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“What’s this?” I asked.
“They were just delivered.” Her eyes were glued to the shoebox. “They’re for you.”
“Me?” I asked in confusion.
She passed me the shoebox, and I realized why she was in awe. Written in beautiful white letters across the top was one word—Louboutin.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Who…who are they from?”
Piper handed me the card that had come with it. I flipped it open.
For my real girlfriend.
—Julian
Tears sprang to my eyes as emotion washed over me.
“No crying!” Blaire said, waving her hands at my eyes. “You’ll ruin all my work.”
I laughed at her ridiculousness. “He sent me a dress and shoes.”
“Two-thousand-dollar shoes,” Piper said pragmatically. “He must really like you.”
“Well, open it already! We’re dying here,” Blaire said.
I popped the box on the shoes and felt as if I were having a full-blown Cinderella moment. The shoes appeared to be glass-encrusted with rhinestones that made them glitter in the light. And of course, the signature red-lacquered bottom brought the entire shoe together.
Blaire and Piper oohed and aahed at them.
“Damn,” Blaire said. “Boy did good!”
Piper nodded. “Damn good.”
I set the shoebox down, unable to process my feelings about the most beautiful shoes I’d ever seen in my life. Then I pulled the zipper on the garment bag. And inside was the designer dress that I’d tried on with Annie in Malouf’s. It was the dress. And here it was, in all of its glory.
My throat closed up. “I can’t believe he did this.”
“I can,” Piper said. “He adores you. Don’t you see the way he looks at you?”
“Seconded,” Blaire said.
“It’s too much.”
Blaire waved her hand. “Who cares? He wouldn’t have done it if he couldn’t afford it. He wants to see you in it.”
“So, let’s get you ready. I cannot wait to see his face,” Piper said.
Blaire nodded. “He’s going to die. Seriously.”
Piper picked up the dress, and I hugged the shoebox to my chest like a prized treasure. I didn’t know how the hell this was happening to me. But when a guy bought you shoes, he was a keeper.
24
Julian
“Looking sharp, Wright,” Blaire said when she answered the door.
“Thanks.” I smirked at her and stepped inside in my custom-tailored tux. Fashion had always been a part of who I was, but this tuxedo blew most of my closet out of the water.
“I’ll get Jennifer.” She hustled around the corner and out of sight.
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and waited. I’d never thought that I’d be looking forward to this gala after what happened with Ashleigh. It had seemed like such a chore. Part of the business side that I would have to adjust to. If I wanted that distribution contract, then I’d have to play nice.
But now, I was going with Jennifer. My real date. Nothing fake about what was happening anymore. Which meant I’d gotten to be a bit extravagant. I’d worried the dress and shoes might be too much, but Annie had assured me it wasn’t. I was going to do it regardless.
Then Jennifer walked out into the living room in the light-blue dress that I’d purchased for her. She was more than stunning; she was effervescent. The bodice clung to her like a second skin with an iridescent plunge neckline. The dress gathered at the waist and shimmered in a metallic silver to the ground. She lifted the hem slightly, and I caught a flash of the Louboutins, which were probably a bit over the top but I couldn’t help myself.
Seeing her beam at me, looking like a goddess, made it all worth it.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Wow yourself,” she said. “Look at that suit.”
I ran my hands down the front of the tux and smirked. “You like?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Don’t be coy. We both know you’re vain.”
I burst into laughter. I couldn’t help it. “We do know that, yes. Now, get your ass over here.”
She giggled and stepped up to me. I threaded a careful hand up into her perfectly curled hair and brought her lips up to mine. She tasted divine. Suddenly, I was having second thoughts about leaving.
“Maybe we could stay in,” she said breathlessly.
I chuckled. “And miss the chance to show you off? Never.”
“You two are kind of disgusting,” Blaire said. I’d forgotten that she was still standing there. “Go to your gala and take lots of pictures. I want to live vicariously through you.”
Jennifer laughed and held up her purse, which was much larger than the dainty little clutches most women brought to such events. “I know it isn’t gala appropriate, but I brought a camera. No lens, so it fits.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” I held out my arm. “Shall we?”
She looped her arm through mine. “Definitely.”
We got into Milli and drove downtown to Buddy Holly Hall, a new performing arts center that Wright Construction had worked on. Jordan had been the mastermind behind the construction job. I’d been on dozens of tours of the place while it was in development, but I hadn’t seen it all done up.
