These things are for someone I wanted to be. The woman who had her life coordinated by color, every day plotted and planned. Self-help books on time management and for a marriage I didn’t really want but couldn’t let go of. It feels so beige and suffocating looking through everything. I want to throw it all away. I don’t want to keep a single thing except for the memories from my brothers.
I look up to find Tony studying me as he leans against the open door frame. All over again, I’m filled with awe someone as gorgeous as he is could possibly want me. Especially with all this crap around me.
“I don’t like that look.” The words come out of him in a rumble.
Shaking my head, I look down at the pottery in the box. “I want to throw all this shit away. This wasn’t me. It’s who I wanted to be. I wanted to be everything different from what I was growing up. That poor kid with the thrift store clothes and donated everything. Except I never stopped to think if I actually liked that person.”
“Throw it all away. Leave her in the past where she belongs. We’re going shopping for clothes today. You can start there.” He glances at his watch. “We should leave now to get there on time.”
“Shopping?” I look down at the dress I’m wearing wondering if I should change.
Tony takes my hand and pulls me up after him. “Yes, you need clothes that flatter you without making me hard every time I look at you.”
I’m laughing without meaning to as I follow Tony down the stairs. The black Escalade is waiting again. As I settle into the back seat, it hits me that I don’t have my purse or phone. I mention it to Tony how I feel naked without them.
“You’ll get them back, eventually,” he murmurs as he looks through his cell phone.
I want to argue but decide it’s not worth it, for now.
Walking behind Tony into the exclusive store, I fight to keep my head up as if I actually belonged here—even though I totally don’t. A woman is waiting for us in a quiet corner of the store. It feels like we’re the only people in the place.
“Mr. Sabatini, I’m happy to help you today.” She holds out her hand.
Tony takes it. I hate the way he smiles down at her, as he presses his lips to the back of her hand. “Lydia, I have told you to please call me Tony.” He turns to me, drawing me toward her. “This is Christy. She’s in dire need of new clothing. I want her to feel as beautiful as she is.”
“I love the Sabatini men,” Lydia chuckles at me. “They always know how to spoil a woman.”
Turning to Tony, “I have a bottle of what I’m told is your favorite scotch over there by the chair. Have a seat.”
Smiling at me. “I have some things pulled. Tony called with your size and what he wants you to wear.” She rolls her eyes. “I want to hear from you. Talk to me. What do you like to wear and are comfortable in?”
I give a helpless shrug. “It used to be scrubs. Sometimes I even wore scrubs on my days off.”
“Oh my, those are not going to make you feel beautiful. Let’s start trying things on, and see how you feel in them.” She takes a few things from the long rack and points me to a massive dressing room.
“So do you shop for all of Tony’s women?” I hate how bitter I sound.
Lydia tilts her head as she studies me. “I’ve never shopped for Tony before. I’m friends with Alicia Sabatini. She’s married to his nephew, Cesare. We’ve met at their home a few times. He’s always been nice and sweet and polite but I have to admit I find him scary hot. When I got the call from him, I was dying from curiosity and immediately said yes.”
Something eases in me. “Scary hot?”
“Hm, like I said sweet, polite, charming, and since he’s gorgeous he’s hot. Then there’s this steel underneath it all the longer you’re around him you pick up on...um kind of scary. Scary hot.” She shrugs.
“Alicia and her little sister, Bethany, don’t get the scary from him. I do but I’m pretty sure it’s only because I saw it when I lived in Boston around men who were very scary and didn’t care to hide it.”
I nod in agreement. Yes, he’s scary hot.
Time passes swiftly and easily with Lydia. I feel guilty when I see Tony up and walking around on his cell phone. Oh my god, we’ve been here for two hours. Only he hasn’t complained once. Well, he did growl a few times when Lydia put me in a dress or two he felt was too sexy. I now have enough clothes I’m beginning to wonder if they will fit in the massive closet in Tony’s room. And just when I’m sure we’re finished, we’ve only just started as panties and bras are thrown at me. We finally end with shoes.
I wear out the pretty, light blue Oscar de la Renta dress I couldn’t believe fit perfectly. Tony is smiling as his arm goes around my waist. “You like this person?”
Nodding, I press into him. “Thank you. I like her much better.”
“You’re welcome.”
***
Christy