Page 48 of Dream Date With the Millionaire
“Do you have it on?” Bryce asked.
“On is relative,” she admitted. “There isn’t much fabric.”
“Out—now,” he said, sounding impatient.
She jammed her feet into a pair of stilettos, afraid to look in the mirror, and carefully walked out of the dressing room so she wouldn’t topple over.
Bryce’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit…skimpy?” she asked.
“You look hot, but I’m sure there’d be a fight or two if you wore that out in public. But the dress would be great for an intimate dinner for two at home.”
“I’d rather wear your sweats,” she admitted.
“Comfort over style.”
Dani smiled. “You know it.”
“Are you having fun yet?” Bryce asked.
She nodded.
Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. “Let’s see the next one.”
In the dressing room, she wiggled into the blue cocktail dress Bryce had selected. She stared at herself in the mirror, not recognizing her reflection.
She looked and felt like a princess. A warmth settled in the center of her chest. Was this how Marissa had felt when she’d finally found her wedding dress?
Dani slipped on the pair of silver slingback heels that actually fit and were reasonably comfortable for heels.
Feeling like the heroine from an animated movie, she pirouetted out of the dressing room.
“Stunning.” Bryce leaned forward, cradling his drink in his hands. “That’s my favorite.”
“Mine, too.” She touched the soft fabric with her fingertip. “But I’d better put on my own clothes in case someone wants to buy it.”
In the changing room, Dani stepped out of the shoes. The other two dresses and shoes had been removed from the changing room.
Gabrielle handed her a glass of sparkling mineral water with a slice of lime. “For you.”
The places where Dani shopped limited taking clothing into a dressing room to six items or fewer. The only thing the attendants handed customers were plastic numbers. She placed the drink on the small table in her dressing room. “Thanks.”
“May I please have your dress once you have it off so I can put it on the hanger?”
“Sure.” Dani closed the curtain and took off the dress. She reluctantly handed it through the slit in the drapes to a waiting Gabrielle.
“Thank you, Dani.”
“You’re welcome.”
This was like no window-shopping expedition she’d ever been on before. Even the dressing room was luxurious, with silk curtains, overstuffed benches and gilded mirrors.
Dani put on her own clothing and walked out to find an empty chair. She looked around the shop. Bryce stood by the door with a glossy bag in his hand.
Her heart fell. “You didn’t.”
“The blue dress was made for you.”
Dani started to speak, but noticed people staring at them. She exited the store. Bryce followed, carrying the bag.
“We were window-shopping, not buying,” she said.
“That’s before I saw you in the dress.”
She stopped in front of the store next door. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I don’t feel comfortable with you buying me clothing.”
“It’s a gift,” he said as if he’d bought her a latte at the corner coffee shop and not a designer cocktail dress and, guessing by the box in the bag, the shoes, too. “I’m sure you have something nice you could wear to the engagement party, but I wanted to do something special for you. Is that wrong?”
He looked so pleased with himself. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “It’s very sweet of you, but it’s important to me that I do things myself. Buy things myself.”
“Do you buy gifts for yourself?”
“No.”
“You don’t like gifts.”
Dani noticed it wasn’t a question. “I’m not really used to getting gifts.”
“It’s time for that to change.” Bryce hugged her. His soap and water scent made her heady. “Let’s start today.”
She loved being in his embrace, with his strong arms wrapped around her. He made her feel safe and secure, as if he’d never let anything happen to her. She’d never felt this way with anyone before. And she liked the feeling. A little too much.
Dani stepped back. “I’m—”
“Not trying to be difficult,” he finished for her. “Neither am I.”
Stalemate.
She didn’t know what to say or do. Her gaze strayed to the shopping bag. She looked away.
“You know, I took your advice and checked out some of those dating articles on the Web site you mentioned,” Bryce said. “Compromise is the key to a successful relationship.”
