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“It’s perfect,” Wade cuts in, his gaze raking my body. I feel the heat emanating from his eyes even through the mirror.
“Are you sure?” I pinch my face, looking down. “The slit is—”
He nods vigorously. “I’m positive.”
I try not to blush, but it’s too damn hot in here. His burning gaze isn’t helping. He should really start wearing sunglasses—like, all the time.
I slip back into my changing room and scrutinize my body again. It’s not perfect like Wade claims—hello, I can still see those love handles—but it’s decent. And with some shapewear underneath, I’ll have enough confidence to walk down that red carpet.
After I change back into my clothes, Wade pays for the dress, and the store assistant sees us out.
“Thank you.” I turn to him as we’re walking through the dark marble corridor. “You really didn’t have to.”
“Of course I did. I’m taking you to a ball. The least I can do is get you a nice dress. Let’s go find some shoes and accessories next?”
I almost choke on my breath. “What? No. I have stuff at home, don’t worry. You already spent thousands of pounds on this dress!”
He shrugs nonchalantly. “It’s nice to have someone to spend my money on. Besides my nephews, I don’t have many people to buy gifts for.”
“Well, you and I will be friends forever, then,” I say with a joking smile. “But you can wait till my birthday for my next present. You’ve done more than enough for today.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Are you sure? I really don’t mind. Don’t you want a purse, or some new shoes? A necklace?”
I can’t believe I’m saying no to shoes, but it is, indeed, my own voice that replies, “One hundred percent. I’m good, truly.” I already feel weird accepting this gift. I’m not going to take advantage of him, or his money, any more than I already have.
“Well, you’re an easy girlfriend to please,” he says as a slow smile builds on his face.
I give a small shrug. “Told you. All I really want is a candlelight dinner on a floating platform in the middle of the ocean. Any ocean. I’m not picky.”
“Right.” He throws his head back in laughter. “Always upping the stakes.”
I wink. “Always.”
“Wow,” Wade says as I open the door of my flat, his eyes stretched wide. “You look fan-tas-tic.”
“Thanks.” I manage a nervous smile, glancing down at my outfit. After rifling through my wardrobe, I found a pair of black lace stilettos and a matching clutch. I don’t have much in the way of fancy jewellery, so I just put on my mother’s bracelet. It’s a silver band with a rose engraving. When I lift my eyes again, my breath catches in my lungs.
This has to be my favourite version of Wade. Tuxedo Wade is breathtaking—literally. The glossy fabric of his black suit makes his steely eyes glimmer even more than usual. Always his best feature. I clear my throat. “You look quite dashing yourself.”
A tense silence descends, and neither of us dares to move.
“Em, should we go?” I ask after a moment.
He intertwines his hands over the back of his neck, eyes still locked on me. “Sure.”
I close the door behind me, and we hop into a black limousine. Wringing my hands, I gaze out the window as the car rolls forward.
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
I turn to him and release a shallow breath. “Is it that obvious?”
“You’re not talking, so yeah. That’s a pretty clear sign,” he says with a chuckle. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
“I’m just a bit apprehensive of the red carpet, that’s all.” Apprehensive? Freaking out is more like it.
His leg starts to bounce. “Yeah, I’m not a fan either, but it’s super quick, and it’s for a good cause. But I’m not worried. After all, no one will be paying any attention to me when I’m standing next to you, gorgeous.” He gives me a wink. I know he’s trying to lighten the mood, but it doesn’t help at all.
The car comes to a stop, and my heart skips a beat. Between Wade’s captivating eyes, the way he called me “gorgeous,” and the fact that we’re about to walk down a freaking red carpet, it’s a miracle I haven’t fainted yet. My heart doesn’t even know what to do. Thundering, somersaulting, sprinting, dropping, constricting—it does it all at the same time.
