Tempting

“The perfect place for shoes,' Dani informed him as she linked arms with Bailey and led the way.

'They have a fabulous selection and the employees are always great to work with. You'll love it.'

Bailey's big smile widened. 'Can I get any color I want?'

'Of course,' Dani told her. 'These are your birthday shoes. They have to be special. Maybe red or purple or something with a cool pattern? I always wanted red suede pumps when I was a teenager. My grandmother said they were tacky, but I still wanted them. Maybe I should buy some now.'

Alex walked just behind the women and briefly allowed himself to enjoy the fantasy of Dani in high-heeled red suede pumps and nothing else.

It worked for him in a big way.

They entered the store and found their way to the shoe department.

Alex also shopped at Nordstrom, although usually at the downtown store. He walked into the men's department, told them what color suit he wanted, tried it on, was fitted and gone in less than thirty minutes. If he needed shirts or ties, Frank, the man he worked with, had a selection ready for his approval. For him, shopping for clothes was about as interesting as shopping for groceries. Wasn't the point to get what you needed and get out?

But women were their own country, he reminded himself, with different expectations and different customs.

'Look around,' Dani told Bailey. 'I need to check on a couple of things.'

She walked toward the counter in the corner, Alex smiled at his sister. 'Are you having fun?'

Bailey nodded but didn't smile. Instead she pressed her lips together, then drew in a shaky breath.

'Are you mad at me?' she asked, sounding terrified to hear the answer to her question.

'No,' he said quickly. 'Why would I be mad at you?'

'Because. Before. I talked to that man and you hit him and got into trouble.'

'Honey, no.' He walked over and hugged her. 'Bailey, that had nothing to do with you. You didn't do anything wrong. I love you.'

She gazed up at him, her eyes filled with tears. 'You sure?'

'I promise.'

She had never been the problem and he hated thinking that she'd been worried all this time.

'I love you,' he told his sister.

She smiled. 'I love you, too. But you're not my favorite brother.'

The start of their familiar game let him know she was okay now. 'Sure I am. Who else could be your favorite?'

'Ian.'

'No way.'

'Way.'

'Crazy girl.'

She grinned. 'That's loco to you.'

'Loco it is.'

He put his arm around her. He loved all his siblings, but he had a special place in his heart for Bailey. He had no idea why, but he welcomed his need to take care of her.

Suddenly the combination of hugging Bailey, the store setting and a sense of protecting his own caused him to remember another time in a store. He couldn't remember how long ago it had been. Two years? Three?

He'd been married to Fiona at the time and the three of them had gone to some store. Bailey had tripped and banged her arm. She'd been in tears from the pain and he'd been holding her. Fiona had offered a tissue from her purse when an older woman had stopped.

'Your daughter is lovely,' the stranger had told Fiona. 'She has your hair.'

'That is not my child,' Fiona had said forcefully. 'She's my husband's adopted sister.'

Later he'd wondered why Fiona had felt it so necessary to distance herself from Bailey, both by biological and familial connection. Had she been afraid someone would think she was flawed?

It had been a small thing, but it had stayed with him. Finding her on the table, having sex with another man might have been the end of their marriage, but it hadn't been the only reason he'd left her.

Dani returned with a handful of shoes. 'What do you think of these?' she asked. 'Now before you say anything, I want you to know that there will be much trying on of shoes. This is an important decision and not one to be made lightly.' She eyed him. 'No whining from the male contingent.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'Good. Bailey, we're going to need some help.' She pointed at the two men who stood just behind her. 'This is Eric and this is Cameron. They are your shoe slaves.'

Bailey covered her mouth with her hand and giggled before ducking behind Alex.

Dani reached for her and dragged her toward the leather chairs.

'Sit,' she said sternly and pointed. 'You're the princess today, young lady. We're here to make you happy.'

Bailey continued to giggle. Eric winked at her, while Cameron said her hair was a beautiful color of red. Alex slid close to Dani.

'Your doing?' he asked, nodding at the two guys.

'I said today had to be exceptional. They'll flirt in a nice, safe way. I want her to feel special.'

'You've gone to a lot of trouble for a girl you barely know.'

Dani stared up at him. 'I know as much as I need to. I like Bailey. I'm not a saint, Alex. Don't get any weird ideas. I'm acting selfishly because it makes me happy.'

'I get that.'

He also got that she wouldn't see her actions as anything extraordinary. But he knew better. He knew exactly what kind of person bothered and what kind didn't.

Dani collapsed next to Bailey and kicked off her shoes. 'I'm thinking something flashy,' she said as Eric, or maybe Cameron, slid a pair of magenta suede pumps on her feet.

'Me, too,' Bailey said. She had on the same pair.

Dani pushed herself into a standing position. Bailey tried to do the same, wobbled, then collapsed back into her chair. Dani sighed. 'I see we have some work to do. Gentlemen?'

Eric and Cameron each took a hand and drew Bailey upright. When she was balanced, Dani walked in front of her.

'The trick is to keep your weight forward and low. Those skinny heels will kill you if you let them. But you don't want to go too far forward or you'll fall on your face and that's never pretty.'

With Bailey laughing, Dani demonstrated an exaggerated walk, complete with swinging hips and fancy turns. Bailey followed her, staggering only a little. She nearly fell on the turn, but one of the guys caught her and held her arm while she straightened.

'I'm walking!' she cried as she moved through the center of the shoe department. 'Look, Alex. I'm really walking in high heels.'

His baby sister was growing up, he thought as he watched Bailey get more confident with each step. She and Dani returned to their chairs and tried on another pair of shoes.

Two hours later the decision had been made. Both Bailey and Dani had purple suede pumps with impossibly high heels. They elected to wear their shoes out of the store. He trailed behind, holding their shopping bags.

He liked Dani a lot. He wouldn't have slept with her otherwise. But today he saw a side of her he hadn't expected. A side that impressed the hell out of him. She was more than a pretty face-she had a giving heart. She was smart, sexy and she cared about people. Which made her an amazing woman. Someone he shouldn't let get away.

***

'We really shouldn't be doing this again,' Dani said as she followed Alex into his kitchen. She had the pizza they'd stopped for and he carried a six-pack of beer. 'We're going to get caught.'