“Liam,” I whispered. “What are we doing here?”
He turned off the engine, like this was the most normal errand in the world.
“You let another man buy you a dress. I’m here to correct that.”
“Liam, I thought we were over the dress thing.”
“We are not,” he said tly. “Do you even understand the emotional trauma I endured? Watching you wear a dress bought by Kelvin and sitting next to him all night? Do you?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
“Exactly,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt. “If I was a petty man, I’d ask you to burn that thing. But I’m trying to be reasonable. So instead, we’re going to walk in there and buy you so many dresses that his will get lost somewhere in the back of your closet.”
I blinked again. “Are you hearing yourself?”
“Crystal clear. Now let’s go.”
Inside, the boutique was dripping with elegance.
ss, gold, and velvet. Soft ssical music yed in the background.
The air smelled like expensive perfume and even more expensive decisions.
The staff practically floated toward us like moths to a me.
“Mr. ck, wee back.”
“Would you like champagne while
you shop?”
Liam gave a nod. “Bring the good stuff.”
I leaned closer. “Youe here often?”
He smirked. “Only when I need to emotionally recover from seeing my girl in another man’s
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outfit.
I rolled my eyes.
The staff handed us flutes and disappeared into the racks, returning with armfuls of designer dresses.
Silk. Velvet. Sequins. Styles I’d only ever dreamt of wearing.
“Liam,” I hissed, arms overloaded. “This is too much.”
He sipped his champagne. “No such thing.”
“You’re impossible.”
“You love it.”
And so I tried them on.
He sat like royalty, legs crossed, watching me parade outfits while deliveringmentary that was half–flirty, half–serious.
“Too churchy.”
“Spin again.”
“Dangerously sexy. Keep that.
<i>” </i>
When I stepped out in a deep red velvet wrap dress, his entire body stilled.
“That one,” he said. “Definitely that one.”
I looked at myself in the mirror.
And for a second, I saw myself through his eyes–confident, bold, desirable.
His gaze
said everything he didn’t need to.
Just when I thought we were done, he pointed at a ss disy in the corner.
“Add that too.” <fn4e7f> Find the newest release on find?novel</fn4e7f>
<i>” </i>
I followed his gaze.
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A lingerie set. ckce. Cut to filth. Expensive enough to feed a small country.
“Liam…”
He leaned in, voice dark and hot against my neck.
“You’re modeling that for me tonight.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Say that againter, when you’re screaming.”
“Liam.”
“Hmm?”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
I didn’t.
And as I watched him casually swipe his card, smiling like a man who’d just won, I realized this wasn’t just retail therapy.
This was Liam’s way of marking territory.
And honestly?
I kind of liked it.
After the shopping spree, Liam and I returned to his ce, bags upon bags weighing down the trunk of the car. The ride home was filled with teasing banter and the asional silence that stretched in a way that felt… warm. Comfortable. Like we were finally okay again. But the second we got inside, Liam’s phone buzzed.
He frowned at the screen.
“I have to head out. Emergency meeting I can’t miss,” he muttered, already loosening the top buttons of his shirt like it offended him.
I crossed my arms. “You’re ditching me? After dragging me through a fashion marathon?”
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Liam grinned, closing the distance. “Oh no, sweetheart. I’ll be back in a bit. You’re staying the night.”
I raised a brow. “Excuse me? Since when do you decide where I sleep?”
He smirked. “Since I said so.”
My lips curled in defiance. “May I remind you that Sophia, your sister, also lives here?”
He tilted his head slightly, amused. “She’s not returning until tomorrow evening. And even if she were, this is my house. My rules.”
I huffed, yfully sassy. “Then you better beg.”
His eyes darkened with mischief. He leaned in, brushed his lips against mine, just barely a kiss, and then pulled back with a devilish grin. “Consider that my version of begging.”
And then he was gone, slipping into his car with a final wink.
Alone in the house, I tried not to overthink. But Liam had that effect on me, he filled my mind even when he wasn’t around. So when a sleek white box appeared in the room an hourter, with a handwritten note that read:
Tonight, I want to take care of you in every way.
A strange warmth bloomed inside me.
Inside the box was a gown. No–not a gown. A masterpiece. Royal blue silk with a thigh–high slit and a plunging neckline. Paired with it were silver heels, delicate jewelry, and a matching clutch. A smaller bag held luxury makeup essentials.
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