Page 73 of Dreams and Desires

I smile, squeezing her hand gently. “See? I told you. Now, try the raspberry one. I have a feeling that one’s going to knock me out.”

She disappears into the fitting room again, and I find myself holding my breath, anticipation thrumming through my veins. When she steps out in the raspberry dress, it’s like the room lights up around her. The color contrasts beautifully with her skin tone, making her look radiant. The deep neckline is daring, but the sheer unlined sleeves and the ruched cummerbund give it an elegant, almost regal touch.

“Careful, Juniper,” I say with a grin, my heart skipping a beat as I take her in. “You might give me a heart attack.”

She laughs, the sound like a melody that fills the space between us. “You’re impossible, Zade,” she says, but there’s a warmth in her eyes that wasn’t there before—a confidence that’s slowly starting to emerge.

We continue trying on different outfits, each one more stunning than the last. Juniper starts to relax as she moves from one dress to another. I can see her confidence growing, her laughter coming more easily, her smiles more frequent.

Finally, we have around five dresses picked out. She only wants one, but there’s no way I’m letting her put anything back.

“I’m not letting you return a single one,” I say firmly because the topic is not up for discussion.“Consider it a gift. You deserve them all.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off with a firm shake of my head. “No arguments, Juniper. Let me do this for you.”

She gives me a begrudging look but nods, accepting the dresses. “Okay,” she whispers, her voice soft. “Thank you, Zade.”

With the dresses decided, I steer her toward the shoe section. The moment we get close, I see her stiffen slightly, her comfort zone shrinking as we approach the rows of delicate heels and strappy sandals. This is far from her usual style, and it’s clear she’s out of her depth. Juniper's more at home in her trusty combat boots or chunky platform shoes, the kind that give her an edge and make her feel grounded. The dainty, fragile footwear in front of us might as well be alien to her.

I spot a pair of Stuart Weitzman heels, sleek and elegant, the perfect match for the dresses. I hold them out to her. “Try these. They’ll look amazing with the dresses.”

She takes the shoes, looking uncertain but willing to try. As she sits down to slip them on, I can’t help but notice how the heels accentuate her legs, even if she’s not fully steady on them. When she stands, there’s a slight wobble, but there’s also a determination in her eyes—a stubbornness that I’ve come to admire.

“Not bad,” I say, a hint of teasing in my voice. “Let’s see you walk in them.”

She takes a few careful steps, her movements tentative but purposeful. It’s clear she’s uncomfortable, but she pushes through, refusing to let the shoes get the better of her. That’s something I’ve always admired about Juniper—her unwillingness to back down, even when things get tough.

As she sits back down, I notice one of the straps has come loose. She bends to fix it, fumbling with the buckle. Without thinking, I kneel in front of her, taking her ankle in my hand.

“Let me,” I say, my voice softer now, almost a whisper. As I secure the strap, my fingers brush against her skin, and for a moment, the world around us fades. A sudden charge sparks between us, something neither of us anticipated but both of us can’t ignore.

I catch the way her breath hitches, the way her eyes widen slightly as my thumb grazes her ankle one last time before I lower her foot. The connection between us is undeniable, and it’s in that moment, kneeling before her, that I realize just how much she means to me.

I stand slowly, holding out my hand to help her up. When she takes it, the touch lingers, the connection strengthens. The store, the people around us, it all fades into the background. All I can focus on is her—the way she looks at me, the way her hand fits perfectly in mine.

We end up buying ten pairs of shoes. Juniper protests, saying it’s too much, but I insist. Seeing her in those heels, with that newfound confidence, is irresistible. She tries to push back, but I won’t hear it. I want her to have them all, to feel the way she deserves to feel.

When we head back to the car, it’s already dark. The city lights blur past us as we drive through the bustling streets, but all I can think about is the smile on her face, the way she looked at herself in those dresses. Today was about more than just shopping; it was about showing Juniper how much she means to me, about helping her see herself the way I see her—strong, beautiful, and deserving of every good thing.

We arrive at my penthouse, and I can see Juniper’s eyes widen again as she takes in the luxurious surroundings. The high ceilings, the modern décor, the panoramic view of the city—it’s a far cry from what she’s used to.

“Wow, Zade, this place is... it’s incredible,” she says, her voice filled with awe, but also a hint of something else—uncertainty.

“Come on in,” I say, leading her inside. “Make yourself at home.”

She hesitates, standing just inside the doorway, her eyes taking in every detail of the space. “I don’t know, Zade. This is all so... overwhelming. Why are you doing all this for me?”

I take her hands in mine, drawing her closer so she can see the sincerity in my eyes. “Because you deserve it, Juniper. You deserve to feel special, to know that you’re worth it.”

She blushes, looking down at our joined hands. “It’s just... it scares me a little,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper.

I lift her chin, making her meet my gaze. “Don’t be scared. I’m here with you, every step of the way.”

Just then, the door opens, and my mom walks in with a large bag that I’m sure has home cooked food in it, followed closely by my dad. My mom stops in her tracks, her eyes going straight to Juniper with a look of surprise that quickly softens into something more welcoming.

“Oh, Zade, I didn’t know you had company,” she says, her tone polite but curious.

Juniper looks mortified, like she wants to disappear, but I quickly step in, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to keep her grounded. “Mom, Dad, this is Juniper,” I say, keeping my voice steady and calm. “Juniper, these are my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patterson.”

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