Forbidden Love

19

Lourde

“This is so much better than the other store.” Olivia's eyes widened as she took in the rack of evening gowns.

“And here you’re telling me you didn’t want to spend much.” I chuckled, eyeing up the backless midnight blue dress and thinking how much Barrett would love it.

“Well, I may have lied there.” She laughed, picking up a dress off the rack. “Oh, look at this one!”

“Ms. Diamond, how nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Patricia,” I said, smiling at the owner of the design shop I frequented over the years.

“Is it that time of year again?” she asked.

“Yes, it is, and I have a special guest who needs to shine for all the bachelors in the crowd.”

“This is my dear friend and boss, Olivia.”

“Hello, and no, I’m definitely not your boss. But, dear friend, I’ll take, though.” She winked.

“Lovely to meet you. Well, let’s see, you are tall with beautiful hips, so let’s see if I can pull some suggestions for you to try, so we can get them fitted in time for this weekend.”

“Great!” Olivia squeaked out, and I don't think I'd ever seen her get so excited.

While Olivia was in and out of the changing room, I took a moment to check in on Pepper, asking how she was doing. When my phone pinged, I assumed it was her but was pleasantly surprised.

Barrett:Where’s my dollface at?

Lourde: We took the afternoon off. Olivia and I are dress shopping for the ball.

Barrett: Well, well, are you trying to get in trouble again?

I bit my lip, remembering how he had filled me… everywhere.

Lourde:Sorry, boss, was I not supposed to?

Barrett: Definitely not. Hurry home. I’ll charge the batteries.

“Ha.” I let out a chuckle, blushing at the thought. I looked up to find Patricia taking me in, a smile crossing her perfectly made-up face.

“Okay, how’s this one?”

I put my phone down as Olivia pushed the velvet curtain aside and walked out in a chiffon and tulle baby blue gown.

“You look like Elsa standing in her ice castle,” I shrieked, taking in the blue explosion of color.

“And you look like the cat that swallowed the canary.” She popped an accusatory eyebrow, then her gaze fell to the extension of my arm where my phone lay face down.

I laughed. “It’s nothing.”

“And by nothing, you mean Barrett. But yeah, I’m not digging it either,” she said. “Okay, next.”

An hour later, Olivia had picked the gown, and it suited her to a tee—a teal green halter neck dress with a teasing hint of cleavage. Of course, it was the Diamond Charity Ball, after all. There was certain etiquette to follow.

“Thanks for today,” Olivia said, hopping out of the car Barrett sent to pick us up.

“It was fun.”

“Nice to see your face has gone back to normal. Maybe next time you’re sexting with the boss, do it away from me. Ugh!”

She shut the door and let out a grin.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh. Sure you don’t. Go, enjoy. Say hi to him for me,” she said, turning toward her apartment.

“Tribeca or Mr. Black’s home, Ms. Diamond.”

“Mr. Black’s please, Jimmy.”

“Of course.”

Over the last week, I’d left more and more things at Barrett’s. What started with an extra toothbrush had turned into a drawer of clothes, and a few articles of clothing hanging in the ‘hers’ part of his walk-in closet.

He insisted,and I had to agree. It made sense. I spent way more time here than I did in Tribeca.

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