She stares at her reflection in the mirror and tilts her head to the side, considering. I say, “Let’s see the others. We need to compare.”
She changes into the second dress and steps out. I whistle again. Damn. This black dress has flowing chiffon that goes down to her ankles. It has spaghetti straps and a black lace shawl covering her soft, delicate shoulders. “Beautiful,” I say. “Out of those two, I prefer this one. Next?”
She looks in the mirror and nods. “Noted,” she says and steps back into the dressing room. While she’s changing into the purple sequined dress, I see a swath of red on a nearby rack, and I walk over to it. “Hey, Aspen, what size are you?”
“Size six!”
I check out the size on the red dress. Perfect. I carry it over to her and hand it over the curtain, “Here, try this one, too.”
She takes it from me without a word. Then she comes out wearing the purple dress, which is more like a gown. “It’s beautiful,” I say, “but too heavy for summer, and overkill for this event.”
She tilts her head. “Good point.”
“Try the red one,” I say.
Aspen turns around and goes back into the dressing room. A moment later, she pushes the curtain aside and steps out wearing the red dress. Holy fuck. My heart stops. My cock throbs. My mind goes blank. Her beauty strips my breath from me. The red dress graces her sexy curves, and it narrows at her ankles like a mermaid. The dress is a bright, crimson satin material with a layer of lace over it. I can’t take my eyes off her as they rake her body from top to bottom. Her dark brown eyes meet mine, and they’re lit with so much fire, they’re almost the color of amber. I’m stunned into silence.
The shop owner interrupts us as she passes by, “Well, my dear, isn’t that smashing on you? Perfect. That’s the one!”
Aspen smiles with excitement, then lifts her right arm to look at the price tag. She gulps, and her smile fades. “I’ll take the short black one.” She turns around and goes inside to change back into her street clothes. A moment later, she comes out carrying the short black dress.
“You need the red dress,” I say.
“No, I don’t.”
“You look beautiful in the black one, but the red one is perfect.”
“I don’t want the red one,” she says with a huff.
“Why not?” I ask.
Her lips tighten, and she takes a breath before turning to face me. “Because it’s too expensive. I’m not paying that much for a dress.”
“Let me buy it for you.”
“Oh my god, will you stop?” she says, exasperated.
I clench my teeth, but she won’t budge. Stubborn woman. Amazing, beautiful, mesmerizing, stubborn woman.
She pays for the black dress, and we leave the boutique. Walking to our cars, she stops and looks across the street. And she sighs. I follow her determined gaze. She’s looking at The Rose Hotel.
“You’ll get it someday,” I say, and she drags her eyes away from it to find mine.
“Yeah,” she breathes, and we look at each other for a warm heartbeat. I want to reach out and touch her, hug her, kiss her. She interrupts my thought. “Well, I gotta go,” she says softly, and she turns to her car, leaving me standing there.
I call out, “I’m still gonna marry you someday.”
She doesn’t even turn around and yells back over her shoulder as she gets into her car, “I didn’t have that good of a time!”
I turn over in bed. It’s midnight, and my mind is still thinking of Aspen in that stunning red dress, and what I want to do to her in it. I’d like to see it hiked up around her waist, with her legs spread in front of me. God, I can’t stop thinking about her. This woman is different, I feel it in my bones.
I grab my phone and open the messaging app.
Me: I liked seeing you today.
No answer. She’s probably sleeping.
Just then, I see the three little bubbles.
Aspen: Ryker, you seem like a nice guy. But you’re wasting your time with me.
Me: What are you doing awake?
Aspen: What are you doing texting me this late?
Me: I was thinking about you. Can I say the same about you?
Aspen: Yes. I was thinking about me, too. And all the stuff I have to do, including finding another investor.
Me: You have one.
Aspen: We’ve been through this. Good night.
I smile. I can’t wait to see her again. Tomorrow isn’t soon enough. My eyelids grow heavy and start to close, as I finally edge toward sleep.
Suddenly, my eyes shoot wide open. I’ve got it. I know what to do. I start working on my plan, my plan to win Aspen’s heart.
10
Ryker
I wake up, the sun is shining, and I’ve still got my plan in my head to win Aspen’s affection. Or more specifically, to wear down her resistance. I know she’s attracted to me, and I know she’s interested. She just doesn’t know we’re meant to be yet. But she will. She’s thinking too small, constrained by imagined limits. But in my world, there are no limits.
I pad into the kitchen, yawning, and I make a cup of strong, black coffee. I drink half of it, and then I put on my swim trunks and walk down to the lake. I dive off the deck and start swimming. The water is cold and invigorating, which clears my mind.
I think about what my Dad said, the idea of having a passion and of leaving a legacy. He’s right. I want something more. I want to be with someone. I’m ready to do something
