Bedded by Her Bodyguard(8)
Like it did now when she stepped out from behind the screen. Geometrical patterns of black and pink enhanced her curvature at her breasts, waist and hips.
Hot damn. He swallowed, trying to wet his tongue so he could form words. “Exceptional,” he said in Russian.
Her forehead crinkled. “Is that okay?”
“Perfect.”
“Isaac, you have to feel this fabric. It’s as weightless as a slip.”
Concerned about keeping his urges in check, he reluctantly complied with her request. Running his fingers over the silken texture, he thought of how good it would feel sliding down her body to the floor. He dropped his hand to his side and made a fist so he didn’t reach for her again. “Beautiful,” he murmured.
The attendant had done her job well and would receive a generous tip. The other four ensembles were also matched to Mindy’s body to perfection. Stylish, fitted to her proportions, and expertly put together.
In spite of Mindy’s rave reviews about the garments, Isaac suspected he enjoyed the fashion show far more than her. The stiffness in his pants proved as much, and he shoved his hands into his pockets to adjust himself.
Then her lilting voice drifted to him from behind the screen. “Which one should I wear today?”
“That’s not my area of expertise,” he said with a low laugh.
“But there are too many options. I don’t know which one to choose.”
Who said anything about choosing? He’d purchase them all. “The gray dress with the navy stripe across the middle. I liked that one.”
“Oh, good. Me, too.”
Mindy waited while the woman fastened the tedious row of cloth-covered gray buttons that ran down the back of the dress. The rest of the options seemed too expensive and exquisite for her payroll. She could only afford this one.
To her surprise, the clerk plucked a set of hair products and approached her, telling her to sit down on a tufted settee. Mindy complied, unsure of what was happening.
The woman took a soft-bristled brush to her long blonde strands, adding a serum to smooth the frizz. Then she twisted Mindy’s hair up into a loose chignon, securing the ends with bobby pins until she looked like Cinderella about to attend the Prince’s ball.
“Wow.” She stared at herself in the mirror, slightly dazzled. Gingerly, she cupped her hand along the perfect pouf up-do. “Thank you.”
Was this typical of the level of attention in Russian boutiques? A shame this didn’t happen back in the States. Then again, maybe it did, but she couldn’t afford such five-star service.
A twinge of concern tightened at the base of her neck. She wished she’d paid more attention to how many rubles went into a dollar. Isaac had assured her American money was all she needed during this trip. Yet she couldn’t begin to calculate in her head what she’d have to pay on the balance of her credit card in order to afford this dress. A rounded guestimate was the best she could do, and another dress like this would likely send her over the limit. Yet never in her life had she worn clothes that fit like they’d been tailored to her body before she’d walked in the door.
In spite of the unexpected pleasure of looking at herself in the mirror, she heard Helen’s marching orders at the back of her mind. Get the lapels of that suit tailored. The gap across your breasts draws too much attention. Why can’t you walk straight in a pencil skirt? Enter a room like you mean business, darling, or people won’t take you seriously.
When Mindy glanced at herself in the mirror again, a smug grin crossed her lips. Well. If Helen could see her now…
The outfitter tousled her hair, lending a little sensuality to the up-do, releasing two shorter strands to frame her face. Then using an old-fashioned glass perfume bottle with a bubble attached to the hose, she spritzed Mindy head to heels with a luxurious scent that hinted at pure class with a touch of sensual intrigue.
Mindy felt like a corporate goddess who could take on the world.
“What do you think?” she asked, stepping into view and turning a circle.
Isaac’s opinion meant a lot to her. She didn’t want to be an embarrassment.
Unlike the last time she’d stepped out from behind the screen, in this instance she had no trouble reading his expression. His eyebrows shot up and his jaw hung open.
With a slow sweep, his gaze caressed her form. Within the black fringe of his lashes, his dark eyes sparkled with awareness…even appreciation?
Though she doubted Isaac would ever notice her as anything more than a colleague. Maybe someday he might see her as girlfriend material. Or at least someone he’d call to go out on a Saturday night. Or heck, she’d take a one-night stand with the sexiest man she knew. The lust he inspired tugged at her core.