Page 53 of Daring to Love You
Chapter Twenty-Four
Dorian stared at herself in the full-length mirror not believing her eyes. They were at a high-end boutique, a place where she wouldn’t typically shop, but Cree insisted. The store was currently closed to the public, but the owner, Jada Jenkins-Anderson, was in town and had the store manager open for them.
Jada walked around Dorian, looking at the outfit with a critical eye. “We might need to take it in at the waist, but other than that, it fits perfectly. What do you think?”
“I think I don’t recognize myself.” The jumpsuit was gorgeous and way too expensive, but Dorian kept those thoughts to herself, and instead said, “It’s definitely a keeper.”
“Good. We’ll add it to the ‘yay’ pile,” Jada said, and went to a rollaway rack where other items were hanging. Some had already been at the store, while others she’d brought with her from Cincinnati where she lived with her husband and son.
Still staring in the mirror in awe of how she looked, Dorian ran her hand down the sides of the white, off the shoulder jumpsuit that was as sexy as something Cree would wear but had a delicateness to it that was totally Dorian’s style. She didn’t havea ton of disposable income, but for this outfit and the two she’d tried on before this one, she’d splurge.
“There are a few more garments Cree asked me to pull for you to try on. Then we’ll get to the evening gowns.”
Dorian shook her head, already concerned by the price tags. The other day, Cree had said she’d help her out, but Dorian didn’t want to be financially indebted to her sister. At least not this much.
“I’d better stop at this jumpsuit, the black cocktail dress, and that yellow and white two-piece set,” Dorian explained. “As for an evening gown,” she glanced at Cree who was sitting on a settee watching her, “can I borrow one of yours?”
“Girl, please. I’m at least four inches taller than you and bigger in the waist. You need your own gown, maybe even two since Lynix is paying.”
Dorian straightened. “What?”
“I talked to him, and before you get all bent out of shape, he offered up his black card. He said he knew you wouldn’t take his money, which was why he reached out to me.”
“He’s right. I’m not taking his money. It’s not like that between us,” Dorian said, and Cree’s left eyebrow went up.
“Then how exactly is it?” her sister asked in her no-bullshit-lawyer-tone that she had perfected. “Surely you know the man is crazy about you, and I sense the feelings are mutual.”
“I—I…” Dorian sputtered, “Our relationship is too new for him to be buying me clothes.”
Their relationship might’ve been new, but her feelings for Lynix had intensified, and it was frustrating. They needed to keep their arrangement casual to ensure her stupid heart didn’t get broken, but she feared it might be too late. Lynix wasn’t cooperating. He had somehow wormed his way into her system, and she couldn’t seem to get him out.
Something had shifted between them since that night at Zion’s house. She felt it and she was fairly sure Lynix did too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be finding every opportunity to spend time with her. She’d seen him every day, and that wasn’t helping the situation. When she’d tell him that they didn’t need to spend so much time together, he’d insist they had to practice being a couple. That if they didn’t, his father would see right through their charade.
In the meantime, Lynix was wreaking havoc on her self-control. They hadn’t discussed their intimate night at Zion’s house, but she thought about it every day and wondered when they’d go all the way. Lynix didn’t seem to be in a hurry, but she was a little anxious.
That might be why each time she saw him or heard his name or his voice, her heart did this wild fluttering thing. She couldn’t make it stop, and what scared her the most, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. She loved how the man made her feel. Whether he was kissing her, touching her, or making her laugh, she loved it all.
And at this rate, if she wasn’t careful, she was bound to get her heart broken when they went their separate ways.
“I don’t want Lynix to think I’m using him for his money,” she finally said to Cree.
Her sister shrugged. “Hey, you might not want to ask for what you want or need, but I’m not above asking a man for money. Especially if the man is wealthy and wants to give me the world. And for the record, your man’s exact words were,I don’t care what it costs. Make sure she gets whatever she wants. I’m planning to give her the world.”
Dorian stood speechless. “He said that?”
Her sister nodded.“Those were his exact words, and I, for one, plan to let him. On your behalf, of course.”
Jada laughed and high-fived Cree before looking at Dorian. “My kind of man. I think my husband said something similar when he was trying to woo me.”
Cree had mentioned Jada’s husband was a sports commentator and a former NFL running back and Hall of Famer.
“And like your sister,” Jada continued, “I’ve never had a problem asking for what I want and accepting that my man enjoys spoiling me. Dorian, it sounds like you need to get used to it too.”
Dorian’s gaze volleyed between Cree and Jada. They were clearly cut from the same mold when it came to style, self-confidence, and their view on men.
While Cree was tall and had an hourglass figure that men drooled over, Jada was petite like Dorian. But unlike Dorian, the woman looked like money. From her silk two-piece pant set to her bejeweled high heel sandals, she looked like a million bucks. And that didn’t even include her jewelry. She was wearing enough diamonds to warrant a bodyguard.
Dorian returned her attention to the mirror. She wasn’t like them, but maybe they were right. Maybe she shouldn’t turn down Lynix’s gifts. She could totally imagine him saying the words about giving her the world because that’s how generous he was. But it just didn’t feel right to allow him to fund this shopping spree when she wasn’t his for real woman.
