“That’s the point, Stella. Aaron wants you to have dresses that will help you present a certain image. From what Aaron has said, you’re trying to get help for your town. Believe me, that dress will help you get people’s attention. It’s beautiful on you.”
Stella laughed and shook her head. “Thank you. I feel as if I’m only half-dressed.”
“Not at all. You look wonderful.”
Stella shook her head and studied her image, which she barely recognized.
“Try it,” Cecilia urged. “You don’t want Aaron shopping for you.”
“No, I don’t.” She sighed. “I’ll take this one.”
The next two were far too revealing and she refused. “I would never feel comfortable even though these are beautiful dresses.”
The next was a black dress that had a high neck in front, but was backless as well as sleeveless.
She had to agree with Cecilia that she looked pretty in the dress, but she wondered whether she would ever really wear it.
“You should have this. It’s lovely on you,” Cecilia said. “I know Aaron would definitely like this one.”
She felt like telling Cecilia that she was not buying the dresses to please Aaron, but she wondered if she would be fooling herself in saying that. She finally nodded and agreed to take it, because she had to agree that she looked nice in it.
Not until the business suits was she comfortable in the clothes she tried on. The tailored dark blue and black suits were plain and her type of clothing. Until she tried on blouses to go with them. Once again, it was low necklines, soft, clinging material—so different from her usual button-down collars and cotton shirts.
Finally she was finished and had all her purchases bagged and boxed. She was shocked to look at her watch and see that it was almost four.
Sid came in to pick her purchases up and load them into the limo as Stella thanked Cecelia and the two other women who worked in the shop. Finally she climbed into the limo to return to Aaron’s to get ready for dinner with the oil and gas executives who were potential donors.
When she arrived, Aaron was waiting on the drive. After she stepped out of the limo, Aaron and Sid carried her purchases into the house.
When Sid left them, Aaron closed the back door and turned to take her into his arms. “We’re supposed to meet the people we’re having dinner with in less than two hours. These are the oil and gas executives I told you about.”
“Thanks, for setting this up, Aaron.”
“I’m glad to, and Cole has made some appointments with potential donors, as well. How was your mother?”
“Busy with her own life.”
“Have you told her about your pregnancy?”
“No. She was very unhappy to learn she was going to be a grandmother when my sister had her first baby. I think Mom thought it aged her to suddenly become a grandmother. She’s not close to her grandchildren and doesn’t really like children in general. My mother is in her own world. To her, my news will not be good news.”
“Thank heavens you don’t take after her. She’s missing out on one of the best parts of life,” he said, surprising her that a single guy would express it that way.