“Come on,” he said, his hand on her wrist as he led her toward the dressing room.
“Jay,” she said sharply. She felt her panic rising as she realized he was serious and the dress was in his hand. “Jayden,” she snapped as she drew herself back. It was impossible because his hand was firm on her wrist.
She reluctantly followed him and then something flashed in her mind. It was like déjà vu. She glanced up at Jay and then she realized it was Jayden who had helped her that Saturday night in the bar when that drunken man tried to take advantage of her. And thus far, he had never mentioned it to her.
He nudged her into a neat changing room. He hung the gown up for her before he left. “Don’t take too long now,” he said as he shut the door.
“What a demanding man,” she muttered.
Alone, leaned back against the wall, her eyes gazed at the dress and a dreamlike smile crossed her lips as she imagined herself in it, dancing in Jayden’s arms.
“Knock! Knock!” Jay’s voice came from the other side.
Alex wanted to laugh. Instead of knocking the door, he said the words. He was being silly, of course.
She moved forward and opened the door. He immediately poked his head in, his eyes wide with expectation.
“That was fast,” he said. Then when he saw that she was still in her own clothing, his face became serious. “You haven’t gotten it on.”
Alex shook her head. “It’s not for me.”
“Don’t be silly,” he muttered and came into the changing room. “Come on, let’s get this on you.”
“Let’s take it back, why don’t we?” she said with a smile, folding her arms across her chest.
“No. You have to try it on. You need help?”
Alex shook her head. She wanted to leave, as the room suddenly seemed small and tight with Jay now in there with her. She found him too close for comfort. And the fact that he was standing right in front of the door didn’t help either. It was as though he were blocking her in, refusing to let her out.
“Do you need help?” he asked again. “Come on, then. I’ll help you change.” He put his hand to the hem of the sweater and started to pull it up.
“Jayden!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing?”
“I’m helping you change.” Then he started pulling her shirt again.
“Don’t be silly! I can change myself.”
He relaxed. “So you’ll try it on?”
Alex was about to say no when she saw the glint in his eyes. She knew then that he’d make her try the dress on no matter what. She sighed. “Yes, I’ll try the damn dress on,” she muttered and put her hands on his chest and shoved him back.
Jay let her go, a smirk on his lips. He said as he was leaving, “Don’t forget to come out and let me have a look, my sweet. You know the shop owner does have keys.”
In response to his request, she shoved him out and slammed the door on his face.
Alone, she silently seethed while she undressed. About two minutes later, she unlocked the door and poked her head out. She saw him leaning against the wall, waiting too patiently for her liking.
“So you wanna see or not?” she asked in anticipation.
He straightened up as he said, “Of course,” with too much enthusiasm.
Alex readied herself for his criticism as he approached. She waited as he inspected her, her heart thundering loudly in her chest.
“Well?” she asked finally, after a long silence.
Jay smiled at her. “You look good.”
“Yeah, right,” she responded. “I think it shows too much skin.”
Jay moved closer to her, his nose just above her head. He could smell that lovely floral scent pulling him in. “That’s not such a bad thing, is it?” he said, his mind elsewhere. He was gazing at her smooth skin. His fingers automatically came up and started stroking her arm.
Alex felt that magic sensation within her. She tilted her head and gazed at him. She could feel her senses swirling around her, sucking her in like a whirlpool. She wanted to feel his lips on hers.
Jayden moved his head slowly toward her, his lips an inch away from touching her.
“Jay? Alex?” a female voice drifted to them.
Alex blinked. She realized this was wrong. She almost kissed Jay. What was she thinking? Jayden was gay, for God’s sake!
She took a step back, her knees weak and her breath shaky.
The door opened. “Oh, there you two are,” Stephanie said with a bright smile. “You should come and see Kelly. Aw, she is so beautiful.”
Alex pulled away uncomfortably as Stephanie was eyeing them too keenly. Jayden, however, didn’t seem to mind, nor did he sympathize with her that she was embarrassed. He was actually pulling her closer, his hands about her waist and his nose and lips now touching her bare shoulder. She could feel the heat from him on her.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 13
Alexandra didn’t quite comprehend what was going on except for the fact that Jayden was leading her by the arm out from the changing room, with Stephanie smirking knowingly behind them. There was a sort of excitement on her pretty face that led Alex to wonder what the cause was. She glanced back at the redheaded woman and saw her winking. That was when it hit her right between the eyes.
Stephanie thought she and Jayden were making out. Oh, no, no, no. She’d have to explain to the woman that nothing of the sort had happened. That it was all a misunderstanding.
“There you two are,” Kelly announced. “What do you think?” She pointed to her dress.
Alex came to a sudden stop, and the thought of explaining to Stephanie about her and Jayden was completely wiped out of her mind. My God! The young woman was truly beautiful in that wedding gown.
It was a dress like Alex had never seen before in real life, the type of dress she had only seen in high fashion magazines. The gown was an ivory white strapless with a full A-line and a natural waist. There was a bow of golden silk on the side, and the skirt itself was asymmetrically draped with a bias tiered origami shape.
“Wow!” she exclaimed.
Kelly smiled. “I know, right?” Then she touched the material of the skirt.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind piece,” Victoria, the sales consultant said, who was standing just behind Kelly.
The sales assistant standing on the other side of Kelly said, “A lot of brides want this dress, but most can’t afford it.” She touched the fabric on the side of Kelly’s skirt and spread it out to show off the pieces.
“I’m so happy. I love it! Sam will love it!” Kelly announced.
“Of course he will,” Beth said, smiling. “Now, come here and give your grandmother a kiss.”
Kelly laughed as she put her arms around her grandmother. Then she kissed the woman on both cheeks.
“That’s my girl,” Beth said. “You’re beautiful, just like me when I was your age.”
A loud cheer went up then. The room echoed with their laughter. Kelly couldn’t help beaming from ear to ear.
When the cheer died down, a voice said, “Yes, I do agree it is rather a beautiful dress.”
Alex glanced to her right. There sitting on the sofa was Britney, dressed in a mini, sexy black dress, her long, slender legs crossed elegantly.