Page 91 of Skins Game

White velvet upholstery as soft as a puppy’s tummy invited her touch, and the dark walnut wood kept everything from becoming eye-blindingly ethereal. Even the sconces on the wall were covered in crystal: crystal drops, crystal scales, and crystal-beaded shades.

Nicole knew she was gawking but couldn’t seem to stop. “Kingston?”

“Yes, my little engineer?”

“I brought some sundresses and that little black dress that I wore to our first date, but maybe we could go somewhere a little more casual? I don’t think my on-sale finds from TJ Maxx will cut it here.”

He walked over to her again and stared down at her, a small, fond smile lifting one side of his mouth. “You could be dressed in a tattered bathrobe and bunny slippers, and I would still find you beautiful.”

Her body warmed under his gaze. “I appreciate that, and that’s lovely, but other people won’t. It’s not fun being underdressed.”

“Wear that sexy black dress tonight. It is perfectly appropriate for the hotel restaurant. If you would like some other clothes, we can pick up some other dresses for the rest of the week if you want.”

“I’m an Oceanside, California girl. I know more about surfboards than haute couture. Seriously, ask me if I’d rather have a F-One Mitu Pro Bamboo board or a Jimmy Lewis Stiletto because the answer is it depends on what kind of waves you’re going to ride.”

He tilted his head and then ran his hands down her arms. “A whole new dimension to my little engineer. I like it. But more to the point, they have professional shoppers at the hotel. We can arrange for someone to make appointments and escort you to boutiques who will know exactly how to put you together. Would that be acceptable?”

“I suppose. I feel like I should know how to buy a dress because I’m a girl, but I suppose even an engineer doesn’t know everything.”

He walked over to the wet bar along one wall and poured himself one finger of whiskey. The crystal highball glass caught the setting sunlight streaming in through the windows. “I’ll arrange it for tomorrow morning and afternoon. I have a quick meeting, anyway.”

“Is that where you get your suits? You have a hotel personal shopper like that who takes you around?”

The glass was almost to his mouth, and he mentioned, “I have a tailor in London,” and slid the whiskey into his mouth.

“You do?Does Sidewinder sell that many golf clubs in England?”

The whiskey must’ve caught in Kingston’s throat because he coughed a little before he said, “Scotland. I tend to travel to Scotland, where wealthy golfers from all over the world go. I stop in London on the way.”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

“Let’s hope so. All right, dinner reservations in just over forty-five minutes. I’ll take this bathroom and clean up.”

“I can wait until you get out of the shower.”

“All these suites here have two bathrooms. Toddle along, my little engineer.”

Nicole toddled along, and she did her make-up as carefully as she’d ever done it, trying hard.

Supper was perfect, just like always, with Nicole casting glances around them and Kingston looking at her.

The high floor of the hotel looked down on the sparkling diamond and ruby strands of Manhattan traffic in the black velvet night.

The Grand Salon restaurant glowed with twinkling crystal.

Blood-red drops studded the white-crystal chandeliers, and topiary spheres covered in gem-red roses, from basketball- to beach ball-size, stood on tables, sweetly scenting the air.

This menu had prices,highprices, prices for the salads like Nicole would have paid for a wholenicemeal including drink, tax, and tip.

She tried ordering a watermelon and tomato salad, but Kingston wouldn’t have it. “Do you want vegetarian, fish, chicken, or beef?”

“I’m fine. We ate on the plane,” she insisted.

“Six hours ago. We ate on the plane six hours ago. I won’t force-feed you, but I distinctly heard your stomach grumble when we walked in. I was wondering if I should have had room service waiting.”

“Oh, no. No, I’m fine,” she reassured him. “I just don’t need a meal like this one.”

He cocked his head and stared hard at her. “Like this one, how?”