Various States of Undress: Virginia by Laura Simcox

collection yet.”
    â€œI have to see the boots,” Virginia sang out and allowed Stacey to pull her a few feet toward a display.
    Dex tugged gently in the other direction. “Another time.”
    â€œBut—” Stacey began. Dex cut her off with a cool smile. “Be seeing you, Stacey, I’m sure.” He put his hand at the small of Virginia’s back and guided her toward the elevator. Outside of the trunk show area, there were average shoppers everywhere, and most of them did a double take when they saw her.
    Suddenly, Virginia pulled away from Dex, lost her balance, and crashed into a small display of costume jewelry, which cascaded to the floor. Cards of earrings bounced everywhere, and, as Dex watched in horror, Virginia’s arms pinwheeled as she stumbled sideways and clutched onto the first available support—a mannequin wearing a halter top. By the time Virginia had righted herself, the tube top was around the mannequin’s waist. Two seconds later, the elevator dinged, and Dex moved as fast as he could to guide her into the car, thankful that it was empty. As the doors shut, he nodded at the people standing slack-jawed on the third floor, and then he turned to Virginia.
    â€œOh my God! Stupidest accident ever. I can’t believe that just happened,” she squealed.
    â€œForget about what just happened. Where the hell have you been? And why haven’t you returned any of my calls? Don’t you realize I’ve had to put Lilah’s on hold for the better part of a week because you haven’t bothered to do anything?”
    â€œI haven’t bothered to do anything? Really.” With a shrug, she folded her arms. “I’m not going to answer questions right now, Dex. I’m too flustered.”
    â€œYeah, I can see that. You did manage to turn a mannequin into a stripper.”
    â€œI couldn’t help it. I stumbled,” Virginia groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have let Stacey talk me into these shoes.”
    â€œThe shoes aren’t at fault,” Dex muttered.
    She looked up at him. “What are you implying?”
    â€œYou’re drunk.”
    â€œSays who? Maybe you’re the drunk one—you haven’t pushed any buttons yet.”
    He glared at her. “I haven’t? Says who?”
    She let out a huge sigh. “What floor are we going to? And why the hell did you need to drag me out of a trunk show to show me something at Saks?”
    â€œI don’t have anything to show you, Virginia. I just needed to pull you out of there.” She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand. “I’m not going to answer any of your questions right now, either.” Dex glanced at the buttons and pushed the one that would take them to street level. “But I am going to take you home.”
    â€œNo. My Secret Service is going to take me home.” Her eyes got big. “Oh my God! Where’s my agent?”
    Dex’s head jerked up. That was a good question. And he got an answer the minute the elevator dinged open. Two agents were standing in a defensive line, their faces grim. One of them was Larry. “Miss Fulton,” he said, and took her arm.
    â€œMuscles, I didn’t mean to scoot out of that trunk show without telling you,” she said. “How did you get down here so fast?”
    â€œThe stairs. I only had to shove a few people out of the way.” He nodded at her. “Where to?”
    â€œHer place,” Dex supplied, fully expecting Virginia to protest, but she astonished him by turning around with a smile. “Yep. And Dex is coming with.”
    Larry nodded again and propelled her past the crowd that had begun to gather. She really couldn’t go anywhere without attracting onlookers, could she? For a moment, Dex felt a flash of compassion for Virginia—but only a flash, because he was still mad at her.
    As they climbed into the waiting SUV outside, Virginia yanked