Savage Love

“Probably not. She’s as petty as they come. As long as it’s pretty and shiny, she doesn't care what its origins are.”

“What morals,” Kallie said flatly.

“Help yourself to anything. Take what you want. It’s not being used and it’s taking up space. Even if you don’t wear it today but you think you might wear it eventually, put it in a suitcase.”

“What?” she asked.

“There are several suitcase sets in the corner in the back. Pick one and take some things with you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Why not? They’re gorgeous clothes. They should be on a gorgeous woman.”

Kallie flushed at his comment before she turned her gaze back toward the clothes. Shaking her head, Kallie started toggling through the clothing. Though the endless amount of shirts and blouses and dresses and rompers. All of it was expensive. All of it designer. All of it way out of her league price-wise. Kallie couldn’t dream of even partially owning some of these pieces.

And they were simply hanging in a closet.

Unused.

Unworn.

And some even still with the tags.

She chanced a glance at the prices as Ash sat down on a personal leather chair in the corner. Her eyes widened and his chuckle blanketed over her body. Ten thousand dollars for a skirt?

Kallie didn’t even feel worthy of touching something like that.

Finally, she ran over a summer dress that didn’t look too luxe for her tastes. She held it up to herself and turned toward a mirror, running her fingers along the silken fabric. The asymmetrical design of its flow intrigued Kallie, and the high-low skirt would make it comfortable for the warm summer day in the city. But it didn’t have a built-in bra and she didn’t have one with her, which meant she’d have to find a way to keep her chest in place in the dress.

One by one, she started opening the drawers. She hung her head between the hanger and the fabric of the dress as she riffled through things. She opened a drawer that housed panties and bras of all shapes and colors and fashions. Some even still had the tags on them.

Great. Fresh undergarments.

But the more Kallie perused, the more tags she found.

All of the undergarments still had the tags on.

“Amazing,” she said in a whisper.

Kallie got dressed and picked out a hair clip that wasn’t so studded with diamonds. She twisted her hair up to get it off her neck, then picked a pair of sunglasses for their day. She turned to look at Ash and held her hands out, then gave him a little twirl.

“No one could make that dress look as good as you do,” he said with a grin.

Kallie picked out a pair of comfortable shoes to walk around in while Ash put some clothes on, then the two of them headed to Central Park. And it shouldn’t have shocked her to see that it was only a few steps from the front door of his building. Kallie felt Ash thread their fingers together and she looked up at him, enjoying the way he smiled around her. It felt like the island again. Things were cozy. Simple. Familiar. They walked slowly around the park, taking in the giggling children and the random games of Frisbee going on. Kallie leaned into him. Relaxed her head against his strong arm. The deeper they got into the park, the more she felt him relax.

Yet another thing that reminded her of her island man.

Getting him farther away from the city put him more in his element. He seemed relaxed in nature. They walked among the trees as the summer wind whipped through them and she watched Ash smile. Close his eyes. Take a deep breath of the fresh air barreling around them. He looked more in his element with every step they took, and she liked that he wasn’t a fan of the city.

But soon, her stomach started rumbling.

“I heard that,” Ash said with a smile.

Then Ash’s stomach growled out and it caused Kallie to laugh.

“Sounds like you’re ready for some food too,” she said.

“Would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?”

“I think I can spare some time,” she said with a wink.

After their quiet stroll, the last place she expected to be taken was the iconic Tavern on the Green. The maître d' recognized Ash immediately and whisked them both away to the best table overlooking the park they had just walked around in. But instead of recoiling at it, Kallie found it endearing. The table was private and quaint, and the view was fantastic. They weren’t surrounded by snobbish, stuck-up individuals who would make Kallie the butt of their endless jokes.