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Ignoring her, Dean motioned to Jennifer to get a pair of jeans, knowing she’d have Kristen’s size from choosing the dresses that day and the gown the day before. Then he pointed at the sweaters.
When she returned, he whispered, “Add shoes or boots and socks...whatever else she’s going to need to stay this extra day.”
Jennifer disappeared into the racks as Kristen walked out. Her chin high, she headed toward the cash register. “I do not want the red dress.”
He said, “Fine.”
She stopped, faced him. “You’re losing an argument?”
“No. I’m simply not arguing over something stupid. I was happy to buy you the dress as a thank-you.”
“Wouldn’t we have to draw up another agreement for that?”
He sighed. “I’m not that bad.”
“No. But for a guy who talks about balance you certainly don’t see my side of the story.”
“And what side is that?”
“That I don’t want to take gifts. I have some pride. And I have a job. I can afford to buy my own clothes. I just can’t afford to buy them in this shop.”
“Okay.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You’re losing another argument?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m doing what you told me to do. I’m seeing your side of things.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
He directed her to walk to the checkout, where Jen stood beaming. He guessed she worked on commission.
She scanned the tag on the black knit dress and a black wool coat. “I noticed that your coat is hip length and to wear a dress you’ll need a longer one.” She smiled hopefully. “I picked the most useful, inexpensive coat we have.”
Kristen nodded.
Jennifer scanned the tag of a pair of black stilettoes. She looked up at Kristen. “I remembered your shoe size from yesterday. The shoes you wore under the gown had such a small heel. I think you’ll need these.”
This time Kristen sighed.
Dean quietly said, “I don’t know a lot about women’s shoes but we’ve trusted Jennifer so far. If she says you need the shoes, you probably need the shoes.”
Kristen rolled her eyes.
Jennifer shoved the shoes into a shopping bag, then picked up a pair of jeans and a bright red sweater.
“I hope those are for Stella.”
He cleared his throat. “You know you need something to fly home in.”
She eyed the red sweater.
Dean saw the flicker of longing that sparked in her eyes before she could bank it, and he said a word he didn’t often say. “Please.” What was the point of having money if he couldn’t spend it to make someone happy?
She faced him. “It’s not a gift? It’s not you saying thank you to me? It’s a necessity?”
He nodded. “Absolutely. Unless you want to wash out your blouse in the sink of your hotel room.”
“I’d considered it.”
“And it would dry wrinkled.”
She drew in a breath. “Okay. I do feel a little slimy in these clothes.”
“Good. I mean, not good that you’re slimy. Because you don’t look slimy. Good that you can get a shower and fly home refreshed.”
Kristen rolled her eyes and looked away.
A strange relief poured through him, followed by something he almost didn’t recognize. Pride. She’d really wanted that sweater and he’d bought it for her. It gave him the most amazingly wonderful feeling.
As Jennifer lifted the sweater and jeans off the counter and slid them into the bag, a black lace bra and panties revealed themselves.
The store clerk winced. “You did say to get everything she needed.”
His heart kicked against his ribs. He could see tall, slender, nicely endowed Kristen in the black bra and panties...and the black stilettos. He tried to say, “Maybe another color would be better,” but it came out, “Navy anubber color would ’e ’etter.”
Kristen looked at him through her peripheral vision. “You don’t like black?”
Good God, he loved the black. But he realized that he’d have to sit through an entire lunch with several influential people, knowing she had black lace panties and bra under that dress.
He tugged at the collar of his sweater, but said, “Get whatever color you want.”
