Page 134 of Beautiful Exile

“What did that closet ever do to you?”

I didn’t jump at the deep voice that skated over my skin in a pleasant shiver. I welcomed it. My scowl battled with a grin as I turned. “It doesn’t have what I need to wear.”

Linc stepped into the small space, his heat seeping into me. “I think you look beautiful just as you are.”

I arched a brow. “You think I should go to the fundraiser in a towel?”

“I don’t think you should go at all. But I lost that battle.”

We’d gone round and round about the fundraiser for The Collective. The risks and rewards. I’d come out victorious, but not without concessions.

“And how many security personnel do you have monitoring the event?” I asked.

“Twenty,” he muttered.

I laughed, leaning into him. “It’s called compromise.”

Linc’s fingers sifted through my freshly dried hair. “Does that mean we’re grownups?”

“Never. But I think it means we get a gold star for a healthy relationship.”

Linc’s head dipped, his lips hovering over mine. “I do love a gold star.”

My lips ghosted across his. “What do you want as a reward?”

“What do you think I want?” Linc moved, hoisting me up.

My legs instantly went around his waist, but I smacked his back. “Oh, no, you don’t. We do not have time for any rewards. I have to get ready, and I still don’t know what I’m wearing.” Not to mention the fact that makeup wasn’t exactly my strong suit.

“I might be able to help with that,” Linc murmured against my ear.

I pulled back as he strode out of my bedroom. Brutus let out a happy bark, thinking it was a fun game. Linc carried me into the living room and then slowly lowered me to the floor. The loss of contact nearly had me giving in to the offer of forgetting the fundraiser and staying home with Linc.

Shaking off the lust haze, I turned and stilled. My jaw went slack at the sight. In the center of my living room was a rack of clothing. Mostly dresses, but with a couple of chic pantsuits mixed in. In front of the rack were more pairs of shoes than I could count. And on the couch lay a row of clutches in colors that matched or complemented the clothing options perfectly.

“What did you do?” I whispered.

“You’ve had a few things on your mind. Didn’t think you’d have time to shop. And you need something special for tonight.”

I turned back to him. “So you bought out a department store?”

Linc laughed. “I had a stylist send some options.”

I moved to the rack, my fingers ghosting over each option. Linc’s stylist had given me a rainbow of choices, including the typical artist’s black. But I wasn’t going for shadow tonight; I was going for light. No more fading into the background.

My fingers landed on a silky number. The dusky mauve color felt like a blend of earthiness and whimsical pink, and something about that called to me. It was a mixture of who I was and who I wanted to be.

Pulling it from the rack, I studied the dress. The shape would hug my curves in the perfect way. The spaghetti straps would expose my shoulders, tan from all my time with the horses, and the material would lean into a sultriness I didn’t often own. It was perfect.

“This one,” I said softly, holding it up for Linc to see.

“You don’t want to try some on to make sure?”

I shook my head. “This is the one.”

A smile tugged at his beautiful mouth. “Pink. Always full of surprises.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but my doorbell rang, cutting me off. Brutus let out two quick barks to alert.

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