“Derek picked it out.”
And that put an even bigger damper on the happiness I felt when I looked at it. Nope, he didn’t see this dress and think of me. Another man picked it out and had it hung up for me. God, I really needed to stop this fantasy where Rob was actually falling for me, and we might make this work.
“It’s pretty.” I fingered the material, marveling at how shiny it was. I’d never worn anything like this in my life. Not even to my high school prom.
“Yeah, well, you’re lucky. All I got was a suit. No sparkles for me,” he grinned.
He unzipped the bag and spread the sides to reveal a crisp suit that would look absolutely amazing on him. Charcoal with a grey vest, it was perfect for making him look like he came from money, which I was guessing was the point.
“And wingtip shoes,” I mused, staring at the shoebox opened on the floor. “You’ll look very snappy.”
“That is the point,” he muttered. “Never liked wearing suits. I much prefer my combat gear.”
“Well, dresses like this aren’t exactly my thing, though it is nice to dress up every once in a while.”
“You don’t do that much?”
I snorted in amusement. “And go where? We don’t exactly have any place fancy enough to wear something like this.”
“Maybe a wedding?”
Yes, someone else’s wedding because my day would never come.
I didn’t see him walk up behind me, but I felt his heat pressed against my back as I continued to admire the dress. His fingers swiped at the hair brushing my shoulder, and then his lips were against my neck.
Heat swarmed in my belly as I closed my eyes and relished the feel of him so close to me.
“You’ll look beautiful. In that or anything else.”
My eyes fluttered open as his hand slid around my belly and tugged me flush against him. For just a moment, I imagined he was my husband, and we were getting ready for a night out.
“Thank you.”
“It’s the truth.” He pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, and then his heat was gone. “You should get dressed. We need to get downstairs.”
“Right,” I said, sucking in a breath.
Derek thought of everything, and as I got dressed in the tiniest lingerie, I wished Rob had picked it out. But I shoved those thoughts aside and stepped into the dress.
“Can you zip me up?” I asked, turning just as he was buttoning his shirt.
I sucked in a breath at how handsome he looked. Muscles bunched under his shirt as he stalked toward me. Those pants molded to his thighs, revealing way more than he probably intended.
But it looked good on him.
I turned and pulled my hair over my shoulder, shivering when his warm fingers brushed against my skin. Ever so slowly, he tugged the zipper up, then slid his hands over my shoulders, lingering just a second longer than needed.
“Gorgeous,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard, glancing over my shoulder. “Thank you.”
Clearing his throat, he walked away. “I have something for you.”
Surprised, I turned and watched with excitement as he pulled out a velvet box big enough to hold a necklace. No man had ever gotten me jewelry before. I’d never dated anyone long enough for it to be a thing.
Well, aside from one man, and he turned out to be a total loser.
“It should match the dress pretty well,” he said, his voice gruff as he opened the lid.