His boots retreated, then the shower came on. I blew out a breath. It was silly, but I was nervous. I wanted him to like the way I looked. I wanted to make him proud to be seen with me, to be proud when he told people I was his.
I lifted the dress and slipped it on over my pink lace panties and matching bra. They had a bright orange bow between the cups and on the top of the underwear. They were sexy, but the bow added a little bit of sweet as well. I’d bought them over a year ago, loving them on sight. I’d made great tips at the bar I’d been working at, and since they’d been in a clearance sale, I’d snapped them up. It was frivolous and irresponsible and the only real luxury I allowed myself during that time. I thought about Hunter when I found them, the way he used to like it when I wore pretty underwear.
I never wore them. I bought them for him, even though I never thought he’d see them. Yeah, it was kind of nuts, but they made me feel closer to him somehow. I allowed myself to pretend, for those moments, like nothing had changed, that I’d be going home to him.
Now I had him back.
Sometimes I still struggled to believe it.
I shook off those thoughts and tugged the dress in place. The fabric was silky and stretchy and slid on easily. I checked myself out in the mirror and winced. Crap.
It wasn’t really doing the drapey thing, not on me. Why the hell hadn’t I tried it on first? My boobs and butt were not cute and perky like Ruby’s, not anymore. Why hadn’t we considered my ass during the dress selection? The neckline was supposed to hang loose, give sexy peaks of cleavage, but my boobs filled it out completely. I was all cleavage and ass, zero class.
I heard the shower turn off.
Shit.
I grabbed the shoes and speed-walked past the bathroom to the living room. Grabbing my phone from my purse, I dialed Ruby.
“What’s up?”
“The dress is too tight. We didn’t factor in my ass or my boobs. I look like one of Raul’s strippers.” The bathroom door opened and I heard Hunter head to the bedroom.
Ruby was silent a few beats. “Text me a selfie.”
“What?”
“Let me see. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”
I clicked the camera icon, angled it down to get in most of my body, and sent it to her.
“Got it. Let me just take a look.” Silence.
My face started to get hot. “Ruby,” I hissed down the phone. “What did I tell you, I look . . .”
“Hot,” she cut in. “Damn, girl, if I had curves like that, I’d have that shit out any chance I got. Now stop freaking out, get your shoes on, and have a good time.” Then she ended the call.
Shoes!
I sat on the couch and slid my feet in. I hoped Ruby was right. At this point, I had nothing else to change into.
I’d done up the first shoe and was working on the second when I heard Hunter walk into the room. He stopped several feet away. I kept my head down, finishing what I was doing. It was crazy how nervous I felt about his reaction to the way I looked. Butterflies were going nuts in my belly. I stilled, took a steadying breath.
“Stand up,” he said in a rough voice.
I stood, straightening the fabric over my hips as I did.
“Look at me, Lulu.”
I lifted my head, no more hiding.
Wow. He was wearing a different suit than the one he’d had on the other morning. This was charcoal, and fitted him perfectly. He looked drop-dead sexy. My lady parts totally agreed and did a happy little flutter. “Hey,” I said into the silence.
He didn’t say “hey” back. He stood there like his boots were glued to the hardwood floor and stared at me. His gaze moved over my face, my hair, down my body, lingering on certain key areas, then down to my legs and the shoes.
Still, he didn’t say anything.
I was starting to freak out. I felt my face get hotter. “I . . . ah. I borrowed the dress from Ruby. The shoes, too.”
He shook his head. “They’re yours. She told me you didn’t have anything. I sent her out shopping.”
“What?” My mouth dropped open.
“The dress, the shoes, they’re yours.”
“But . . .”
“Come here,” he said low, so low it hit every one of my hot spots. “Now.”
“You’re being bossy again.”
“Fucking now, Lulu.”
I rolled my eyes dramatically, though I really didn’t feel as pissy as I was attempting to pull off. I was too busy worrying over the way I looked. I walked toward him, his gaze locked on me as I closed the distance.
“Turn around.”
I swallowed and turned, showing him the back, then faced him again. “If you don’t like it . . .”
“Shhh.”