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“It’s too much, Alex.”

“Put it on,” she said, staring into Morgan’s eyes. “Take off your bra and put the dress on.”

Morgan gulped and felt the sensation of arousal hit harder. How did this woman turn her on so much with just a few words?

When she hesitated, Alex moved behind her. Fingers slid under her bra to unhook the two little metal clasps. “Put the dress on,” she whispered firmly when her hands slipped further under and around to cup now naked breasts.

Head falling back, body pressing into the touch, Morgan moaned a little when her nipples were squeezed and rolled between deft fingers.

“I want you.” Alex’s voice was low and sultry. “I want you right now, but I won’t because that’s a headline I don’t need.” She chuckled. “But, when we’re alone again…later.” She stepped back and withdrew her hands, leaving the last part of the sentence hanging in the air between them.

Steadily walking back to the chair, Alex sat down again and continued to observe while Morgan stepped into the dress, wriggling the tight material up over taut thighs and then the roundness of her backside.

“It’s a bit figure-hugging,” Morgan said as it rested around her waist. “I’m used to wearing baggy scrubs all day.” She joked away the insecurity.

Alex’s eyes scanned the length of her body, enjoying the curves. “You have a figure worth hugging.”

Rolling her eyes, but smiling at the compliment, Morgan slid one arm and then the other into the loops that would bring the front of the dress up to cover her breasts. Her back and armswere completely exposed. In bare feet, she twirled one way and then the other, looking at herself in the mirror.

“What do you think?” she asked Alex, but she wasn’t blind. She looked a million dollars.

As though reading her mind, Alex stood and moved in behind her again. “Do I need to even answer that?”

There was a quiet knock on the door, and Alex jumped away just as the manager poked her head around.

“Everything alright?” She caught sight of Morgan as she stepped inside. “Oh, my goodness, that does look amazing on you.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Alex answered. “We’ll take it, and she’s going to need a couple of others, some everyday wear and shoes to match.” Assistants scattered, off to find everything they could that might triple their sales bonuses this month.

Morgan twisted around on the balls of her feet. “Alex, that’s too much.”

“It’s not enough.” She touched Morgan’s cheek. “Let me do this. I want to spoil you.”

Chapter Thirty

“Where the hell have you two been?” Francine ranted the moment Alex and Morgan got back to the hotel.

Morgan stepped back and hovered out of the way, unsure if she was supposed to respond or just be quiet. She opted with the latter.

Slowly, Alex removed her designer sunglasses. “We got held up, but I’m here now. What’s the big to-do?” She dumped the bags onto the floor by the couch and checked her watch, barely eleven o’clock.

“Oh, I dunno, the fact you have a concert to prepare for. Last-minute sound checks, more interviews with local press, you know, those kinds of to-dos. Not to mention you’ve got guests after this show.”

The way she said guests made Morgan take notice, like it was something more important than usual.

“It’s not late. Tell the boys I’ll be ready to sound check at five. What time are the press expecting me?”

“I’ve already set that back till four, but we need to leave,” she reiterated. “I don’t know how you expect me to fit it all in when you’re swanning around somewhere with—” Francine all but pushed her client and friend out of the room. “Horse and Houndare first, and you know how they can be, then it's onto half a dozen gazettes and news shoppers and god knows what else. Sound check, and then you’ll have two hours to relaxand compose yourself before the show. If you can avoid more gallivanting.”

“I think it might be you that needs to relax,” Alex said sharply. “We just did some shopping.”

“Shopping?”

“Yes, if we’re going to continue with thischaradethat I have a lover cover story, then myloverneeds appropriate clothing to be photographed and seen in.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Alex didn’t wait around for her to finish. “I’ll be in the car, should you need to continue worrying.”