made of a frilly material that looked like it wasn’t thicker than a cloud. One of her long legs peeked out of the slit that ended inches from her panties, and the desire to hold her was too much to take.

Taking her in my arms, I leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “I have never seen anything more gorgeous than you.”

Her shy smile lit up her face, and I knew, this one was a keeper. This dress. This girl.

I’d do anything to keep her.

“I’m getting this one for you. Doesn’t matter if you have nowhere to wear it, I’m getting it for you. If there’s the slightest possibility you’ll wear this smile again, then whatever this costs, it’ll be worth it.”

“Why are you so sweet?”

“Is that really a question?”

She shook her head. “No. Not really.”

I skimmed my fingers across her bare thigh, straining against the temptation to slip my hand under her dress and push her panties aside. “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”

She grinned before biting her lip and peeking up at me. “Mind reading.”

“Yeah?” She nodded, and I said, “I choose x-ray vision.”

Laughter burst through her, and she slapped my chest, and I stood there staring like the fool I was, desperate to soak her up. “You’re horrible, Rylan…” She stilled, tilting her head to one side. “What’s your last name?”

“Dennis.”