Page 31 of Daring to Love You (Priestly Family #3)

Chapter Twenty-Four

D orian 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 have a 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.

“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 hurried out 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.