"There're a ton of dresses in there, thanks to you tossing half the store on the counter."
"Not good enough. You need something a little more flashy. It's one of those parties. If you feel like it, we'll go right now."
I can't let his dad buy me another dress. It already feels wrong to have accepted as much as I have. Taking any more will just feel greedy.
"Um... I don't care to wear one of the others. I'd rather wear one of the others, actually."
A small grins slides over his lips and he comes to pull my hand in his again. "Either you come with me to find you a dress, or I'll go alone. Are you sure you want to let this fall in my hands?"
I roll my eyes. He's not going to have it any other way. "I trust you," I say with a shrug, hoping I just called his bluff.
I turn around and rush back up the steps, ignoring his enigmatic chuckles. He's bluffing. He doesn't even know my size. Those girls see hundreds of people a day. There's no way they'll remember.
Chapter 7
Blurring the Lines
I can't believe he got me this dress. It's... ridiculous. I'm so not the kind of girl who can pull off a daring red dress with a split up the side that stops high on my thigh. The longer bottom trails me just barely, and the one-strap top draws the eye to my barely tasteful cleavage.
My hair is pulled up on one side, and it drapes down the other in large, elegant curls. The side that is pulled up has a large, faux flower holding it in place. Ember was nice enough to come help me out with my hair, as a way of profusely apologizing for screwing some guy on my bed.
Turns out, she's been after him for years. Her mom works as a maid in his house, but he hasn't ever even noticed Ember. After their drunken fun, he went back to not knowing her. It's a small reminder what money means, and Kade's family has a lot of money. I don't even have as much money as the help.
"Kade, this isn't me," I gripe, talking loud enough to let my voice carry through the door and down the stairs, and distracting myself from thinking about the two very different worlds we live in.
"Then you should have come with me," he taunts.
I'll never accuse Kade Colton of bluffing again. I've learned my lesson. I've also learned that he has no qualms about rummaging through my closet to learn my size.
This week has been confusing. He has either cooked, helped me cook, or gotten us takeout all week long. We've spent every meal together, and we've spent most nights on the couch, either studying or watching a movie. I even fell asleep on him twice, only to wake up in my room the next morning.
I really wish he'd go back to the arrogant prick I loved hating.
My door opens and I turn to face Kade, pushing forth my best glower. My angry fumes turn to lusty drool when I see him though. He's heaven in a designer suit. I've never seen a tux look that amazing on anyone. Damn him.
His eyes widen, and he slowly licks his lips as he runs the length of my body with his perfect blues. My girly excitement tries to bubble up. I have to be reading him wrong. He can't possibly be looking at me like... that.
"Damn," he drawls out, loosening his tie as he openly gawks at me the way I always gawk at him.
I blush and bite back a grin, doing well not to become putty right now. My legs have the consistency of jelly. It's all I can do to stay upright.
He shakes his head, and a small bit of blush creeps up to his cheeks as he tries to wipe away his grin with his hand. "So much for it not being you. It'll be hard to keep the eyes off you tonight."
A bashful grin crawls over my face, and I look away when it becomes too hard to make eye contact.
"Come on. Let's go make some jaws drop."
He gives me a wink as I take his arm. Gah, he smells so damn good. A subtle cologne mixed with his own scent. It's too good. I'm officially melting.
"You okay?" he asks when my legs actually try to falter.
"Yeah," I grumble. "It's the heels."
He accepts my lie, and then leads me out to the car. "You'll get to meet some of my family tonight. Be warned, my mother is... someone you have to warm up to. She'll grill you at first, but she'll back off once she sees you're genuine."
That's disconcerting. I expected his mother to be just like his father - sweet and not judgmental.
"Relax, Raya. You'll be fine. I'll be there with you."