I knocked on her door. When she opened it with a huge smile, still rocking that tight little dress and high heels, I asked, “Ready to go shopping? Let’s get you into something that suits you.”
Her smile faded.
Shit. That came out wrong. I added hastily, “Not that you look bad like that.”
Her eyebrows arched.
I rolled my shoulders back and swallowed hard. “I found a boutique that’s reopening just for us. A car is coming to take us there now.”
“For a second makeover today?” She folded her arms across her chest. I tried not to focus on how delightfully that move rounded her breasts above the neckline of her dress.
I’m sure I looked like a deer caught in headlights. “I thought—” I cleared my throat. “You seemed to want—Oh, hell, just close the door and let me start over.”
When she closed the door in my face, I wasn’t entirely certain it would reopen when I knocked on it again. It did. Her smile wasn’t as bright, but her arms were at her sides again. “Hello.”
I started by leaning forward and kissing her sweet lips, slowly, gently. The warm way she returned that kiss went a long way to reassure me that my gaff was forgiven. When I raised my head I said, “I found a place where I can get a suit for tomorrow. Would you like to come shopping with me?”
Her smile widened. “I would love to.” She linked her arm in mine. “Hopefully they have lower heeled shoes.”
I closed the door to her room behind us. “Who knows? You might find something you like as well.”
She glanced up at me and gave my arm a shake. “I felt really sexy standing in that doorway.”
I stopped and turned her to me. “Hold on. Do you think it’s easy to not haul you off to the nearest bed? My mind is racing with all the things I want to do with you, to you, watch you do to me. But—” I tucked a loose hair back into her updo. I almost said the words, but they just didn’t come out yet. “You matter to me. How you feel matters. I thought earlier you were saying you weren’t comfortable in the clothes you’d brought. If I was wrong . . .”
She swayed toward me. “You weren’t.” Then she blushed. “I’m sorry. I probably had too much time to think about it. I actually practiced which pose . . . Oh, God, I feel ridiculous.”
“Jade.” If I hadn’t known that Paul’s sister was waiting for us, I would have shown her how good I’d found it. Instead, I gave her forehead a kiss and growled, “Don’t doubt yourself—or us. Just because we’re still figuring each other out, doesn’t mean I’m not all in.”
She searched my face then said, “I’m all in too, and it’s fucking scary.”
I laughed and tucked her under my chin. “We’ve got this.”
When I released her, she laced her hand with mine and asked, “Finding a store was what you talked to Paul about?”
“Yes.” As we walked out of the building, I remembered an earlier thought and my voice rose with excitement. “And I came up with a challenge for you and me.”
“A challenge?”
“We are going to find a way to get one Richard D’Argenson to eat at my butler’s restaurant.”
She chuckled. “What are you talking about?”
For her to understand, I would need to come clean about why I’d asked Paul for help. I thought back to my stage persona. Women loved a confident alpha male. I’d made a career out of putting my anger on display.
I didn’t feel angry when I was with Jade.
She’d told me she didn’t care that I was starting over. She’d done nothing to imply she judged me for my current state of finances, but there was a difference between knowing and living the experience with me.
I waited until we were in the car before I started to tell her what Paul and I had discussed. Her hand tightened on mine a few times, but she listened without interrupting.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jade
As I listened to Kal share why he’d asked for a few minutes alone with Paul and what they’d talked about, I was struck by the beauty of what he’d done. This proud man had humbled himself for me—because he wanted to take care of me.
He’d done the same for his family when he’d taken the stage to raise money for his mother’s medical bills. It couldn’t have been easy to tell me he couldn’t afford to take me on a shopping spree. So many men would have closed me out, but Kal didn’t. He wanted to be real with me more than he wanted to impress me. That was a man I could imagine spending a lifetime with.
Dominic had said: If he’s not good enough for you when he’s down, then you’re not good enough for him when he rises. I was tempted to tell Kal that I didn’t care about his financial situation, but it was clear that it mattered to him. I understood that because my grandfather was proud that way.
Kal wasn’t soft the way many modern men were. He stepped up, stepped in when he saw someone in need. I wondered if having his mother rely on him from such a young age had made him stronger, more empathetic, and more traditional in values despite his stage career.
“Kal, I love all of this,” I said in a gush.
He looked surprised.
“I love your honesty, your heart, the way you care about everyone. I see good things coming your way this year.”
He leaned closer to my ear and growled, “How about tonight?”
I laughed and turned so I could look him in the eye. “Absolutely.” We kissed briefly and my heart soared. This was how love was supposed to feel. Light. Happy. Free. “So, we have two goals for this weekend.”
“Only two?” he murmured, and I flushed because I knew exactly where his thoughts had wandered.
I slapped his thigh. “Besides that. One, D’Argenson needs to taste Paul’s grandmother’s recipe and two, we need to look so good in Marilyn’s clothing that your brother’s rich friends will flock to her boutique.”
His smile warmed me to my toes. “I’m up for both.”
A quick glance downward confirmed that he was indeed up. I ran a hand suggestively up his thigh. “I’m glad you find this conversation so—exciting.”
He chuckled and let out a slow breath. “I’ll let you in on a secret . . . all you have to do to have this effect on me is show up. No, that’s not true. Just the thought of you is also potent torture.”
As I was about to respond, the driver announced we’d arrived at the boutique. I shimmied out, and while focusing on keeping my dress from hiking up too far, caught one of my heels on the edge of the sidewalk and stumbled. Damn these shoes and this stupid dress.
I glanced back and saw far too much amusement in Kal’s eyes. “You think you could walk in these?”
“No, ma’am.”
I wagged a playful finger in his direction. “Then keep those thoughts to yourself.”
Sporting a huge grin, he brought a hand to his chest. “I didn’t say anything.”
It was impossible to not smile back, but I waved in the general direction of his face. “But everything you’re thinking is right there in your eyes.”
His expression turned more serious, and his voice lowered. “Is it?”