The Mix-Up (Southern Hearts Club #3) - Melanie Munton Page 0,75
you. And I have the perfect jacket to go with it.”
Feeling devious, I return her smile. “Oh, he’s actually my brother. His boyfriend had to go out of town for business, so he decided to tag along with me. But you’re right about him having impeccable taste. Best shopping partner ever.”
Ryder emits a low growl behind me.
I bite my tongue to hold back my laughter.
Lanelle’s face softens. “How nice. My sister is literally the worst shopping partner ever. She doesn’t have a button to turn off her brutal honesty.”
“I have no choice but to be brutally honest with this one, I’m afraid,” Ryder cuts in. “A long streak of idiot boyfriends has really chipped away at her self-confidence. But as hard as it might be, the best cure is to just tell it like it is. For instance,”—he slaps my ass hard, sending me tumbling forward with a yelp—“you’re going to need a different skirt, sis. This one makes your ass look fat.” To Lanelle, he adds, “Too many Christmas cookies, you know?”
Oh, that smug bastard is so going to get murdered.
And this is New York City. No one will even notice him bleeding out on the dirty street.
Lanelle sighs sympathetically. “I hear you. That holiday weight is a bitch.”
“I’ll go find something else.” Ryder shoves me aside and steps around the curtain that Lanelle holds open for him. Then he ducks his head back in. “I’ll grab you a pair of Spanxx, too. Until you can work off all that ham and turkey.”
I snatch my heel off the floor and launch it at his head. Dodging it at the last second, he struts off laughing.
I decide to let him off the hook for calling me fat.
I mean, the dude is buying me Chanel.
Separate hotel rooms.
Directly across the hall from each other, but they’re still separate.
And yes, I’m painfully aware that a couple feet of measly hallway are all that separates us as we undress and get ready for dinner. Ryder is getting naked twenty feet away from me, if that. Something about him being out there while I’m in here feels wrong. The fact that we’re not together feels inherently wrong.
One night of crazy monkey sex with the man and I go bananas.
My entire life, the one thing I could always count on—could always rely on—were my instincts. But apparently, I can’t even trust those anymore.
I glance down at my phone when a text comes through. It’s him, asking if I’m ready. Instead of replying, I just grab my coat and clutch and head for the door. It was a long day of listening to panels at the expo, and I’m ready to unwind for the rest of the night. We happen to open our doors at exactly the same time—
Gulp.
Jesus C, I want to tackle him right back into that room.
He’s already wearing his wool coat over his black sweater and gray slacks. He attempted to comb his hair back, but I know that one floppy section will be hanging over his forehead by the time we reach the lobby.
“Ready?”
He has yet to meet my eyes. “You look…” He rubs his hand over his chest—right over his heart—looking undone. “Unbelievably beautiful.”
I come dangerously close to melting into the carpet.
This ivory Chanel jumpsuit fits me like a glove. It dips into a low V in the front and tapers down at the waist, flattering my shape. I paired it with some classic black pumps and my favorite berry lipstick that Harper made especially for my skin tone. A chunky gold bracelet and delicate gold chain around my neck complement the understated cut of the jumpsuit. For the finishing touch, I pulled one side of my hair back with a gold clip so I could show off my new Chanel stud earrings that Ryder bought me.
He’s already buying me jewelry. And we’re not even dating.
Is that irony? Or…bribery?
“I better mark this day on the calendar.”
His eyes connect with mine. “Why is that?”
“That’s the first genuine compliment you’ve ever given me.”
He acts as if that comment jars him. “Compliments have never really been our thing, have they?”
He’s just now figuring that out? “Not really.”
A curt nod. “I can change that.”
Please don’t.
Because if that changes, then I’ll be forced to acknowledge all the other ways our relationship has changed. And I’m not sure I’m mentally capable or emotionally mature enough to do that at the present time.
As I slip on my ivory coat, he holds out his arm for me to take.