Barefoot Bay: Silhouettes on the Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

threshold, Chase stood, smiling. Charm and charisma oozed from his pores. She had to wonder why a man with so much natural sex appeal needed to pay for a date, though he had clearly stated he did not need to buy intimate companionship. Hiring Bev made no sense.
    "Ready?" he asked.
    "All set." She raised her bag to show him and almost bolted backward from his touch when he tried to take it from her. "I can handle it."
    "I'm sure you can, but that's not the point." His smile widened in complete contradiction to his pointed gaze. "Besides," he continued, "my grandfather would never let me hear the end of it if he knew I let you carry your own bag."
    The urge to let his hand remain on hers for the rest of the day was why she relented. Keeping a safe distance just became a priority. "There's a nice mall not far from here. They have some good sales going on."
    Reaching the car a few steps ahead of her, Chase nodded and opened the passenger door. She could see his eyes daring her to object. She knew when to pick her battles. This wasn't one of them. Sliding inside, she strapped in and waited for him to toss her bag in the back and take his place behind the wheel. Then the engine roared to life.
    "Turn left at the end of the road." She pointed ahead. "A couple of lights later you'll see the signs for the freeway."
    "Actually"—Chase shifted gears and took a second to flash her a wily grin—"Beth recommended a place she thought would work."
    Like C.J. could afford anywhere an Ivory shopped. "I really think the mall will be—"
    "C.J.," he interrupted, his gaze softer, "let me handle this. Please."
    She had the strangest feeling that the please had been hard for him to say. Something she didn't think he did often. And something she couldn't say no to. Even if her credit card might not agree.
    * * *
    Beth had told Chase that Le Magasin would be the perfect one-stop place to take C.J. shopping without trying his patience. Driving his brother's Mercedes sedan with the plates IVORY II, it was no surprise to Chase when he pulled up to the door that the valet addressed him by name. When the shop manager greeted him at the door, he knew his sister had phoned ahead.
    "Good morning, Mr. Ivory. My name is Marguerite." The picture-perfect woman—anywhere from thirty to fifty years old, depending on her genetics or plastic surgeon—introduced herself. Walking beside her, a younger but equally well-dressed woman waited to be introduced. "This is Veronica. She will be taking care of you today."
    Veronica looked C.J. up and down. "Size 8?"
    C.J. tightened the two-fisted grip on her purse strap. "Ten actually."
    "We'll try both. Most of the clothing from our designers tends to run smaller than … other brands."
    While Veronica had maintained a steady tone and pleasant smile, he didn't need to be at the helm of a multibillion-dollar company, nor carry the weight of the Ivory name, to recognize the sales girl had very politely but disrespectfully put C.J. in her bargain-shopper place. And he didn't like it one damn bit.
    "Very well," the manager said, waving toward a small lounge with scattered seating and a single door leading to what he knew to be a private dressing room. "I will leave you in Veronica's competent hands."
    He had to think fast. "Thank you, but my sister mentioned another name." Beth had, of course, said nothing about which salesperson she used or if she even had a preferred individual at the store, but this wouldn't be the first time Chase had tossed out a vague presumption in hopes of luring in wanted information.
    "I see." The older woman looked to Veronica, then back at Chase. "I do believe Melissa usually works with your sister, but she's with another customer."
    Chase didn't move, didn't say a word. He let his silence hang for a long uncomfortable moment, and then, when he could see the manager's confident gaze begin to mire with concern, he added, "Perhaps we should come back another time."
    With only a gentle nod in