were talking about an outfit to knock Jake’s socks off.”
“In fact, Elise, I’ll take you to where I bought the red dress.” I wink at Cade.
~~ Cade ~~
Red dress, heck that’s all Rona needs to say and I start to harden. If I live to be a hundred, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the ‘Red Dress’. Sitting down hard next to Rona to try and hide what’s going on in my sweats from Elise, I only half listen to them going on about clothes and shoes. I picture Rona in that dress.
“Cade.” Rona brings me back to the present. “Will I need underwear at this place?”
Laughing, “I think I’ll go and freshen up for our outing.” Elise runs off.
“Unless you want to give me a heart attack then, yes you do, but buy some more bikinis as well, I like those.” I wiggle my eyebrows making Rona laugh.
On a serious note, “I don’t like the idea of you going out while Nick is still at large.... in fact, I think I should go with you.”
“Cade, you can’t do that, it’s a girls’ shopping trip and we’ll be in public the whole time. We’ll be okay.”
“I still don’t like it, why don’t I drive you both and wait in the car while you shop?”
“Cade, I can’t stay in a shell. I know you’re worried, but I won’t live my life being afraid that Nick is going to appear again. I can’t live like that.”
“I don’t like this, I hear what you say, but I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Let me think about it for a few minutes.”
“Are we going to have a disagreement if I give you a credit card to use?” I ask Rona guessing the answer already.
“Yes, we are. You know I have my own money. I didn’t push about the vacation, because I could see how happy it made you doing that for us. But it would make me feel very uncomfortable letting you pay for my clothes as well.”
“Will you take the card and just buy one special dress with it just for me?”
She smiles, “I’m not sure you would look good in a dress!”
“Ha ha, wise ass!”
“Alright Cade, I’ll only use it to purchase one special dress, any particular color in mind?” She asks.
“White.... with a tan you’ll look stunning in white. Something sexy, but that you can be seen in public wearing. You don’t necessarily need shoes because of the sand there.” I caress her face. “God, I love you.” Telling her this just as I sweep in for a quick kiss. Elise walks down the corridor.
“I’m ready to go Rona, but Justin is going to drive us. I phoned Jake to tell him I was going shopping with you and he said Justin is going into town and would act as driver and bodyguard.” Elise rolls her eyes.
“Thank god. At least I won’t be in a panic the whole time you’re gone now.” I feel relieved.
“When will Justin be here?” Rona asks Elise.
“In about five minutes.”
“Let me just go upstairs for my purse and boots.”
Leaving me alone in the kitchen to drink my coffee, I feel rather pleased with myself. I knew Rona wouldn’t let me pay for her clothes, but she would have also refused the dress if I’d gone straight with that. At least I now know what tactic to use when I want to buy her something.
She seems to be moving a lot easier today, although once or twice I caught her limping slightly. I certainly wasn’t going to suggest putting her shopping off until tomorrow as she seems full of excitement at going shopping with Elise.
Walking back down the stairs slowly, but with her boots on and her purse and coat in her hands, she looks up and catches me watching her. Her whole face glows. Standing up from the chair, I walk over to her. We embrace at the bottom of the stairs.
“You did that well, how’s the pain today?” I ask while she’s in my arms. Her arms are wrapped around my waist. Then her hand sneaks down the inside of my jeans and shorts; she squeezes my rear. She pulls away grinning, knowing what she does to me.
Placing an all too brief kiss on my lips, “I’ve just taken another painkiller to keep the pain at bay. I’ll be walking more today than I have since the attack, plus I’ve a spare painkiller with me. Please don’t worry about me.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Are you