From This Moment

“We won’t.”

Justin watches us enter the store before I turn and wave to let him know we’re good. Heading into the boutique, I laugh at Elise because I don’t think she expects the kind of fashion she sees on the hangers. Her eyes are wide and a slight blush is coating her cheekbones. I decide, for once, to leave my teasing at home because the last thing I want is Elise changing her mind about being in here.

“Elise, come over here. You have to try this one on.” I hold up the blue backless number.

Elise’s eyes nearly pop out of her head.

“That’s the reaction I’ll expect from Jake when you wear this.” I chuckle at her expression, and then I spot matching shoes. “What shoe size are you?”

“I’m around a five. Why?”

“They have matching shoes for the dress.” As she approaches me, I pass her the shoes. “Here, go in there and try them on.” I push her into the dressing room. “Give me a shout when you have it on.”

Browsing through the clothing, I end up at the maxi dresses and move toward the white ones. They’re gorgeous. One in particular catches my eye. Pulling it off the rack to have a closer look, it feels like silk in plain white with a low-cowl neckline. The arms appear to have been cut from the same material as the front of the dress. There’s no back to the dress and it’s cut very, very low. I turn around and head back to the dressing rooms. I have to try it on.

Before entering mine though, I shout to Elise, “How are you doing in there? Do you have it on yet?”

“God, yes!”

I laugh at her reaction. “Let me see.”

“I’m not coming out there.”

“Then just open the door and let me poke my head in.”

“Okay.”

As the door unlocks, I push it slightly and stick my head inside. Wow! She’s gorgeous in blue. “Oh my, I think you may have to practice resuscitation before wearing that in front of Jake!” I laugh. “Don’t you dare put that back on the shelf or the shoes, it’s my engagement present to you. I’m in the next room. I’m under strict instructions to buy a white dress.”

“Okay, but you have to show me when it’s on,” Elise says, staring at herself in the blue dress. She really does look beautiful in it and Jake will probably fall over his tongue to get to her when she wears it.

Back in my dressing room, I strip down to just my thong. I slip off my bra to get the full effect of the dress. Stepping into the dress, I smooth it over my body. It leaves me stunned. Wow, it fits me perfectly, shaping my breasts, showing the outline through the top with the rather low cowl neck falling nicely between them. Turning around to look at the back of the dress, which actually starts at the curve of my bottom, I can’t help but feel amazing in it. The dress fits perfectly around my hips and then widens into a flowing dress. I just have to have it.

“Rona, you ready to show?” Elise asks me.

“Yeah.”

I shove the door open and step out. Elise looks me up and down. I spin around slowly so she can see the back of the dress and get the full effect.

“That is lovely.”

“Thanks. Do you think Cade will like it?” I ask.

“Are you serious? I don’t think you’ll be wearing it for long when he gets a look at you in it.” She laughs.

“Sold.”

As I slip back into my clothes, my hip starts to throb slightly. I reach for the painkiller in my purse and then pause. It hasn’t been long enough for another one, and I shouldn’t overuse the medication. A coffee break would be good right about now and I’ll be able to sit for a while.

Heading out of the dressing room, I walk over to the sales desk and set my dress on top of the growing pile of clothes. “Don’t put everything through yet, I want to have another look around.” The sales girl, who seems more interested in her phone than an actual sale, glances up at me and nods before continuing with her conversation.

Glancing around, I spot the swimwear. I select three bikinis in white, black and red, adding two sarongs to the bundle, as well as two pairs of flip-flops. Dumping everything on the counter, I wait until the salesclerk finishes her call and starts looking at the pile of clothes. Her face lights up at the prospective sale, now she isn’t being so damn rude.

I find Elise in the underwear section. “Have you chosen anything?”

“Not yet, I don’t know what to wear under that dress.”

“Nothing, Elise, you wear nothing. Trust me on this. You’ll get his blood going even more if you aren’t wearing underwear.”