Page 43 of Bad Habit
“Mac.” I pulled him aside. “I don’t need anything. I brought my dress and high heels. I have all I need. It’s okay.”
Holding me by my upper arms, he looked into my eyes. “Trust me,” he said. “I’m your sin consultant. In fact, I need you to make me a promise.”
I nodded.
“And Jessica, you’re a witness.”
“Okay.” She smiled as if witnessing promises was something she did every day. Maybe it was.
“Jessica knows my budget,” Mac told me. “You’re not allowed to look at price tags or even think about what any of this costs.”
“But—”
He put his finger up to stop me. “Please. I want to spoil you, let you see what it’s like to own new things. Beautiful things. And this is your lesson in decadence, greed.”
I took a long breath and nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
“But I haven’t told you what I want you to promise yet.”
“Oh.” My chest was so full.
“Promise that you’ll take whatever Jessica suggests. She’s a professional, so take her advice. Get everything she says you need.”
I glanced over at Jessica, who smiled reassuringly, like this was normal.
“Shall we get started?” she asked.
“I don’t know…”
“Don’t worry. I do,” she said with a smile. “First stop, lingerie.”
“That’s my cue to take off,” Mac said.
I looked at him with alarm.
“I’ve got a few things to take care of,” he said. “I’ll meet up with you later. You have my number?” he asked Jessica.
“We’ll let you know when we’re done,” she replied. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you, Faith.”
* * *
Faith
Icouldn’t believe how many things I’d bought. Or rather Mac had bought. I asked Jessica about the return policy and was relieved to hear her answer. Given that everything could be returned, as long as I didn’t remove the tags, I decided it was okay to indulge Mac, or rather let him indulge my attempt to commit the mortal sin of greed. I could sneak back to the store and return the items before we left the city.
Except for the things I was wearing, because those tags were already removed. Jessica had insisted I wear one of the dresses, new shoes, and some of the lingerie when Mac and I left the store. She’d sent my old things, along with my other purchases, straight to our room.
We sat in what felt like an open-air courtyard, but was really inside. Mac and I had stopped to have a glass of red wine and some delicious meat, olives, and bread. Then we stopped at yet another store to have a kind of ice cream called gelato that was about the best thing I’d ever tasted.
The chocolate and raspberry lingered on my tongue and mingled with the buzz from the wine. I felt giddy, loving how the silk of the soft blue sundress felt against my skin as it flowed around my knees, and I ran my hand over the soft, pale-yellow cardigan I wore over the dress. It not only looked like butter, it was as soft as butter, too.
“Happy?” Mac asked.
“I couldn’t be happier.” Hearing music, I stopped and looked over the balcony. “Who’s singing?”
“There.” Mac pointed down. “The gondolier. Should we go for a ride?”
“It’s fun just watching.” A long boat with a couple inside and the singing man standing at the back passed under us on the indoor waterway.
