Splendor(73)

“Ian.” She tugged on his hand. “This is way too much money for just a robe. I can’t let you spend this much on me.”

In response he merely took hold of the offending price tag and tore it off. Grinning wickedly, he urged her along.

He showed her the drawers and cabinets in the huge double sink where toiletries, skin care products, and cosmetics had been stored for her, everything still in their wrappers and boxes. Tessa recognized some of the brands, especially the cosmetics that the makeup artist had used on her yesterday, while others were unknown to her. All of them looked expensive and high end.

But the real surprise came when Ian led her into his enormous walk-in closet. She had thought Julia’s closet jaw-dropping but this one easily dwarfed her friend’s several times over. The clothes racks, dark wood drawers, and granite topped counters had obviously been custom built and installed, for the closet was the sort of elaborate set-up that one only saw in design magazines or TV shows about the homes of the rich and famous.

Tessa stared at the rows of carefully hung suits, shirts, trousers, jackets, sweaters and other apparel. Dozens of pairs of shoes were neatly arranged on racks. The built-in drawers undoubtedly held things like socks, T-shirts and underwear. It was a huge space, far more than one person needed, as evidenced by the empty spaces here and there on the clothes racks.

“I didn’t have time to select much, just a few things really,” Ian was telling her as he walked her over to a partially filled clothes rack. “Once Marlene was able to confirm your sizes she packed everything up and had it delivered here to the house. I – I hope you like them, Tessa.”

She was startled at the amount of clothing – far more than a “few things” – that hung from the rack. There were dresses, skirts, trousers, jeans, blouses, sweaters, and jackets. On the shoe rack just below were half a dozen pair of assorted pumps, boots and casual footwear. Tessa didn’t need to look at labels or price tags to know that all of it had been very costly.

She’d never, ever, had such beautiful things before, never even let herself imagine she would ever own things as luxurious as these. For her entire life, her clothes had come from thrift shops, discount stores, and when things had been really bad, donations of used items from a charitable group.

Tessa couldn’t help the rush of tears that filled her eyes as she tentatively ran her hand over a pair of designer jeans before admiring a gorgeous silk blouse of pale blue.

“Do you like them?”

She turned to face Ian, who stood just behind her, a rather anxious expression on his face. It touched her deeply that he had evidently hand selected all of these lovely things for her, and even more so that he was worried if they were to her liking or not.

Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling her face against his bare chest. “How could I not?” she replied tearfully. “I know without even looking at everything that it will all be perfect. You have wonderful taste.”

He tipped her chin up, frowning at the sight of her tears. “If you like everything so much, then why are you crying?”

She felt a tear begin to trickle down her cheek. “Because you’re so good to me,” she whispered brokenly. “I’m not used to anyone doing these sorts of things for me, or trying to take care of me the way you do. I guess I’m just a little amazed.”

Ian kissed both of her eyelids. “This is just the tip of the iceberg, you know,” he told her solemnly. “I intend to buy you whatever your heart desires, Tessa. I don’t ever want you to be deprived again.”

She shook her head. “I don’t need things, Ian. I’m used to making do with what I have. I hope – I mean, that’s not why I’m here with you. Because of your money, I mean. That’s just not important to me. So don’t expect me to ask you for things because I won’t.”

“I know that, darling.” He combed her damp hair through his fingers. “Which is exactly why you can expect to receive a great many surprises from me. Ah, let’s not forget these.”

He opened a built-in drawer to reveal half a dozen sets of lacy lingerie, each in a different color. Ian picked up a very sexy bra of black lace and a matching pair of panties.

“I’ve been imagining you in this particular set since I picked them out,” he murmured in a husky voice.

Tessa fingered the lacy cups of the bra, feeling a little shy that he’d personally chosen lingerie for her. “They’re beautiful. And I’ll wear them for you whenever you want me to.”

The smile on his handsome face was positively amoral. “”Well, if I had my preference, I’d keep you dressed in nothing but these skimpy bits – or nothing at all – twenty four seven. But I suppose I need to let you out of my bed once in a while, don’t I?”