Captivated by the Millionaire
She studied her fingers. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to afford a place like that. I don’t typically shop at boutiques. Not with my part-time summer instructor job and the odd gig here and there.”
Her words reminded him how much he sometimes took for granted. “You wouldn’t have to pay for it, Jess.”
She laughed at that. “Why is that? Does this boutique just give away dresses?”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say I have some credit there. And it isn’t like I’ll have the need to use it myself. It’s a ladies’ boutique. I’ll call ahead and tell them to expect you.”
She studied his face. “You’re serious.”
“Of course I am.”
“Thank you. That’s very generous. But that’s not necessary. I’ll wear one of the dresses I packed.” Her tone suggested she would hear no argument. And he got the distinct impression he’d made her upset for some reason.
He certainly wasn’t suggesting any type of charity. He did have an understanding with the manager who ran the store, an arrangement set up long ago for his mother while she was alive. His father had never bothered to change it and neither had he.
Jess appeared to want the topic closed for now. Though he couldn’t guess why his suggestion would be upsetting in any way, he would respect her wishes.
“What color is it?” he asked, more to change the subject than any other reason. “Your dress.”
“Why?”
“I should probably try and match my tuxedo sash or cuff links. Seeing as we’re going together.”
Her smile reappeared. “Have that many tuxedo accessories on hand, do you?”
Again, more reminders of all the little things he’d taken for granted in his life. Jess was doing more to point such things out than he’d encountered ever before. “I go to a lot of black tie events.”
“Hmm. Sure sounds like it.”
“It’s hard to describe, actually. It’s blue but more of a cross between sapphire blue and ocean blue with the most delicate gold detail spun over it. The material is silky but it isn’t silk. Feels lighter than silk, believe it or not. It almost feels like liquid.”
“Spoken like a true artist. Where in the world did you find such an exceptional item?”
She ducked her head. “My mother travels the world. Every once in a while, she’ll see something and remember she has a daughter. I believe she picked this item up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.”
“I see.”
Jordan wasn’t surprised when she didn’t take long to change the subject. “You know, some men might be envious.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “About what, exactly?”
“All those extravagant parties you get to attend. With a line of beautiful women on your arm, no less.”
Jordan grunted at that. If she only knew. Most of those party invites were nothing more than networking opportunities or direct commitments he’d made to colleagues or friends. Often, he was tired and bored out of his mind, more than ready to be one of the first to leave. Much to the chagrin of some of his past dates.
So it surprised him just how much he was looking forward to the gala he’d be attending tonight. And that feeling had everything to do with the lady he’d be attending it with.
* * *
Jess had been right. There was no real adequate way to describe the dress she wore. Now as he watched her step out of her suite dressed for the award gala, Jordan felt as if the breath had been knocked out of him.
He’d found her beautiful and striking when he’d seen her in overalls back in Sonya’s room at the mansion. Dressed in an evening gown with her hair up, she was a vision out of some kind of fantasy.
How had she done all that in less than an hour? By herself, no less.
She gave him a shy smile as she approached. “What do you think?” she asked with a little twirl.
Think? Who could think at a time like this?
The dress may as well have been made specifically for her. The color brought out the reddish, copper highlights of her hair and accentuated the honey-gold specks of her bright hazel eyes. The fit fell somewhere between loose and formfitting with the light fabric hugging her body in all the right places. He’d never wanted to remove an article of clothing off a woman so badly in his life.