“Well, hel-lo there, gorgeous,” a strong, masculine voice said. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Thank you, yes.” Relieved, Julia craned her neck to see over her bundle. “I need these placed in a dress—”
The salesman never even glanced her way. He stared at Tristan, totally and completely transfixed. She almost laughed. She did roll her eyes in exasperation. The word “gorgeous” should have tipped her off. Men usually referred to her as “Hey, you.”
“I’m Gary,” the salesman said to Tristan. “I’ll be your personal shopper. Or anything else you want me to be.”
Gary had beautiful black hair, as fashionably tailored as his suit and cut just above his collar. He wore no jewelry save for the black onyx ring on his right index finger. Though he stood inches taller than the average man, he appeared short next to Tristan, merely reaching the Imperian’s shoulders.
He gave Tristan a full-body, I-wish-I-had-X-ray-vision once-over.
Tristan didn’t seem to notice. “We need no assistance,” he said.
“Yes, we do,” Julia spoke up. “I’m buying a hip new wardrobe maybe, probably, and I need all the help I can get.”
“Excellent, excellent.” Gary offered her the barest of glances, one that asked, Are you still here? She couldn’t blame him for his inattention. She often found herself in the same predicament whenever Tristan neared. “I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name, gorgeous,” he told Tristan.
“I did not throw it.” Tristan gripped Gary’s offered palm, studied it, then dropped it.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can get for you?”
“Aye. I am most sure.”
Julia doubted Tristan realized he was being hit on, and she wasn’t going to be the one to tell him. What if the people of his world hurt anyone who was gay?
No, you know what? If that was the case, she needed to know, because no one had any right to judge others about anything! As soon as they were alone, she’d start asking questions.
She told Gary, “Would you mind helping me carry these outfits into a dressing room?” At last her arms gave out, and she dropped the bundle with a whoosh. “I’d really appreciate it.”
With a wink to Tristan, he awarded her his full attention. “I’d be glad to help.” With an imperial frown, he snapped his fingers and another sales associate flew to his side. “Take these to dressing room four.”
The pretty young girl, no more than twenty-two, bent down, hefted up the clothes, then started moving away, albeit slowly.
“Wait!” Gary called, his tone sharp. The girl froze. With his forefinger and thumb, he pinched a white bubble-knit skirt from the top of the pile. “Your body cries out for something that elongates. Think pencil skirts and stiletto heels. Slimming black pants. Dark gray top. You’re about a size—let’s see.” He wrapped his palms around her waist, taking her measurements.
With a speed and grace at odds with his massive size, Tristan pinned the salesman against the wall, leaving the poor man’s feet dangling in the air. He appeared every inch a cold, hard killer, from the predatory gleam in his gaze to the ticking muscle in his jaw.
“There will be no touching my woman. Understand?”
Far from being frightened, Gary closed his eyes and smiled, as if he’d just entered the gates of paradise. “Possessive, are we? I like that in a man.”
“Do you understand?” Tristan demanded, enunciating every syllable.
Julia was just about to order Tristan to release the salesman, when Gary spoke again.
“Oh, yes, I understand. But what about you?” Gary cracked his eyelids open, revealing a suggestive, eager glint. “Is it permissible to touch you?”
Julia gaped, her mind a whirlwind. Why hadn’t she pulled Tristan aside to discuss the gay thing right away? Stupid, stupid, stupid. Sweat popped up on her brow as she glanced around the boutique. People were openly staring, some concerned, others filming on their cell phones. With Tristan’s warrior speed, he could slice Gary to ribbons with the dagger she’d bought him before she could utter a single word to stop him.
That! She needed to order Tristan to free the man while she still had the opportunity but… he evinced no reaction to Gary’s words. Not at first, anyway. Then he tilted his head to the side, his brow furrowing. He pursed his lips, thoughtful.
Finally, Tristan said, “You do not want Julia? You want me?”
“Correct.” Gary winked at Julia, then batted his lashes at Tristan. “Tell me my woman means my sister wherever you’re from.”
“Nay.” Tristan lowered the salesman to his feet and smoothed his jacket across the shoulders. “But I thank you for the interest.”
Relief crashed through her, one wave after another. The imminent threat of attack had passed. Everyone would live to see another day.
Undaunted, Gary simply continued on as if nothing had happened. “What about these?” He shuffled through a rack of pants and, with a flourish, swished out a silky black pair. “These will make her curves pop.”
No longer resembling a thundercloud of wrath, Tristan stroked his chin, giving the slacks a thorough inspection. “Nay. I want Julia to wear gowns. Drocs are not worthy of her curves.”
“Drocs are pants,” she translated, just loving how they were discussing her as if she weren’t standing right here.
“If that’s what you want, that’s what you shall have.” With a flick of his wrist, Gary tossed the slacks aside. “This way,” he called, sailing off. Julia followed, Tristan close at her heels. “Here you are, dear, and don’t be shy. We want to see everything you try on. Absolutely everything.”
“I’ll show you,” she said, tapping her foot as she waited for him to leave.
He got the hint. “Of course, of course.” Smiling with genuine delight, he waved one hand through the air. “I’ll just keep the big man occupied, all righty?”
Her delight far surpassed his, and she gave him a grin of her own. “I would like that, thank you. He’s not from around
