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“They don’t have half your fashion sense,” I announced, drawing his gaze to me. Elation lit up his features and split his mustache into two when he saw me.
“My favorite customer.” He rushed over to hug me. Gustavo was a touchy person, but I didn’t mind it much. “I’m glad you’re here. You know, they tell me that you’re a heartbreaker now, but I know you could never break my heart.”
“Never,” I said. His eyes instantly went to Lisa, looking at her curiously.
“Is this her?” he asked bluntly.
“Yeah,” I said, drawing her against my side. “This is my Lisa.”
My Lisa. Hmm.Somehow, the words had a good ring to them.
“I’m Gustavo.” The man extended his hand, and she shook it. Then he began to circle her, scratching his chin and nodding while talking to himself. “Hmm, beautiful lines. Nice legs but horrible taste. And posture like a horse.”
Lisa glanced at me, alarmed. “Did he just compliment me and then insult me?”
“Yup. That’s Gustavo’s way.”
Gustavo wasn’t paying attention to either of us, lost in his world. He was probably taking mental measurements before he clapped his hands together. “I have just the thing.” Out of the back room, two attendants rushed forward with tape measures. Lisa looked even more startled as they both walked around, stretching the tape around her body while Gustavo called out numbers.
“She doesn’t look like your normal type,” he said as they were taking her hip measurement.
“She’s not,” I said, watching her while I answered him. “She’s special.”
Lisa blushed at the answer. I had no clue if I was saying it to benefit our narrative or not, but I liked watching her blush. Besides, the words sounded right.
Which was the craziest thought I had in a while.
* * *
A few nights later,on the day of the gala, I waited downstairs for Lisa to finish getting ready. I had been too busy to see her for the past few days, but she assured me over text that Gustavo had sent her the dress.
“It’s…a lot” was how she described it, and I didn’t ask anymore. I knew Gustavo would make it beautiful regardless.
Violet was taking a nap when I arrived, so I had a conversation with her babysitter in the meantime. She was pretty young but seemed responsible, watching most of the kids in the area to raise money for college. She didn’t have any delinquencies or asshole boyfriends to speak of, and I asked her enough questions until I was satisfied that she wouldn’t be of any harm to my daughter.
After practically grilling the girl, I let her scurry away to do her homework in Violet’s room.
I did some work on my phone, too, while I waited until I heard the footsteps against the floorboard.
“Hey, sorry,” she was saying as she walked down. “It took me forever to get the dress on, and I didn’t want anything to rip.”
“It’s o—” The word died in my throat once I turned around and took a good look at her. My entire mouth dried up, and every thought left my brain when I saw her.
Good god.
Gustavo had crafted a silky golden dress that seemed to hug every curve and enhance the long elegant lines of her body. The color made her look like ivory wrapped in gold. It was a sleeveless number with a slit on the side that managed to make her look incredibly sensual without looking cheap. And her hair…it was cascading down her shoulders, moving and flowing with her as she walked. Like a siren. A siren with innocence and doubt in her wide-eyed gaze.
Desire scorched through me, leaving nothing in its wake, and my heart beat at an incredible rhythm.
“Do I look okay?” she asked, nerves obvious in her voice. She rubbed her hands against the front of her dress.
Yes. The word was there in my mind, but it took some time to make it to my lips.
“Yes.” It came out as a tight growl, which was understandable since I was trying to corral the harsh hunger rushing through me. She appeared confused, cocking her head at my answer. Probably because I sounded like a maniac. I took a deep breath, but it didn’t ease the tightness in my chest.
All I knew was that if I spent more time alone with her in this room, I might grab her and rip the dress from her body myself.
We might never make it to the gala.
