romantic.”
“So she thought they had a future?”
“I think so. At least she hoped they did. Sonja was tired of the lifestyle. She wanted a family. Randall would never offer her anything more than a place to live and a platinum card.”
“I understand.” Dylan flipped open a notebook. “Why don’t you tell me about Sonja’s schedule, start with the name of the juice bar where she met Oscar.”
“If I drink another coffee or eat another pastry I’ll explode.” Jerry hooked her arm through Ethan’s as they strolled past trendy shops selling overpriced must-haves.
“Too much of a good thing?” Ethan smiled down at her, then turned his attention to a particularly fashionable window. “That dress would look smashing on you.” He nodded.
Jerry followed his gaze and nearly sighed with admiration. The emerald green beaded gown shimmered with sparkling crystals in the midday sun. The simple cut, a sweetheart neckline and long, straight skirt would hug her in all the right places.
“It’s beautiful, but I can’t imagine where I’d wear it.” They both stopped to admire the twinkling beauty.
“We’ll find a place, trust me. Let’s go in.” Ethan was pulling her towards the boutique’s door.
“Ethan, no.” Jerry told him in hushed tones as she pulled back slightly. “My closet is filled already.” She doubted her checking account could handle the purchase and she knew that Nate would never approve it as a business expense.
“Let’s just see how it looks on you,” he coaxed, giving her a killer smile.
When Jerry emerged from the dressing room, Ethan nearly swallowed his tongue. She was a vision; the dress fit her like a glove, emphasizing her small waist, elongating her already slender neck and creating an alluring décolletage that beaconed him to bury his face in her smooth skin.
“Amazing.” Though standing was suddenly difficult, he couldn’t help but go and touch her. Placing both hands on her shoulders, he turned her towards the three-way mirror. “Just look at how lovely you are.”
Her shoulders tingled beneath his touch and his hot breath brought goose bumps to her neck, but it was the hungry look in his eyes that had Jerry’s knees wanting to buckle. She managed to stay upright and heed his request to look at their reflection.
The couple in the mirror was sophisticated, polished and gorgeous. Jerry very nearly did not recognize the woman as herself when she finally pulled her eyes away from Ethan’s.
“The dress is lovely,” she breathed, still in awe of the perfection of their reflection.
“Yes, but it’s you who brings it to life. Simply stunning.” Ethan trailed his hands down her arms, pleased when he heard her breath hitch at his touch.
“I’m not buying it.” Jerry tried to keep her cool, but the feel of his warm fingers and the closeness of his body made it difficult.
“Of course not.” He inched closer until he could smell the light scent of strawberry that drifted up from her hair. They stood there for a long moment, staring into each other’s eyes in the mirror.
“Aren’t you two the ones in the paper?” A nasally voice broke the spell of the moment.
With obvious effort, Ethan let go of Jerry, stepped back and turned towards the intruder. “Our picture was in the newspaper this morning.” He said politely to the short woman holding a purse almost as wide as she was.
“It thought it was you. See Maude, I told you we’d see some celebrities on this street.” She nodded to her friend, barely visible over the clothing display.
“Excuse me,” Jerry made her escape back into the dressing room, leaving Ethan to handle the women’s curiosity.
“So who are you?” The woman continued, unconcerned with the rudeness of her question.
“We’re nobody, just a couple who happen to enjoy the opera. If you ladies will excuse me,” Ethan gave them both a smile before heading over to the cash register, discreetly tucked into the corner of the boutique.
Arrangements to
“So she thought they had a future?”
“I think so. At least she hoped they did. Sonja was tired of the lifestyle. She wanted a family. Randall would never offer her anything more than a place to live and a platinum card.”
“I understand.” Dylan flipped open a notebook. “Why don’t you tell me about Sonja’s schedule, start with the name of the juice bar where she met Oscar.”
“If I drink another coffee or eat another pastry I’ll explode.” Jerry hooked her arm through Ethan’s as they strolled past trendy shops selling overpriced must-haves.
“Too much of a good thing?” Ethan smiled down at her, then turned his attention to a particularly fashionable window. “That dress would look smashing on you.” He nodded.
Jerry followed his gaze and nearly sighed with admiration. The emerald green beaded gown shimmered with sparkling crystals in the midday sun. The simple cut, a sweetheart neckline and long, straight skirt would hug her in all the right places.
“It’s beautiful, but I can’t imagine where I’d wear it.” They both stopped to admire the twinkling beauty.
“We’ll find a place, trust me. Let’s go in.” Ethan was pulling her towards the boutique’s door.
“Ethan, no.” Jerry told him in hushed tones as she pulled back slightly. “My closet is filled already.” She doubted her checking account could handle the purchase and she knew that Nate would never approve it as a business expense.
“Let’s just see how it looks on you,” he coaxed, giving her a killer smile.
When Jerry emerged from the dressing room, Ethan nearly swallowed his tongue. She was a vision; the dress fit her like a glove, emphasizing her small waist, elongating her already slender neck and creating an alluring décolletage that beaconed him to bury his face in her smooth skin.
“Amazing.” Though standing was suddenly difficult, he couldn’t help but go and touch her. Placing both hands on her shoulders, he turned her towards the three-way mirror. “Just look at how lovely you are.”
Her shoulders tingled beneath his touch and his hot breath brought goose bumps to her neck, but it was the hungry look in his eyes that had Jerry’s knees wanting to buckle. She managed to stay upright and heed his request to look at their reflection.
The couple in the mirror was sophisticated, polished and gorgeous. Jerry very nearly did not recognize the woman as herself when she finally pulled her eyes away from Ethan’s.
“The dress is lovely,” she breathed, still in awe of the perfection of their reflection.
“Yes, but it’s you who brings it to life. Simply stunning.” Ethan trailed his hands down her arms, pleased when he heard her breath hitch at his touch.
“I’m not buying it.” Jerry tried to keep her cool, but the feel of his warm fingers and the closeness of his body made it difficult.
“Of course not.” He inched closer until he could smell the light scent of strawberry that drifted up from her hair. They stood there for a long moment, staring into each other’s eyes in the mirror.
“Aren’t you two the ones in the paper?” A nasally voice broke the spell of the moment.
With obvious effort, Ethan let go of Jerry, stepped back and turned towards the intruder. “Our picture was in the newspaper this morning.” He said politely to the short woman holding a purse almost as wide as she was.
“It thought it was you. See Maude, I told you we’d see some celebrities on this street.” She nodded to her friend, barely visible over the clothing display.
“Excuse me,” Jerry made her escape back into the dressing room, leaving Ethan to handle the women’s curiosity.
“So who are you?” The woman continued, unconcerned with the rudeness of her question.
“We’re nobody, just a couple who happen to enjoy the opera. If you ladies will excuse me,” Ethan gave them both a smile before heading over to the cash register, discreetly tucked into the corner of the boutique.
Arrangements to
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