Page 97 of Maximum Dare
“It’ll be fun!” Amber began unhooking the dress.
I climbed to my feet. “We’ll get in trouble.”
“I’ll say I spotted a moth. Was pulling the dress out until I’d hunted down the insect. I’ll be awarded Shop Assistant of The Month! Grab a dress off a hanger.”
Within minutes, we’d switched outthegown for a little black dress. Not quite as glamorous but at least we’d not left a naked mannequin in the window for the wierdos to gawp at.
I followed Amber across the showroom floor toward the changing rooms. She chose a cubicle for me.
“I’m not sure about this,” I said, nervous about touching the dress again.
She threw her hands in the air. “What else would you be doing?”
I’d be on the Tube with my head in a book, trying not to think about how my life was always so calamitous. Trying not to think abouthim.
Trying on this dream gown was probably the only thing that could cheer me up. I kicked off my shoes and stripped down to my underwear.
Within the cubicle, Amber helped me step into the dress. She fastened the catches on the back and then gestured for me to step outside. “Go see yourself.”
I left the cubicle and waltzed up to the full-length mirror on the wall.
The gown fit perfectly, the bustier pushing my breasts up and making my waist appear smaller. It was fun to imagine wearing this dress at some posh party, the other guests throwing me admiring glances. Lifting my hair above my head, I turned this way and that to see the gown from all angles, the crystals twinkling hypnotically beneath the lights. It could have been made for me.
Amber looked me up and down. “Yeah…wow.”
My shoulders slumped at the realization that my dreams would never become a reality. The woman who would wear this dress one day belonged to a different world.
“You need shoes! Let me get my favorite ones from the back.” She scurried away.
The quiet was a welcome change from the constant humming of voices and music that went on throughout the day. The throng of shoppers that usually buzzed around us were gone, just a few stragglers and staff were left.
I needed to get out of this dress. I reached for the catch at the back, but it was too low. I stepped out of the changing room.
“Amber, forget the shoes.”
The place was deserted.
Turning, I let out a surprised gasp.
Max was standing there, dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, the beauty of his features belying his sexy ruggedness.
“You really are versatile,” he said. “One night a clown, the next night a princess.”
“Go away or I’ll call security.”
“Daisy, you’ve not been answering my calls.”
“My phone’s been off.”
“The dress looks better on you,” he said.
“As opposed to…?”
“The one-armed mannequin.” He gave me a crooked smile.
My eyes closed for a beat in embarrassment—he’d been one of the onlookers in the crowd.
His admiring gaze traveled up and down my body. “You look stunning.”
