The relief in her eyes made me feel like I’d slayed a dragon for her.
“With the exception of a dinner dress.” I walked over to the rack, plucking off the cerulean-blue cocktail dress I’d chosen for her, and moved to stand in front of her. “Try this one and I promise we’re done.”
She nodded and sidestepped me.
But Q stopped her to hand over a box of shoes. “That dress is plainer than I’d pick, so your shoes have to make a statement.”
Miss “I Can Strip Naked in Front of Anyone” had gotten more modest during the fashion show-and-tell—which I found fascinating as I watched her duck into the dressing area.
As soon as she was gone Q glared at me.
“What?”
“She—”
“Doesn’t enjoy this,” I supplied. “Not like I do.”
That’s when I realized I’d played right into his hands.
Q smirked. “If she’s finished and your day is cleared for a few more hours, we have time to look at spring styles. Sam sent me your appearance schedule for the month. The only event I’m concerned with is the Grant Foundation Gala. Not black tie, but it will require a new suit. The fabric I’ve chosen is this gorgeous . . .”
Right then Gabi sashayed past us.
Speaking of gorgeous. The woman was stunning. The harsh line of the dress left her right shoulder bare as it swept up into an open, diagonal slash from between her breasts to the left side, revealing a peek of her skin. The skintight cut of the fabric showcased her physique—from those broad shoulders and muscular arms down to the nipped-in waist and the flare of her hips, ending right below her knees. The pumps she wore were a shade of blue darker than the dress, with silver studs outlining the sole and smaller rhinestones creating a starburst effect on the toes. The stiletto heel was shiny silver.
My damn mouth went so dry I couldn’t speak, so I merely motioned for her to turn around.
The back of the dress mimicked the front except the diagonal slash was wider, revealing more skin.
And that ass. Wrapped in silk . . . the only way it would be better was when that ass was wrapped in my hands.
Gabi spun back to face us, and I blanked the lust from my face. “God. I love this. But I peeked at the tag, Q, and this one dress is my budget for this entire shopping spree. So I’ll have to pass.” She glanced over her shoulder at herself in the mirror and sighed. “Too bad.”
“Darling, the reason I told you not to look at the tags is so you wouldn’t misread them. That dress is one hundred dollars, not one thousand.”
She studied him—and then me—with skepticism. “Really? How convenient. What about the shoes?”
Q laughed. “Oh, those are five hundred bucks . . . if you buy them outright. But we picked up all these accessories at Cindi’s Attic—the couture rental store.”
“Rental? I don’t remember it saying that on the sign.”
“It’s not advertised on the marquee but that’s what it is.”
That stubborn jaw notched higher in disbelief. “That’s a thing?”
“Yes. How many working women can afford to buy special-occasion accessories outright? They do a booming rental business. Cindi’s Attic is the owner’s tongue-in-cheek reference to Cinderella, the ultimate borrowed-clothes girl.”
“So I can afford this?”
“Absolutely. I’ll find a purse to go with this ensemble. I’ll accessorize all of your outfits from Cindi’s Attic, giving you a separate list of rental pieces and return dates. But usually, the rental is for a full month.”
She jumped up and down—in heels—she was so excited. “This has been amazing, guys, thank you.”
Her joy was infectious. Q and I high-fived, grinning like idiots.
“Okay. So I’m set. I’ll just change out of this.”
Wasn’t until she was out of sight that I could breathe again. I leaned over to Q and whispered, “Bill me the difference for that dress. I’ll handle the accessories, but find a ‘rental’ deal on a silver mink cape and bill me for that too.”
He nodded.
“Whatever fabric you’ve picked for my suit for the Grant Foundation Gala better match that dress.”
“I thought you weren’t together,” Q said slyly.
“We’re not.” I flashed my teeth. “Yet.”
* * *
* * *
After Gabi dressed, she received a phone call about filling in for a sick referee for a high school playoff game ASAP, so she called an Uber to take her back to LI and we skipped lunch.
Q showed me the fabric for the suit and I approved it. Then we