Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)

“Do nicely for what?” I tensed. “I’m not wearing that.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” She dropped her arms, sighing. “Would you please have a drink? Lots of drinks?”

I turned around to leave. This was the last thing I needed today.

But a body suddenly blocked my path, and I sucked in a breath, backing up again.

Will Grayson stared down at me, smiling.

“What are you doing here?” I burst out. He wasn’t staggering, and his eyes weren’t hooded as usual. “Sober for once?”

He laughed and walked around me, starting to sift through the panties on the table. He picked up a black G-string and threw it at Alex before turning back and looking for more he liked.

That better be for her.

“Look, I gotta go.” I spun back around and walked toward the elevators.

“Doors are locked,” he called.

“Don’t worry.” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “That won’t stop me.”

He tossed another garment to Alex, speaking to her. “Go pick out a few more things.”

She nodded and walked off, and he made his way to me. I stopped and turned.

“Look.” He sighed, gazing at me like I was a child. “You seem like you don’t have a lot of friends, and wow, that’s a real shocker, but Alex seems to like you, and I like her, so I try to be a friend.”

“That must cost you a pretty penny.”

He cocked an eyebrow, not appreciating my remark. “She arranged for the place to be open after closing hours, so you wouldn’t get skittish on account of all the...oh, what’s the word?” He tapped his chin, pretending to think. “People?”

Whatever.

Yeah, I don’t like people, but it’s a conscious choice, not a hang-up.

I could deal with them. If I wanted to. Which I didn’t.

“Kai wants you to buy clothes,” he continued. “They don’t have to be sexy or girly or even as stylish as those awesome hand-me-down guys’ jeans you’re wearing with the indents of Damon’s packs of cigarettes on the back pocket. But they have to be nice, they do have to fit, and they do have to be yours. I’m here to make sure you do that.”

“I would rather eat my hand than let Kai Mori pay for my shit,” I gritted out.

“He’s not paying. Graymor Cristane is.” He walked into me, forcing me to back up. “You’re an employee, and you represent us. We have an expense account for clothes. It’s not personal. It’s business. And you always look like shit, so here we are.” He threw out his arms, gesturing to the massive, dimly lit, empty department store we now stood in at nine-thirty at night.

That they’d completely arranged with my comfort in mind.

“Now, sit down,” he ordered, “I need to go get a bra to match your new underwear.”

A little more than an hour later, we were in Will’s car, driving through the city with the back chock full of bags. I couldn’t believe what had happened. Or how fast it happened. Alex was like a tornado, and she and Will talked too fast to let me think or argue. They starte

d picking out stuff I hated, and before I knew it, I was tossing out garments I didn’t like and keeping ones I thought I might be able to wear. And after a few more minutes, I participated and shopped and shit.

I sat there, still a little stunned.

I’d probably just get rid of most of it. Put it in the Goodwill donation box and make tomorrow someone’s Christmas morning, right?

Or hey, I’m sure my mom would love the stuff. Why not?

I didn’t like anyone paying for my things. It made me obligated.