“I don’t dare look at the price tags,” said Amber, glancing around at the gleaming floors, marble pillars and leather furniture groupings with complimentary designer water and champagne.
“What price tags?” asked Destiny. “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”
“I think I might break out in hives.”
Cole and Luca entered the store behind them.
“This ought to do it,” said Luca with obvious satisfaction.
Cole took in the high, brightly lit ceilings. “It’s nothing like the Fashion Farm back home.”
“Are you two going upstairs?” Destiny nodded to the sign for menswear.
“And miss the fun?” asked Luca.
“Let’s get Amber decked out first,” said Cole. “I want to make sure she doesn’t hold back.”
“You doubt my powers of persuasion?” asked Destiny.
“You’ll make me self-conscious,” Amber told Cole.
“What better means to cure you? If you can get comfortable in front of me, the rest of the executives will be easy.” He pointed to a headless mannequin in a blazer and skirt combination. “What about that?”
The skirt was short and black, scattered with tiny white flecks. The blouse was white with a braided scooped neck. And the blazer was solid black, fitted, with the sleeves pushed up the forearms.
“I like the necklace, too,” said Cole. “And the belt. Why not try on the whole thing?”
“You don’t think the skirt’s a little short?” Amber asked. Though she would admit, the outfit looked fun.
“Shows you have confidence,” said Cole.
“I don’t have confidence.”
Cole turned to Destiny. “You see what I’m dealing with?”
“It would work with black stockings,” said Destiny.
Cole opened his mouth, but Luca elbowed him in the ribs.
A sales clerk arrived. “Do you need any help?” she asked with a broad smile.
Amber couldn’t help wondering what Cole had been about to say on the topic of black stockings. She also couldn’t seem to stop a shimmer of sexual awareness.
“She needs a whole new wardrobe,” said Cole, gesturing to Amber.
Amber shifted under everyone’s scrutiny. “Oh, I wouldn’t say I need an entire—”
“Shut up,” Destiny interrupted. She gestured back to Cole. “He’s buying, and we need her to look like a million bucks. Literally.”
“Daywear, evening, office?” the clerk asked.
“Yes,” said Cole.
“This is getting out of hand,” said Amber.
She understood the principle behind his strategy. And now that she’d had a few hours to think about it, she agreed with it. But still, it wasn’t necessary to go overboard.