Page 54 of Daring to Love You
“Stop overthinking and take what he’s offering,” Cree said, snapping Dorian out of her thoughts. “Besides, I’m sure he’s going to love seeing you in these outfits, and you are on this shopping spree because of him. You don’t want to look like a pauper when you meet his parents.”
True.
“Okay, fine. Let’s hurry this up.” She turned to Jada. “What else you got?”
For the next hour, Dorian tried on one outfit after another. Most she liked, others she didn’t, mainly because she didn’t feel comfortable in some of the skimpier pieces. When she started trying on the evening gowns, she immediately felt like Cinderella, and it was as if Cree and Jada were her fairy godmothers.
Jada even included underwear and lingerie, which Dorian fell in love with. She didn’t splurge on much, but underwear was an exception. From the first time she started making her own money, she always bought matching bra and panty sets. And as she got older, her underwear got sexier.
Thinking about that, she recalled the flaming hot expression in Lynix’s eyes when he’d seen her in the yellow lace set. If they ever went to the next level, she wanted to see that expression again.
Once Dorian was done trying on clothes, Jada handed everything off to the store manager. Except she gave Dorian the bags that held the underwear and lingerie. Everything else would be delivered to her apartment later that day.
Dorian was slipping back into her shoes when Jada excused herself and left the dressing room area to take a call.
“Here.” Cree handed Dorian a small shopping bag.
“What is it?”
“A little something for when you need it.”
Dorian moved the tissue paper out of the way and when she dug in, she pulled out a box of condoms. There was also lubricant, and she burst out laughing when she saw the pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She laughed even harder when she realized they were candy cigarettes, and the lighter was actually a flashlight.
“Really, Cree?” she said, still laughing as she shoved everything back into the bag.
“I wasn’t sure if you needed those things, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to be on the safe side, especially if you haven’t secured other means of birth control. Trust me, you don’t want to end up pregnant before you’re ready for that type of responsibility.”
Cree left the dressing room area before Dorian could unpack everything that was said. First, she wondered how her sister knew she might still be a virgin. But even more, what was that all about, not wanting to end up pregnant before you’re ready? Did Cree have some experience with that?
Dorian grabbed her bags and hurried to catch up with her. She wanted answers, but when she made it to the sales floor, she almost ran into the back of Cree. Her sister stood frozen in place, and when Dorian glanced around her, she saw two huge men who hadn’t been there earlier.
One, a handsome, well-built white guy who looked like he should be on the cover of a fitness magazine. Wide shoulders, thick biceps, flat abs, and thick thighs made him a poster boy for all things big and rugged. It was suddenly clear that he was Jada’s husband when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.
But the other man… The gorgeous, giant, black man who looked like he could bench press a ten-story building, only had eyes for Cree. By the way they were looking at each other in shock, it was safe to say they had history there.
“Cree?” the man finally said. “What are you—”
“Go to hell!” she snapped and stormed out the building.
The man growled, like literally growled and said, “Some things never change.” Then he ran after her.
When Dorian glanced at Jada and her husband, the two shrugged. Apparently, they were as clueless about the situation as she was. So she said her thank yous and goodbyes and hurriedout of the store. She had driven herself but hoped to catch up with Cree.
No such luck. Her sister was nowhere in sight, and neither was her mystery man.
Hmm… Dorian couldn’t wait to get the scoop on that story.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Lynix is going to lose his mind when he sees you in that dress,” Cree said, and Dorian smiled as she took one last look in the full-length mirror hanging on the inside of her bathroom door.
Dorian laughed. She didn’t want her fake boyfriend to lose his mind, but she did want him to take notice. She wanted him to see what his money bought, and she couldn’t have been more satisfied with the choice.
An all-white fundraiser gala would be a first for her, and the dress was perfect for the occasion. The strapless, satin, high split, mermaid dress hugged her body and flowed to the floor revealing her right leg. The four-inch high-heel sandals added to the elegance of the gown.
She turned slightly and glanced over her shoulder into the mirror so she could see the back, and she couldn’t help grinning. Oh, yeah, he was definitely going to lose his mind when he saw how most of her back was showing.
After a few minutes, Dorian stepped out of the bathroom and into her bedroom and found her mother standing in the doorway with a sour expression on her face.
