I frowned. "Do you think so?" I asked hesitantly. “You don’t think it’s toosimple?”
He shook his head. “No, it’s perfect,” heinsisted.
“I don’t know…” Itwasreally pretty,but…
"Why don't you try it on?" heasked.
I looked around at where we stood with a worn carpet over stone flooring and the rickety old wood roof that only kept the weather out from the top, not from the open sides before I looked back at him and lifted a brow. "And just where would I do that?" I askeddryly.
"At home," he said, snatching the thing out of my hand and heading over to the lady sitting by with a little handheld cash register on a TV tray in front ofher.
I gaped after him for a moment before I rushed ahead. "What are you doing?!" Ihissed.
"I'm buying it," he said as he handed a couple of twenties over to the lady who had already rung him up. She handed him a receipt. Texas smiled smugly at me as he took the bag she handed him. He gently folded the soft fabric into it before retaking my hand and dragging me along behind him as he exited the stall. "Now we just need to find you amask!"
I shook my head. “What if it doesn’t fit?” Iasked.
“Then we’ll bring it back, but it’s multiwear,” he pointed out. “I highly doubt it won’tfit.”
I didn’t have a response for that. I still felt awkward about him—or really any of them—buying me stuff, but he seemed happier for it. I just let it be as we continued on our date, looking through various other shops until we decided to buckle down and really find what weneeded.
We found a mask that matched the dress in a similar blue at a stall on the other end of the market, and I laughed as Texas tried on several more that they had in stock—even one that mimicked a jester. The top part jingled as he put the mask over his face and shook his head. I snatched it away from him and tossed it back on the pile when people began to sneak snide glances our way even as I chuckled at his sillybehavior.
"What next?" I asked, pulling him away from the store with a bag full of masks for both of us and the other guys. I was grateful that I had found masks for each of them, and I couldn't wait to see them on their faces. Plus, I knew I'd recognize the masks that I picked out rather than any they might get on theirown.
As we exited the outdoor Charleston market’s overhang and stepped out onto the street, a raindrop hit my cheek and slid down to my jaw. I looked up. Though earlier the sun had been shining and the clouds had seemed fairly soft, now, they were a heavy gray, filtering overhead with a distant rumble ofthunder.
“Damn, I thought we’d have more time,” Texas said. “It wasn’t supposed to rain untiltonight.”
“I guess we should just head back to the car then,” Ireplied.
He nodded and together, we dashed across the street, holding hands and heading back the same way we’d come. About halfway to the SUV, though, the sky opened up and the fat droplets that had been splattering us every once in a while began to pour down in rapidsuccession.
We picked up the pace and began to race along the sidewalk as people pulled out umbrellas and stepped into doorways to avoid the downpour. By the time we finally came up to the SUV, both of us were soaked. Texas pressed a button to unlock the doors and then took the bags and stuffed them in theback.
After we finally managed to get out of the rain and into the front seats of the car, we both sat there for a moment, panting as we calmed down. Then, as a unit, we turned to each other and burst out laughing. My eyes squeezed closed as I laughed. I put a hand to my stomach, doubling over as the laughter shuddered through me. I had to stop or else I felt like it would make me puke up all the ice cream I’deaten.
“That was—” Texas choked off, unable to continue as laughter wracked hisbody.
“Your clothes,” I said, giggling as I opened my eyes andpointed.
Texas looked down and then chuckled. “Useless,” he said shaking his head. His off white shirt was completely see-through, molding to his body. Reaching down he snagged the end of his shirt and tugged it up over his head. I couldn’t laugh anymore then. The feeling dried up along with all of the saliva in my mouth as I watched his lean muscles come intoview.
“I’m sure there’s another shirt back here somewhere,” Texas said as he bent over and tried to rummage around in the backseat with one hand. When he sighed and came back, empty handed, I nearly swallowed my tongue. “I guess not.” He sighed. I couldn’t keep myself from staring at his chest and tapered waist. The small, barely there, shadow of a happy trail leading down into the waistband of his jeans. “This sucks,” he continued. “I wanted to take you to lunch. But I doubt anyone will let me in. I guess we’ll just head back to thehouse.”
I sat back and grabbed my seatbelt for something to do. Anything to draw my eyes away from his chest and the thoughts invading my mind. “Harlow? Is that okay withyou?”
“Huh?” I squeaked as I buckled myself in. “Oh, yeah, that’s great. Justfine.”
I squeezed my hands into fists in my lap as he started the car and cranked the heat. I didn’t know how I was going to spend the next thirty minutes with a half naked Texas in the car, but damn it, I would try. Even if every pervading thought told me to crawl across the console and continue what we startedearlier.