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Cole wasn’t so sure about that. He snuck a glance at Cal, but didn’t bother saying anything.
“And you do seem to make her happy.”
“That’s all I want to do.”
“There was a time not that long ago when I would have told you that Amber was only happy if she had a plan,” Declan said. “But maybe that’s changed, too.” He laughed. “I’m not going to lie to you—I have never seen that woman without a firm grip of control on things.” He shook his head. “Not even once. It doesn’t seem normal.”
Obviously, he knew Amber had a history of being predictable and making sure all of the details in her life were taken care of. That wasn’t any kind of a secret. But maybe he didn’t realize to what extent she liked to be in control.Was it really that unusual that she was flying by the seat of her pants right now? So unheard of that she didn’t know what she was doing next?
Maybe it was.And if it was, how long would it last? Would she change her mind about what she wanted to do? About the job she’d turned down? Abouthim?
He didn’t have a chance to let himself think much deeper on it because a second later, one of the group announced, “There it is! That’s the one!”
“That’s the one!”
Amber spun in the mirror again in an effort to assess her reflection.
Evie clapped her hands together. “Oh yes,” she said. “That is absolutely the dress.”
Never in her life had Amber worn anything like the one she had on. For most women, it probably wouldn’t be considered that over the edge, but for her, it was absolutely the sexiest thing she’d ever had on her body—with the possible exception of the Little Red Riding Hood costume—let alone considered purchasing and wearing in front of other people.
“That color, Amber.” Chelsea came to stand behind her. “It makes your hair look like gold. What do you call this color, Evie? Is it a royal or a peacock?”
“Definitely a peacock.”
Amber turned to look at both of them with wonder. “There’s such a thing aspeacockblue?” She didn’t wait for an answer before turning again and facing the mirror. She had to admit, her hair did look amazing. She’d taken to wearing it down more and more ever since she discovered that Cole liked it that way. Currently, it was spread over her shoulders and her bare back in soft, shiny waves.
It was a fitted dress made from some sort of silky, impossibly soft material that hugged her in all the right places, showcased her cleavage, and with the slit up the leg, exposed just enough bare thigh to make her a bit nervous. Her usual dress was an office-appropriate conservative style, with a high neckline, and maybe even a size too big to keep from showcasing her curvestoomuch. The exact opposite of what she was wearing.
It fit perfectly, as if it were made specifically for her with no extra fabric at all to hide her body. Not only was shenothiding her body, she was fully showing it off with a deep vee neckline that plunged dangerously deep into her cleavage. Evie had given her some sort of push-up bra to wear under the dress that had her breasts lifted so high, she didn’t think it was possible to have so much cleavage.
“You are stunning,” Evie said. “But wait. One more thing.” She glanced down at Amber’s bare feet and took off out of the changing area, only to return a moment later with a pair of impossibly high heels in a shimmery silver.
“Oh, yes!”
Amber could have sworn that her little sister did a fist pump when Evie handed her the shoes that were, of course, in her size. The woman really was good at her job. She hadn’t even asked Amber what her size was.
There was no way she was going to get away withnotputting the shoes on and she knew it. Using a chair for balance, Amber slipped them on. They fit perfectly.
One of the women gasped and, a little bit scared of her own reflection, Amber slowly turned around to the mirror.
“You look like a sex goddess,” Chelsea declared. “Holy shit!”
She didn’t know what a sex goddess was supposed to look like, but Amber one hundred percent agreed with the second part of her sister’s statement. “Holy shit,” she repeated. She didn’t even recognize the woman she looked at in the mirror.
“Is that…how did…”
“If you don’t buy every single thing that you’re wearing right now, then you are insane.” Chelsea shook her head. “I wasn’t sure I believed it before,” she continued. “But you’re right, Amber. You are definitely the furthest thing from boring and predictable. Not in that dress.”
Amber looked at her reflection with new eyes. Chelsea was right. There was absolutely nothing boring about how she looked. She didn’t even need to think about it. “Sold,” she said. “I’ll take it all.”
Ten minutes later, when Amber was tucking her credit card back in her wallet, and trying not to think about the growing balance on it with no way to pay it back, Chelsea tucked her arm through hers again. “See? I told you shopping was fun! Now, let’s go buy some presents.”
ChapterEighteen
The days passedin a blur as Amber and Cole helped the rest of the McCormicks get ready for Christmas. Even Cole, who had never given much thought to Christmas before, couldn’t help but fall under the spell of the holiday magic. A feat made easier because after that one uncomfortable moment in the truck when Cal grilled him on his intentions, Amber’s brothers hadn’t said one more word to him about what his intentions were when it came to their sister. He wasn’t completely naive to think that they had totally accepted him and every once in a while, Cole could have sworn he caught Cal watching him.
In fact, everyone seemed to have relaxed into the new family dynamic. Even Amber, who’d been nervous to see Ian and Mitch, and even more nervous to meet their mother, Maureen, seemed to have put those fears to rest.
