Free Darker Water by Lauren Stewart Page B

get. “How’d you know it would fit so
perfectly?”
    “Because I do nothing but stare at your body
when we’re together.” Just like he was doing now, his eyes running
the length of my body, covetous. And it wasn’t of the dress. “Take
it off and let’s go.”
    “I wish. I’m about ninety-nine-point-nine
percent sure it’s out of my price range.” I couldn’t find the tag
until I looked at him and saw it in his hand. “Why do you have
that?”
    “You’re gonna owe me a lot more Getting Handy
lessons.” Then he walked away. “Get dressed. We need to go.”
    “Carson, wait! You can’t buy it for me.” It
was so pretty, though, perfectly snug on the top, draping
gorgeousness on the bottom. He’d already made up his mind and
nothing I said would change it. Plus, I would never, ever be able
to afford it and it was so beautiful and it fit me so well and…
    No. “Carson!”
    I ran back into the dressing room to grab my
purse, carefully taking the dress off and yanking my own clothes
back on, not bothering with shoes. When I got to him, the
saleswoman asked him if he wanted his receipt emailed to him.
    “I can’t let you do that,” I said.
    “It’s just an email, Lane,” he said without
turning. “I think I can handle it.”
    The saleswoman laughed, taking the dress from
me and wrapping it up. “Do you need shoes? Nylons?”
    I said no at the same time Carson said
yes.
    “No, thank you. I have shoes.” Not nice
enough for this dress, but I had a pair.
    As we walked through the store, I held onto
the box as if it was the most valuable thing I’d ever owned, which
it may have been.
    “You shouldn’t have done that, but thank
you.” It felt so inadequate, but what else could I do?
    “Don’t think you’re getting it for free,” he
said as we cut through the men’s department. “You’re buying me a
drink at this thing tonight.”
    “I think it’s an open bar.”
    “Then you’re buying me a few drinks at this
thing tonight.”
    “If I get you drunk, will you let me take
advantage of you?” I teased.
    “Alright, that’s it,” he growled. He took the
dress box from me, picked me up, plopped my ass on a display of
jeans, and nudged my knees apart so he could stand between them. “I
tried to be patient. I really did, but this friend thing
sucks.”
    “Umm…” I took a quick breath when he put his
hands on my thighs. “You know we’re in public, right?”
    “So?” He was really close, looking intense
and amused and completely focused on me.
    “So people are staring.”
    “The place is practically empty.”
    “But not completely.” I looked over his
shoulder, seeing the stares of a few customers but no employees.
“There are three guys and—”
    “Any women?”
    “One, but her mortification only lasted as
long as a quick glance. Men are slower.”
    “True, but we’re also better at
prioritizing.” He moved a tiny bit closer. At least, I think he was
the one who moved. Either way, I was in trouble. “Why do you think
they’re staring?”
    “Probably because some nutcase has a girl on
a display case in the middle of a store.”
    “You’re wrong. They’re staring because they
wish they were exactly where I am right now, with their hands
exactly where mine are.” He ran them up to my hips. “Since the poor
guys aren’t that lucky, I figure letting them stare isn’t a big
deal.”
    My heart was pounding so hard, it would be a
miracle if he didn’t hear it.
    “Next thing,” he said. “I’m now going to try
a less subtle approach to convince you a sexual relationship
doesn’t have to come with a romantic one. I’m assuming you know the
reason behind this.”
    “You haven’t exactly been vague.” Is it
possible to die of nervousness? “But I don’t think this is that
kind of store.”
    “You’re right. Let’s go somewhere more
appropriate.” He yanked me by the hand, giving me just enough time
to grab my new dress. When he pulled me into the dressing