“I will.”
***
Lunch with my dad is a rather melancholic affair. We don’t talk about Mom, but we both feel her absence. He gives me Niall’s present, a cotton throw with a Celtic motif. My brother is the best, seriously. I told him I was looking for a new throw, something to cozy up with on my couch, and this is beautiful.
“Niall’s outdone himself,” I exclaim. “By the way, he’s coming to San Francisco.” I share with him all the details, suggesting we move the opening party to include him.
“Of course we’ll move the reopening party early. Ah, it’s good to see that boy.”
The weather is pleasantly cool for early October, so we head to Pier 39, carving our way through the flocks of tourists who’re watching the seals roast lazily in the sun, talking about the bookstore and Niall, indulging in old memories. After I part ways with Dad, I head straight inside Macy’s, more excited than guilty. I go to the nearest vendor, reading the name tag. Allyson.
“Hi, miss. How may I help you?”
“I’m looking for a colleague of yours, Christa.”
She nods, surveying the floor. “Look, she’s right there by the cardigans. The blonde with the pink ends.”
“Thanks.”
I practically fly toward Christa, my excitement now drowning out my guilt completely. She looks up at me as I approach.
“Hi, Christa. I’m Caroline.”
Her face breaks into a grin. “Yay! Follow me. Wow, you’re so lucky. This is so romantic, my goodness. I wish my boyfriend would do something like this, but I’m lucky if he remembers to make dinner reservations for my birthday.”
“Daniel’s not my boyfriend,” I explain as I follow her up the rolling staircase.
Her eyes widen. “Then he’s trying very hard to be, isn’t he? Well, I wouldn’t put up much of a fight. You won’t either. Wait to see what he got you.”
Alarm flares inside me. What exactly did Daniel buy me?
“You know him long?” Christa continues. “Sorry, not my business. It’s just... well, this is so unusual.”
“For about ten years.” I offer her a small smile, choosing to stop there. Up and up we go on the escalator, coming to a halt on the next to the last floor. My eyes scan the information table right next to the staircase. Domestics and lingerie.
My knees go weak because I have an inkling of which of the categories Daniel was interested in. Sure enough, two minutes later, Christa leads me into the lingerie section. Ah, damn, everything here looks exquisite. I’m so lost in the delicate and sexy offerings around me that I nearly forget Christa is with me until she shows me three sets lying on the wooden table next to the cash register, where vendors usually pack the purchases.
“Oh, they’re beautiful.” One is a matching set of red lace panties and a demi-cup bra. The second set is white silk, with an embroidered pattern on the strapless bra. The third is black, made of satin and cotton by the looks of it. “Daniel chose these for me?” I whisper. “Personally?”
“Yes. Shall I bring them to the changing room for you to try them on?”
Even though I’m one hundred percent sure they will fit, I nod. Truth is, I’m dying to try them on.
Once she hangs the three sets on the hanger, she arranges the curtain so no one can see me from outside, leaving me alone. I undress at top speed, not bothering to hide my grin as I put on the black set first. I keep my thong on, though, merely sliding the black one over it. It’s an ironclad rule, I never try on panties on bare skin.
I love what I see in the mirror. The black silk has a subtle elegance. Some would say it’s too simple, but I disagree. The way it molds against my skin, the softness of the fabric... every detail is perfect. I try on the white one next. It looks a little subdued against my pale skin and I decide to get out in the sun as soon as I have the chance. I touch the intricate pattern of the lace on the bra, the ribbon clasp between the cups. With a smile, I remember Daniel much prefers bras with the clasp in front. In a flash, sinful images fill my mind of Daniel unfastening the bra, touching my breasts.
I break out in a sweat, then shimmy out of the white set, trying on the last one. I saved the best for last. The red lace is downright sinful perfection. The bra pushes my breasts together. The panties are wider over my hips than regular thongs. At the back, a smooth line covers the crack between my ass cheeks. I much prefer these types of thongs to strings. They give me an air of wicked playfulness.
And I was right. Daniel guessed my size correctly, even though I’ve gone from a size four when we were together to a size eight. I’m still not used to the size of my thighs, not to mention my ass. The only positive part of them growing is that they’ve kept the same proportion to my waistline, which has also expanded.
Still, looking at myself right now, I’ve never felt sexier. The skin on my chest and neck becomes almost as red as the lace as a flush spreads over that area. I haven’t felt this sexy, or wanted, in a long time.
Releasing a shaky laugh, I chastise myself for reading so much into all of this. But then I realize the man bought me lingerie for my birthday. What does this even mean?
“They fit?” Christa’s voice reaches me from beyond the curtain.
“Yeah. Perfectly.” Quickly I change back into my own bra, then put on my clothes. When I pull back the curtain, Christa grins at me, taking the three sets of lingerie.