From This Moment - By Alison Chaffin Higson Page 0,59
desk and place my dress on top of the growing pile of clothes. “Don’t put everything through yet, I want to have another look around.” I tell the sales girl who seems more interested in her phone than an actual sale.
Looking around, I spot the swim wear. Heading over there, I select three bikinis, in white, black and red, adding two sarongs to the bundle, as well as two pairs of flip flops. Leaving everything on the sales desk together, the sales girl seems to have finished on her phone call and starts looking at the bundle. You can see her face lighting up at the prospective sale.
Heading away again, I find Elise in the underwear section. “Hi, have you chosen anything?”
“Not yet, I don’t know what to wear under that dress.”
“Nothing Elise, you wear nothing. Trust me on this; you’ll get his blood going even more if you aren’t wearing underwear.”
“I’ve never gone without before,” she whispers.
“Neither had I until the other night. Cade nearly fainted.” I chuckle.
“In fact, don’t show it to Jake and we’ll have dinner the night before we go on vacation. Cade can get ready first then you can come up to my room and we can get dressed together; I’ll wear my red dress.” Elise doesn’t look too sure.
“Trust me Elise, it will only be us four and I’ll be wearing the same as you, plus Cade and Jake will both be in the same ‘condition’ throughout the meal.”
Nodding and laughing, “I can’t believe I’m going to do this.”
“It will be fun.”
“Come on; let me just grab some thongs and maybe a skirt or two then I’ll pay and we can go for a coffee. I need to rest my hip for a short time.”
Groaning, “Rona, you should have told me you were hurting.”
“Don’t worry it isn’t too bad, I just want to rest it before it does get bad.”
“I’ll just go pick up some trousers I like, and another dress, then I’m ready. So we can go meet Justin, then get lunch before heading back, unless you want to go somewhere else?” Elise is already distracted with dresses.
“That’s perfect.”
After having a fun morning we head for lunch with Justin.
Chapter 18
~~ Rona ~~
Sitting waiting for our lunch to arrive with Justin is enlightening and I discover he’s very good at entertaining; neither Elise nor I can hardly get a word in.
Finally our sandwiches arrive and as I’m just about to take a bite of mine, I look up into the smiling face of Josh Mitchell and freeze.
“Hello Rona. How are you feeling?” he asks, still smiling at me.
Shit!
“Hi Josh, I’m fine thank you.”
Realizing he probably doesn’t know Elise, “Josh, this is Elise.”
“We’ve already met.”
Turning to Elise, “Nice to see you again Elise, Justin.”
“Oh right.” He seems to be hovering.
“Do you want to join us?” Justin asks.
“If you’re sure I’m not interrupting anything?”
“No, take a seat,” Elise invites.
Which he does right next to me.
“We’re taking a breather from Rona’s shopping spree, which is exhausting,” Elise laughs.
“Hey, I’m not that bad, besides I’m not the only one who has bought a ‘knock your socks off’ dress!” Elise blushes.
Looking from Elise’s blush to me eating my sandwich, “Knock your socks off.... huh. You want to try them out on me?” Josh asks.
Fuck!
“They’re packed in the car. Sorry.”
Laughing at us now, “You actually went shopping with these two?” Josh asks Justin.
“No chance, I’m not brave enough to do that; I’m chauffeur and bodyguard today.”
Being all serious now, “Good, that’s what’s needed until Nick is in custody.” Josh looks towards me. “You need to make sure someone is always with you.” Looking towards Elise, “You as well.”
I take a bite of my sandwich and try to talk between a mouth full of food, “Don’t worry, between Cade and Jake I think the only place we’ll get to go alone is the bathroom.”
“That’s probably right.” Elise confirms.
After a few moments of silence, while we eat, Josh turns to me, “Where are you from? Sometimes I catch a hint of something else in your accent,” he asks, looking at me with eyes full of interest.
Keeping calm, “I’m originally from Rhode Island, but I’ve lived in Ireland for the past ten years. What about you?” I ask and avoid looking at Elise.
“Alaska originally, and now, wherever the job takes me,” he replies, giving me a lingering look.
After this question Justin jumps in asking about law enforcement, so that keeps them both busy for awhile.