Then I pick one.
It looks like a dream. With white gossamer falling in ripples to the floor, it’s everything that the word paradise brings to mind. Almost like a cloud of heaven.
The top is a white, form-fitting corset, and I turn to try it on.
Stepping behind the curtain that Elise has established for me, I drop my robe and step in, taking care not to touch the material in a way that could damage it.
Once it’s on, I step out, and she gasps.
“This is the perfect gown,” Elise gushes. “Perfection. Now to find you a piece of jewelry.”
I look down, and I see each piece glimmering back at me, but ultimately, I go for just the plain tennis necklace.
Of course, it’s not plain. It’s probably twenty carats’ worth of diamonds and likely costs more than my apartment, but it looks beautiful as Elise places it around my neck.
As I stand in the room in the gown, Roger touches the material, looking to see where he can nip and tuck it. But other than a few inches from the bottom, it’s perfect.
“How did you know what size I was?”
“That was all Mr. Archer.” Is it weird that he knew the size I was or that he knew my height?
I guess not, seeing as his job is to understand the measurements required to make a building, and maybe that’s how he looks at me, as if I’m a work to be constructed. Either way, it doesn’t matter because he did an amazing job.
I step out of the gown so it can be tailored, then head to get my hair and makeup done.
Two hours later, with perfect makeup and hair swept off my face into soft waves flowing down my back, I’m ready.
At six o’clock on the dot, I hear the telltale signs of his shoes, which is weird because up to now, I haven’t with his preferred system settings.
I peek over my shoulder, and this time, I can’t help how the breath rushes from my chest as I gaze at him.
If I thought Cain Archer was handsome before, casual, working Cain has nothing on this version.
He’s dressed in a tuxedo, and this one is cut to perfection, fitted close to his body.
My cheeks warm as I take in the weight of his stare as he glides his gaze over me, tingling at the way he looks.
It’s a heady feeling, and I want to explore it.
I don’t want today to be the last time I see him. I want to spend more time with him and get to know him.
I want to bask in the way he looks at me because even though I don’t know him very well, I want to, and I feel that I’m falling for this guy.
This is dangerous.
We don’t come from the same worlds. We’re nothing alike.
Not now. There is no need to let these conflicting thoughts run wild. Not tonight.
Not when he is looking at me like this.
I tamp down all the thoughts and decide that if tonight’s the last night I have with him, I am going to enjoy every single minute of it.
14
Layla
There is no moving past the way he is looking at me right now. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. He looks at me like I am the only person in the world. Like I am the air he breathes. And for a brief second, I believe it.
It is like the world revolves around me.
It’s crazy to see someone stare at you like you mean something. He doesn’t blink for a minute. His gaze is unwavering. But then he must notice himself because his head does a little shake as he crosses his arms in front of his chest. I wait for him to speak.
“You look stunning.”
From the heat in my cheeks, I know I am blushing.
“It’s all because of you.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s all because of you.” His words are definitive, leaving no room for objections. Not that I would anyway. Something tells me he doesn’t like that. I’ve watched how he reacts with other people. Although, he seems to be amused most of the time with me, so maybe if I teased him, he would smile. It’s not worth the risk, though, so I don’t.
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“I believe you did tell me six, so yes, I am completely ready for you.”
“Do you always do as you’re told?” I can hear the mild innuendo beneath his words, his voice husky with meaning.
“Not particularly.”
His lips tip up. “Interesting.”
“What is?”
“That you just follow orders with me.” I’m not sure how he wants me to respond, but at this point, my entire body is hot. I’m not sure I can actually find words to leave my mouth.
I grab my clutch off the table. “I am ready when you are, sir,” I say, essentially ending this line of conversation. I start to walk out the door, and I hear a faint chuckle behind me.