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There was a brusque knock on the dressing room door.
“You got it on yet?” He sounded impatient.
“Yeah. I don’t think—”
“Open the door.”
“Gage, seriously. I—”
“Open itnow.”
Damn him and that deep, sexy, commanding voice. She walked barefoot over to the door and opened it.
“Jesus, Beaumont,” Gage said, his tone matching her feelings exactly. “I’m buying that dress.”
“You think it’s not too…” She waved her arms over her body, searching for the word. “I mean, I’m not really leaving much to the imagination here.”
She expected Gage to laugh.
He didn’t. He just kept looking at her…as if she was…
“Beautiful.”
He said the word, and for the first time in her life, Penny felt like it fit her.
She’d been lazy. That was the first thing she thought as Gage looked at her so appreciatively. Considering her current morning routine consisted of putting on her glasses, throwing on whatever clothes she grabbed first—either from the closet or the floor, she wasn’t fussy—tossing her hair up on top of her head, and leaving the house, she could probably stand to add a few extra minutes to make an effort.
No, more than that. Shewantedto make an effort. She liked the way she looked right now. A lot. She’d never figured out how to do this on her own. Back in high school, she’d asked her mom a couple of times, but…well, as much as she loved her mother, she was no fashion plate either, her clothing monochromatic and super conservative.
Okay, boring.
“Really?” she couldn’t help but ask. She was new to this whole beautiful shit.
His gaze lifted to hers. “Really.”
“Okay. Then I’ll buy this. Let me just change back into my other clothes and we can—”
Gage cut her off. “Here’s what happens next. Tish and I—”
“Tish?”
“The salesclerk.”
She snorted. The clerk was lovely and elegant, so ofcourseGage had already gotten her name. Hell, he probably had her number and a date lined up already too. After all, she’d left him alone for almost ten minutes. “Ask her out yet?”
Gage frowned, confused. “No. I’m here with you.”
Penny didn’t know how to respond to that, but he didn’t give her a chance.
“We’re going to bring in outfits, you’re going to put them on, then give me a fashion show. We’re going toPretty Womanthe shit out of this place.”
“Pretty Woman?”
Gage looked surprised. “You’ve never seen the movie?”
“Of course I have. I have a mother. I’m just shocked thatyouhave.”
Penny wasn’t sure what to make of Gage’s frozen expression. For a split second, she thought she saw the shimmer of something…sad…flash in his eyes before he went unnaturally still. “I had a mother too,” he said finally, the words gruff.
