Just One Night. Part 1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

car, taking pains to keep my skirt from riding up too high.
    “Our first step in the journey towards hedonistic pleasure.”
    I laugh. “Wow. Did you rehearse that?”
    “For a full five days. Come along, so we can go have a chit chat with Claudia.”
    I step up onto the sidewalk and follow him to the front door. From where I’m standing I can see fancy dresses inside the store. “Who’s Claudia?”
    “Claudia is a designer who makes bespoke items and ready-to-wear fashion. She specializes in formal wear.” He opens the door and gestures for me to go in first.
    I step into the quiet place, breathing in the smell of new material and roses. “Wow,” I say, gazing around at all the dresses and pant suits. I know without even looking at the tags that this place is way out of my price range.
    “She’s quite talented. She hails from London and is an old friend of the family.”
    “William!” a tiny wrinkled woman exclaims, coming from the back end of the store. She swishes when she walks. “Darling! It’s been too long. How have you been?” She’s at least two feet shorter than he is but that doesn’t stop her from reaching up and patting both of his cheeks.
    “I’ve been well, thank you, Claud. How’ve you been? One foot still out of the grave, I see.”
    She pats him harder on one cheek before letting him go. “Oh, you’re a scalawag, just like your father.” She sighs and looks him up and down, happiness creasing her already well-lined features. “I’m still alive, that’s true, but my aches and pains grow stronger with every passing year.”
    He grins and I fall a little in lust with the way his eye teeth twist over the teeth next to them. The imperfection is entirely too sexy. I have to look away to keep from breaking out in a sweat. My gaze drops to his hands. They’re large but graceful, with long fingers and perfectly manicured nails. Diamond cufflinks wink at me from his nearest wrist. Swallowing suddenly takes effort.
    “And this must be your Cinderella,” she says, turning to look at me. Her paper-thin-skinned, heavily-veined hands are soon pressing into my cheeks as watery blue eyes take my measure. “So beautiful. And a size ten if I’m not mistaken?”
    “Uhhh, yes. Does that matter?” I’m so confused right now. Am I shopping?
    She releases her hands and chuckles. “In my business it does, dear. Come with me, Cinderella. We’ll get you dressed for the ball.” She walks away, disappearing into the back area of the store. I lose her behind some racks of dresses.
    I look at William, confusion marring my features. “I don’t get it.”
    He gestures out at the room. “Make your selection. It will be my gift to you for our special evening.”
    My jaw drops almost to the floor. I close it just in time to keep drool from falling out. “You can’t be serious.” I’m starting to feel just a little bit hookerish.
    “Indeed, I am.” He nods once, and I’m certain I’ve seen the exact same gesture from Hugh Grant in a movie once.
    “But I can’t accept that from you.”
    “Whyever not?” He lifts his eyebrows and waits for my response.
    I can’t very well tell him it makes me feel like a prostitute, so I do the next best thing. “Because. I’m a modern woman. I pay my own way for things.”
    “Modern women receive gifts all the time and it doesn’t affect their stature in society. And the place I’m taking you to requires formalwear. I don’t believe it’s fair to you to ask you to pay for something you might not wear again soon, and since you will be doing me an immense favor by attending this function with me, I feel it’s only right that I foot the bill.” His eyes soften and his voice goes down in pitch, ensuring we will not be overheard. “Please … do me the honor of accepting my gift. It comes with no strings attached, I assure you. Our deal shall remain as it was. One night only and then we shall say goodbye forever.”
    I have to resist the urge to reach