Looking down, she realized how low cut the gown was. Her cheeks went redder. “I shouldn’t wear this.”
“Why?”
“It’s too revealing. Everyone will stare.”
/> “They will stare regardless.”
“Because I’m the daughter of a criminal.”
“Because you’re an incredibly beautiful woman.”
At his soft words, Letty’s throat suddenly hurt. “You don’t realize how much they hate me.” Her eyes stung as she pushed away. “When they see me...it’ll be like dropping raw meat in a shark tank. And the more they notice me, the more they’ll rip me apart.” She took a deep breath, tried to smile. “I sound like I’m complaining. I’m not. I can handle it. I’m used to it. But...”
“But what?”
She looked down at the floor.
“Letty?”
She said in a small voice, “I don’t want them to say rude things about you at your own party. And they will if I’m your date.”
Reaching out, he lifted her chin. “I can take care of myself, agape mou,” he said in a low voice. “When will you learn that?”
His dark gaze fell to her mouth, and Letty’s whole body tightened as, for a moment, she wondered if he was going to kiss her, right there in the luxurious store. For a wild moment, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
He turned to the nearest salesgirl. “We’ll take this dress. Wrap it up. We need shoes to match.”
Letty tried on ten pairs before she found stiletto heels that made her gasp at their outrageous beauty.
“Those,” Darius said, looking at Letty’s face.
“No, I couldn’t possibly. They’re too impractical. I’ll never wear them again!” She looked doubtfully at her feet, wobbling in the high heels. “I’m not even sure I can wear them now.”
But even as she protested, she couldn’t look away from the beautiful shoes, which were encrusted with glittery pink crystals and had a red sole.
“We’ll take them,” he told the salesgirl firmly.
Though they pinched Letty’s toes and made her wobble ever so slightly, she was filled with joy as she sat down and handed the precious pink crystal stilettos to the salesgirl. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had anything so outrageous, just because of their beauty. And their cost! She was trying not to think about owning shoes worth three months’ rent. And when would she ever wear them again? Working as a waitress? Going to the grocery store?
It was wicked, letting him buy her these shoes. Letting him buy her so many things, when after tonight, he’d likely never want to see her again.
She would just leave everything behind, she decided. Most of the clothes could be returned, unworn, with tags. She’d have nothing to feel guilty about when he tossed her out of his life. Nothing!
“Now—” Darius’s gaze lingered on her lips, then dropped lower “—lingerie.”
Letty made a sound like a squeak. “Forget it!”
“Ah. You intend to wear nothing beneath your gown tonight? I approve.”
Her cheeks burned. “Of course I’m going to wear something!”
“Then you need undergarments.” He nodded toward three hovering salesgirls. “Get us a selection of lingerie that would suit the gown.”
They departed in a rush to obey.
“I hope you don’t expect me to try those on for you,” Letty said sulkily.
“No?” He looked at her lazily. “Maybe later.”