a white velour robe supplied by the hotel. She pulled it on. It was miles too big for her, but it would have to do. She tied the sash around her waist and wandered into the living room, hoping to find the clothes in a heap out there somewhere.
No luck.
“I thought you were coming back to bed.”
She glanced up to see Austin standing a few yards away, naked and sleepy-looking. And oh, so sexy.
“I didn’t want to go back to sleep, and now I can’t find my dress.” She peered behind the couch.
“Well, there are other things we can do in bed besides sleep,” he suggested.
She glanced at him with a grin. “Are you saying I didn’t do enough to satisfy you last night?”
His lips turned up as he walked toward her.
“Oh, sweetheart, you did more than satisfy me.” He pulled her into a kiss. When he drew back, he gazed down at her. “I just can’t get enough of you.”
“What are you two doing up?” Quinn asked from the bedroom doorway.
“It seems I’ve woken the whole household,” April said. “Sorry, Quinn.”
“Not a problem.” He walked to the couch and sat down. “I’ll order some breakfast.”
Austin took her hand and led her to the couch as Quinn dialed the phone. She sat down between Quinn and Austin. Quinn ordered a breakfast platter for three and coffee.
“She’s looking for her dress,” Austin mentioned as Quinn hung up the phone.
“Yeah, I sent it out with the other clothes to be cleaned.”
“But that’s the only dress I have to wear,” April protested.
“That’s why I did it. Now you’ll have something clean to put on, even if it is the same dress.” Quinn grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“What she really needs is to buy some new clothes,” Austin said. “April, I know you don’t have any money, but we can arrange for you to charge them to the room.”
“I already told her that, but she refused.”
Austin turned to her. “Sweetheart, we’re happy to give you the money. But if you won’t accept it, we can consider it a loan. You can pay us back whenever you can.”
She glanced from Austin to Quinn. She didn’t want to be in any more debt to Quinn, but she knew she was being stubborn. What Quinn had said yesterday was true. It didn’t make sense to keep wearing the same dress for a month. And she missed wearing panties.
“When will the clothes be back?” she asked. “I don’t relish wearing this oversize robe for long.”
Quinn smiled. “I think you look adorable in it. But they’ll probably bring up your dress with breakfast. I told them to rush it.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“And then after breakfast, you’ll go out shopping?” Austin persisted.
She hesitated.
“We could always refuse your dress when it arrives,” Quinn said. “Then you’ll be stuck wearing this robe.” His lips crept up into a grin. “Or nothing at all.”
“No fair. The two of you are ganging up on me.”
Austin laughed and slid his arm around her. Quinn did, too, and they moved in closer, their bodies pressing tightly against her.
“But, baby, we love ganging up on you,” Quinn said. “Especially in bed.”
“You’re both terribly wicked, you know.”
“And you love it,” Austin teased.
Quinn took her hand, then turned her to him. “Seriously, April, we’ve come so far. Let me do this for you.”
She gazed into his solemn blue eyes and bit her lip. Finally, she nodded.
“Okay, I … uh … thank you.”
* * *
Once she was finished breakfast, April donned her clean dress and headed to the shops in the hotel. Austin and Quinn wanted to come with her, but she refused. Although it could be fun, she didn’t need them helping her pick out bras and panties or trying to talk her into more expensive clothing than she was comfortable buying. She intended to pay this back, and the fact she had to shop in the hotel meant it would already be a hefty bill.
By the time she walked out of the third store, she wore new lingerie and a simple, fitted, royal-blue dress that could be worn during the day or dressed up for evening. It was comfortable and flattering. She wore new shoes, also royal blue. She knew it was more practical to stick with her one pair of black, but she’d indulged, mainly because she loved the iridescent panel along the front that shimmered like a fairy’s wings.
“Ms. Smith. Wait.”
She turned to see the salesperson who’d been helping her standing in the store entrance.
April walked back to her.