level not many women were.
He genuinely liked her.
Too bad he was duping her.
An odd, heavy sensation filled his chest, wilting the smile he wore as he gazed at her. For some inexplicable reason his thought process had diminished his pleasure. What was this feeling? Aislinn breezed past him, touching the gowns hanging on the racks near the door of the small, crowded shop. His smile completely faded and the heavy weight grew as he watched her. Was this regret?
Gods . . . was it . . . guilt ?
Carina hit him playfully on the shoulder. “You’re frowning. What’s wrong?”
He blinked and jerked, not sure how long he’d been standing there so annoyingly confused. “Where’s the lingerie and let’s see if we can get Aislinn into some,” he growled and walked toward his prey.
“There’s my boy,” Carina purred.
Aislinn had stopped to finger the material of a dark red gown with a plunging neckline and back. It was sleeveless and had a long straight sheath skirt. Aislinn would be a knockout in that dress. It would set off her light skin tone, the silver blond fall of her subtly curling hair, and her beautiful light gray eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmured as he imagined taking it off her. She’d look even better swathed in nothing but moonlight. Or just his hands.
She flipped the tag up at him. “It’s Valentino and it’s twelve thousand dollars.”
“You can’t afford it?”
“Oh, yes, I can afford it,” she said, moving to the next rack of gowns. “My family had money before Piefferburg was created.” She flicked him a sour glance. “ We don’t live off the backs of the troop. However, I make it a point never to spend that much on any article of clothing for myself. It’s too self-indulgent.”
“I would spend that much in a heartbeat,” murmured Carina, coming to stand beside Gabriel. She fingered the rich material of the dress, then wandered off toward the purses.
“Okay,” answered Gabriel, pushing past Carina. “Then let me buy you something expensive and self-indulgent.”
She turned and narrowed her eyes at him. “No.”
“You have to let me. It’s to show you my appreciation for being my guide this week.”
She turned her back to him. “No, thank you. It’s not necessary.”
“Something slinky and sexy for your next lover, maybe?” He paused. “Who won’t be me.” Lie, lie, lie.
“No.”
“Ah, that means you will be taking me as your next lover?”
A clerk came near. Aislinn smiled and waved her away. “Hardly.”
“Good. We’re agreed. Let me buy something for the next lucky man. You have no reason to say no and you’ll offend me if you do, since I’m trying to repay you for your kindness.”
She halted near a rack of designer shoes. “I haven’t been very kind to you.”
“All the more reason to relent and allow me to buy you a gift.”
She ran her index finger down a pair of red Jimmy Choos. “I’ll say yes just to get you to quit and let me shop. I have a feeling you won’t stop until I give in to you.”
Oh, she was right about that .
He flashed a smile and hoped it didn’t look as predatory as he felt. “I’m nothing if not persistent.”
“Believe me, I noticed.” She turned and began to saunter away. “When I find something suitable, I’ll let you know.”
“It has to be lingerie and you have to let me see it on you before I buy it. You know, to make sure your next lover will approve.”
Her steps faltered, but she only called airily over her shoulder, “Fine.”
He blinked. He thought she’d howl at that string he’d attached.
Having no particular interest in women’s clothing other than when he was taking it off someone, Gabriel watched Aislinn. She touched the gowns, examined their sizes and lengths, talked to the clerk about alterations, but she did it all with a dull look in her eyes. Whereas Carina seemed beatific in the shop, with her ability to buy new things to wear at court, Aislinn touched the garments with
He genuinely liked her.
Too bad he was duping her.
An odd, heavy sensation filled his chest, wilting the smile he wore as he gazed at her. For some inexplicable reason his thought process had diminished his pleasure. What was this feeling? Aislinn breezed past him, touching the gowns hanging on the racks near the door of the small, crowded shop. His smile completely faded and the heavy weight grew as he watched her. Was this regret?
Gods . . . was it . . . guilt ?
Carina hit him playfully on the shoulder. “You’re frowning. What’s wrong?”
He blinked and jerked, not sure how long he’d been standing there so annoyingly confused. “Where’s the lingerie and let’s see if we can get Aislinn into some,” he growled and walked toward his prey.
“There’s my boy,” Carina purred.
Aislinn had stopped to finger the material of a dark red gown with a plunging neckline and back. It was sleeveless and had a long straight sheath skirt. Aislinn would be a knockout in that dress. It would set off her light skin tone, the silver blond fall of her subtly curling hair, and her beautiful light gray eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmured as he imagined taking it off her. She’d look even better swathed in nothing but moonlight. Or just his hands.
She flipped the tag up at him. “It’s Valentino and it’s twelve thousand dollars.”
“You can’t afford it?”
“Oh, yes, I can afford it,” she said, moving to the next rack of gowns. “My family had money before Piefferburg was created.” She flicked him a sour glance. “ We don’t live off the backs of the troop. However, I make it a point never to spend that much on any article of clothing for myself. It’s too self-indulgent.”
“I would spend that much in a heartbeat,” murmured Carina, coming to stand beside Gabriel. She fingered the rich material of the dress, then wandered off toward the purses.
“Okay,” answered Gabriel, pushing past Carina. “Then let me buy you something expensive and self-indulgent.”
She turned and narrowed her eyes at him. “No.”
“You have to let me. It’s to show you my appreciation for being my guide this week.”
She turned her back to him. “No, thank you. It’s not necessary.”
“Something slinky and sexy for your next lover, maybe?” He paused. “Who won’t be me.” Lie, lie, lie.
“No.”
“Ah, that means you will be taking me as your next lover?”
A clerk came near. Aislinn smiled and waved her away. “Hardly.”
“Good. We’re agreed. Let me buy something for the next lucky man. You have no reason to say no and you’ll offend me if you do, since I’m trying to repay you for your kindness.”
She halted near a rack of designer shoes. “I haven’t been very kind to you.”
“All the more reason to relent and allow me to buy you a gift.”
She ran her index finger down a pair of red Jimmy Choos. “I’ll say yes just to get you to quit and let me shop. I have a feeling you won’t stop until I give in to you.”
Oh, she was right about that .
He flashed a smile and hoped it didn’t look as predatory as he felt. “I’m nothing if not persistent.”
“Believe me, I noticed.” She turned and began to saunter away. “When I find something suitable, I’ll let you know.”
“It has to be lingerie and you have to let me see it on you before I buy it. You know, to make sure your next lover will approve.”
Her steps faltered, but she only called airily over her shoulder, “Fine.”
He blinked. He thought she’d howl at that string he’d attached.
Having no particular interest in women’s clothing other than when he was taking it off someone, Gabriel watched Aislinn. She touched the gowns, examined their sizes and lengths, talked to the clerk about alterations, but she did it all with a dull look in her eyes. Whereas Carina seemed beatific in the shop, with her ability to buy new things to wear at court, Aislinn touched the garments with
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