“Thanks.”
“Okay. Grab your phone and let’s go,” she said.
“Go? Go where?”
“We’re going shopping.”
“Shopping? Why?”
“Because Flynn asked me to take you. You need a formal dress. And shoes. And jewelry.”
“Why do I need a formal dress?”
“You and Flynn are going to a charity event later this week.” She peered at me. “He didn’t tell you.”
“Does he tell me anything?” I asked with a roll of my eyes.
“Probably not nearly as much as you want.”
“That’s the truth.” I shook my head. “A charity event, huh?”
Lacey grinned. “Leave your purse. You won’t need it.”
Chapter 22
I should’ve had a difficult time adjusting to Flynn paying for obscenely expensive gowns, but it was one of the ways he showed his affection for me—another way for him to prove he wanted to take care of me. So I let him and didn’t worry so much about it.
“I’m thinking purple,” Lacey said as she opened the door to an upscale boutique.
“Purple? I don’t want to look like a grape.”
Lacey grinned. “Not grape purple. Amethyst purple. It will look great against your skin and hair.”
“I trust you. After all, you’re the one that’s in charge of costumes at the club.”
“I’m also in charge of the wardrobe choices for the other young ladies at The Rex. Those that work on The Fifteenth Floor.”
The Fifteenth Floor was the brothel.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“What’s it like?” I asked.
She glanced at me in amusement. “You should come by one night and see for yourself. Whatever it is you imagine, it won’t compare to the real thing.”
Intriguing, to say the least. And I was definitely going to check it out.
I gazed around the boutique once again feeling entirely out of my element. In my old life, I never went to charity events or owned clothes that cost more than a down payment on a car.
Lacey knew her stuff, so I let her and the assistant discuss what I should wear. They were in good company. While they planned how to dress me, I walked around the boutique, studying the jewelry. I slid to the next jewelry case and bumped into someone.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” I said, finally looking up from all the shiny trinkets.
Ash’s ex-fiancé smiled absently, and then his eyes registered it was me and not a stranger. “Barrett,” he said. “Hello.”
“Um. Hi. What are you doing here?”