by Nicole Hall
The whole situation had been easier when she’d thought of it as a harmless flirtation or a quick affair, but Keely had made the mistake of getting to know Seth. His wicked sense of humor hid strength and compassion and a razor-sharp mind. The more she learned, the more she liked him, and the more she feared she’d ruin everything he’d worked for if she took that final step. She cared about him too much to jeopardize his ability to go home.
Keely sighed and rolled over when the bleep went off again. She stretched, then grabbed her phone and squinted at the screen without getting up. Stupid hope had fluttered in her chest that it was Seth, but he never texted her during daylight. Daytime brought sassy, accommodating Seth who kept himself on a tight leash. Nighttime Seth was the one causing her trouble.
He liked to wait until the cover of darkness to tempt her.
She blinked a couple of times and realized she’d been staring at the text without reading it.
Dru was not subtle. Where are my shower pics???!! I was promised mostly naked roommate action.
Keely shook her head. The girl had no idea. I’ve been busy working, and he’s kept his clothes on around me. A twinge of guilt surprised her. She hadn’t lied. He’d definitely been naked the night he’d given her a fantastic orgasm without physically touching her, but technically, she hadn’t seen him.
Unacceptable. It’s been over two weeks. Make something happen.
Their nine-day détente ended around lunchtime, and Keely nervously waited to see what Seth would do with his freedom. Most likely, she wouldn’t have to make anything happen.
I’ll see what I can do.
Keely tossed the phone on the other side of the bed, still thrilled that she had another side of the bed, and traipsed into her fabulous bathroom to get ready for a long day. Shopping always made her sweaty, and she intended to make sure Seth didn’t spend a horrific amount of money on a fancy dress.
When she cautiously emerged from her room, Seth sat at the island counter munching on bacon. He motioned for her to join him, then pushed his plate toward her. He waited until she had a mouth full of bacon to start talking.
“The party’s tomorrow, and since I fulfilled my end of the deal, today we’re buying you a dress.”
Keely swallowed. “I’ll let you buy me a dress, but I get final say.”
He shook his head. “Nope. The terms of the deal were already set. I get final say, but I’ll take your opinion into advisement.”
For a second, she considered dumping the bacon over his condescending head, but that would have been an egregious waste of bacon. She glared at him and opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off.
“We won’t get anything that you’re uncomfortable in, but you have to try on the ones I pick out.”
Keely sighed. “Fine. I won’t complain about price as long as I’m comfortable wearing the dress.”
Seth grinned at her. “We’re going to have fun today.”
She snagged his last piece of bacon and gave him a sidelong glance. “You’re the first guy I’ve ever met that enjoys the prospect of shopping.”
He shrugged. “The sweet taste of victory makes it better.”
Keely snorted, unconvinced.
Several hours later, Seth had proved himself a flawless shopping companion. Keely loved buying clothes, despite her many arguments about cost. She liked the hunt for the best price or the perfect piece.
The first couple of stores she’d chosen had caused Seth to scoff. After a quick perusal, Keely admitted he was right. They weren’t going to find a formal gown in any of the department stores she favored. When she suggested a chain bridal shop, Seth lost his infinite patience and dragged her to a store with a doorman and a guest list.
Keely had never been in a place so posh, except maybe her current apartment, but even that wasn’t so obviously high-class. The store took up the second floor of a mixed-use building that looked like it used to be a warehouse.
They entered a tiny alcove that Keely would have walked right past if Seth hadn’t stopped her. He greeted the doorman like an old friend, and her brows shot up into her hair as the man ushered them into the store proper.
Soaring windows lit the room with natural light augmented by cleverly hidden spotlights over displays of gorgeous gowns. This was no chain. These dresses weren’t crushed onto overfilled racks that required some form of judo to remove. Each piece stood proudly in its own vignette that played off the colors and lines.
Keely looked down at her dirty sneakers and winced, well out of her comfort zone. A tall woman with tilted green eyes, waist-length curls of blond hair, and a commanding skill with stilettos strode toward them. Keely tensed at the sharp clack of heels on concrete, but Seth held out his hands as she approached.
“Felicité.”
She placed her hands in his and they air-kissed each other’s cheeks. “Seth. What a pleasure. You assured me you would visit, then nothing for over a year. You’ve been away, non?”
Of course, she had a French accent. And a warm, throaty voice. She probably baked croissants and made perfect espresso in her free time. Keely wiped the frown off her face as the woman turned toward her.
“And who do we have here? A new love interest perhaps?” Felicité smiled at Keely, and the genuine warmth in it made her swallow the jealousy threatening to choke her.
“I’m Keely.” Her smile felt forced, but at least she tried.
Seth took Keely’s hand and met her eyes, brushing a kiss over her knuckles. “You could call her a love interest.” He shifted his focus back to Felicité, and Keely had to take a slow, deep breath to combat her suddenly pounding heart. She’d forgotten for a moment that they were in public and therefore in front of a live audience.
“She needs a dress for an event tomorrow. As the premiere gown designer in New York, I hoped you could help us.”
Felicité inclined her head at her due and turned to assess Keely. “Something bold, I think. Cool colors to draw out the eyes.” She took both of Keely’s hands and lifted them out away from her sides. “Small-boned. Delicate, but with much passion. A daring cut.” She nodded to Seth and dropped Keely’s hands. “I have a few designs that might work. A moment, s’il te plaît. Have a seat and be comfortable if you wish.”
She gestured to a small seating area that Keely had missed in the corner of the room, then strode back the way she’d come. Seth shoved his hands in his pockets, but when Keely chanced a look at him, he stared at the shimmering purple gown on a stand next to them instead of the vivacious woman walking away.
“Premiere gown designer in New York?”
Seth met her eyes again and shrugged one shoulder. “She was on the way up when I was llama-ed. I hear she’s working with some famous Broadway stars now, which was always her dream.”
The jealousy returned with a vengeance, and Keely struggled to keep her voice even. “How do you know about her dreams?”
He grinned. “We spent some time together in her youth.”
Keely gritted her teeth. She truly tried to stop the next question from emerging, but only lasted about three seconds. “You were in a relationship?”
He tilted his head, clearly enjoying himself. “Of a sort. We met through a mutual friend, spent many nights together…then I introduced Felicité to her wife, and all was lost.”
Keely imagined strangling him in this upscale studio would be frowned upon. “I think I liked you better as a llama.”
Seth chuckled and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “Now I know that’s a lie.”
Before Keely could respond, Felicité clicked her way back into the room. “I have arranged a dressing suite for you. Follow me.”
She pivoted and headed for a shadowy door in the corner. Keely rolled her eyes at the drama and at Seth as he gestured for her to go ahead. Felicité led them into a dimly lit back hallway that ended at an open door.
Keely glanced over her shoulder at Seth for a second, nervous about where this was all heading. The dresses in the showroom had
been beautiful, but none of them had included price tags that she could see. He met her eyes and his mind touched hers for a moment, reassuring.
She fiddled with the crystal pendant as they walked into the far room, then Keely’s mouth dropped open. They’d entered a small sitting area with champagne chilling in an ice bucket and ripe strawberries on a tray next to them. A cushy-looking couch filled one wall, and a three-way mirror took up another. Through a smaller doorway, several colorful dresses hung on the wall of a changing room.
Keely picked up her jaw before Felicité turned around and moved aside to make space for Seth. The gorgeous designer smiled and clasped her hands in front of her.
“I’m afraid I cannot offer to help dress you this afternoon as I’ve some work yet to complete, but I’m sure Seth will be happy to fill that role.” She winked. “Take your time. Enjoy the fine wine. Let me know if any of these dresses are to your liking and my team will have it fitted for tomorrow.” She inclined her head again and gently shut the door behind her on the way out.
Keely turned to Seth with wide eyes and smacked him in the arm. “Why did you bring me here?”
He crossed his arms. “You need a dress. Felicité makes dresses.”
“She makes famous dresses. You just paraded me in here without even calling ahead, and she was happy to see you?” Keely pointed toward the dressing room. “There are like a dozen one-of-a-kind dresses in there, and I couldn’t afford the lining on one of them.”
Seth grasped her shoulders. “Take a deep breath. I can easily afford one of her dresses, even if we weren’t old friends. As it stands, I did call ahead. She’s happy to lend us a dress, since that seems to be what you’d prefer. Why not enjoy the moment?”
His hands slid down to clasp hers, and he drew her farther into the room. Keely took his advice and tried to breathe away the culture shock. The whole situation tossed the Pretty Woman vibe back at her, which was why she’d made them take a step back from the naughty stuff in the first place. Or at least, part of the reason why.
“Pick one you like, put it on, come out and show me.” Seth deposited her in the small room and closed the slatted door as he left.
“I’m not sure I like this pushy side of you,” she raised her voiced to be heard through the door.
Seth laughed. “I prefer subtle manipulation to outright force.”
“Pretty sure you’re not supposed to admit that out loud.”
“Stop stalling. Pick a dress.”
Keely finally took a closer look at the rainbow of fabric around her. Felicité had said cool colors, but she’d snuck in a few fiery hues as well. Channeling the native New Yorker’s penchant for black, Keely passed over the brighter shades for a midnight blue peeking out from behind a full-skirted princess gown.
She stripped to her undies, keenly aware of Seth only a few feet away, and realized quickly that none of these dresses allowed a bra. Keely wasn’t that big, so a little support went a long way, but she wasn’t about to walk around a fancy party with her nipples clearly on display. Thank goodness Felicité seemed to have thought of that.
The blue she’d picked turned out to be made of some kind of velvet and wrapped her like a mummy down to her knees. With some effort, she zipped up the dress on her own, but she couldn’t bend over. A full-length mirror hung on the back of the door, and Keely wrinkled her nose when she turned to see if the dress looked any better than it felt.
Nope. The dark color washed her out, and the heavy velvet scrunched in weird places where her curves were supposed to be. So much for Felicité’s expert knowledge. As Keely pulled it over her head, the zipper grabbed her ponytail, yanking it to the side. She grunted in pain and tried to extricate herself from the grabby dress.
“You okay in there?” Seth didn’t sound particularly worried.
“Fine. Mind your business.”
The zipper snagged the elastic and wouldn’t let go, so Keely released her long hair from the tie. Felicité could keep the traitorous accessory. Sweating from battling with the first dress, Keely blew loose hair out of her face. Several of the others looked stiff, and after the last couple of minutes, the idea of fighting with the dress all night sounded like hell.
Keely liked the idea of a princess gown, but the reality never lived up to the fantasy once she had it on. The huge skirts swallowed her and made her feel like a child playing dress-up. Not that her mom had owned a lot of ball gowns. Keely frowned and held several of the bigger dresses up in front of her, one at a time. None of them spoke to her.
She shook head. Who cared if the dress spoke to her? She’d wear it for one night, return it, and go on with her life, though the princess fantasies would be slightly less enticing.
A pop and fizz came from Seth’s side of the room. “Am I going to get to see any of these dresses?”
Keely glared at the door. “Are you drinking champagne without me?”
“You can have some when you come out.”
She ran her hand through her unruly hair and glanced around the room again until her eyes caught on a flash of bright blue-green. The small dress had disappeared behind one of the ball gowns, and Keely gasped softly when she saw the full effect. Pale blue shimmered at the bottom, shifting into turquoise as it rose until it gathered in dark teal over one shoulder.
Keely slipped it over her head, and the material settled around her like a cloud.
On the hangar, it resembled a sheath dress, but though the soft fabric clung to her minimal curves, the dress moved with her. A high slit up to one thigh let her walk with ease without flashing anyone. From the front, Keely looked completely covered, but the open back dipped down to a point low enough that she’d have to get special underwear.
Keely spun in front of the mirror, trying to figure out how the top stayed up so well with only one shoulder to anchor it in place. The dress fit her perfectly. Her hair settled around her in wild waves, and for the first time since they’d left the apartment today, the anxiety inside her stilled. Forget princesses. Keely felt like a sexy goddess in this dress.
Her hand trembled as she opened the changing room door. If Seth didn’t like it, too bad. She’d chosen her dress.
He sat hunched forward with his arms on his knees, auburn hair falling in front of his face. A mostly empty champagne flute dangled from his fingers. The door didn’t make any noise when it opened, but he raised his head anyway. His gaze traveled up the slit where her thigh peeked through to the bare shoulder before stopping on her face. Keely drew in a jagged breath and turned around, twisting to watch him over her shoulder.
His eyes darkened as he took in the back of the dress. “You like that one?”
Keely nodded.
He set the glass on a small table next to him as he stood, and the clink sounded unnaturally loud against the backdrop of their quiet breathing. Keely gripped the doorframe as Seth stepped close and trailed a hand down her bare back. When he got to the bottom, his fingers dipped under the band in a caress.
His gaze rose to clash with hers, then the press of his hand spun the rest of her toward him. Fingers plunged into her loose hair, and Keely met his mouth in a hungry kiss. Finally. She couldn’t tell if Seth pulled her close or if she pressed herself to him. Probably both.
Keely had spent nine days deprived and living in a high state of arousal, now that she could finally touch him again, fire consumed her. The slow slide of his tongue drove heat in a straight line to her core. Her hands gripped the front of his shirt and brushed against her hard nipples under the thin fabric of the dress.
In stark contrast to her uncontrolled need before, this time, Keely knew exactly what she was doing.
She pushed against his chest, walking him back until he hit the couch and tumbled down. Keely grinned at the rumpled sight of him breathless in front of her. His lips curled into a wicked smile, and he crooked a finger at her.
Keely gathered her skirt, thankful for the high slit, and straddled his lap, seating herself where the hard pressure of him
would do the most good. One of his hands returned to clench in her hair while the other left a scorching trail across her breasts. Her head fell back with a moan as he rolled his hips under her and trailed his open mouth up the side of her neck.
The room disappeared as Keely spread her fingers across his abs, then reached for the button on his pants. She’d given in to her cautious side long enough, time for the impulsive side to take over. Before she could do more than slip her fingers under his waistband, the swish of the outer door opening and Felicité’s giggle brought Keely back to herself. Her head snapped toward the other woman as she tried to wriggle away, but Seth held her in place.
Felicité flicked a glance at them then stared at the ceiling with a smile. “My apologies. I came to check if you needed anything, but you appear to be well taken care of. That is the one, non?”
Keely blushed and turned back to Seth, expecting to see his attention on Felicité, but his focus hadn’t wavered. His gaze bore into her as he spoke.
“Yes. This is the one.”
9
KEELY
The look on Seth’s face stuck with her the rest of the day and well into the night. Despite being sorry, Felicité didn’t leave. Seth released his hold so Keely could stand and endure another flaming blush while being poked and prodded. Felicité, for her part, only sent them a few knowing looks while she straightened the dress and added some tucks that magically enhanced the curves at Keely’s waist and hips.
Much to Keely’s disappointment, Seth took her hand on the way out but otherwise restrained himself. Felicité assured them the dress would arrive the next day by courier with plenty of time before the party. Keely expected to head back to the apartment and pick up where they’d left off, but Seth had other plans. Literally. He rode with her in the cab back to the apartment, but waved her off saying he’d see her tonight.
