We watch him go, the both of us quiet for a moment.
“He doesn’t like me,” Perry murmurs.
“You don’t like him either.”
He glances toward me, his gaze sharp. “You can tell?”
“Everyone can tell.”
Perry returns his gaze to my father, watching as he speaks to my mother, his mouth formed into a snarl. I’m sure he’s chewing her out for something she didn’t do. “He’s unkind to you.”
That is the nicest way to put it. “He’s unkind to women in general.”
“So he’s a misogynistic asshole?” Perry’s brows shoot up.
“I suppose.” I shrug. “He doesn’t like me either.”
His expression darkens. “Why the hell not?”
“I wasn’t born with a penis.”
“Thank God,” Perry mutters.
I smile, secretly pleased. “I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”
“Me either. Let’s change the subject.” His smile is slow. Seductive. “You look beautiful tonight.”
Now I’m even more pleased.
“Even though at first, I have to admit. I didn’t like your dress,” he continues.
“What?” I glance down at myself. This dress was nothing special on the hanger, but when I slipped it on…
I knew Perry would approve. And while we’re bashing my father for being sexist, I’m also setting the feminist movement back a bit for wanting to look beautiful for my fiancé.
Is that really so wrong though, to want his approval? To want him to really see me and think I’m beautiful? Even if he’s lying, I’ll take it.
Does that make me pitiful? Perhaps. But right now, I don’t really care.
“It’s too naked.” His gaze starts at my shoulders, sliding down as he takes me in, my skin growing warm when his eyes linger on particular spots of my body. “I thought everyone could see through it.”
“But it’s not see-through,” I protest, my voice weak. My heart racing.
“I know. I wish it was. Only for me though.” His wicked smile fills me with temptation.
The temptation to touch him again.
Lean into him and inhale his delicious scent.
Maybe even beg him to kiss me…
“I think I’m going to give you your surprise now.” His deep voice breaks into my thoughts and I drop my carefully constructed façade that I’ve worked so hard these last few weeks to keep up and smile at him.
Like…really smile at him. Let my happiness show versus hiding it all the time.
“What is it?”
Perry reaches for his jacket, which hangs on the back of his chair, and digs his hand into the inside pocket, pulling out a very small white box topped with a tiny, black bow.