Beneath This Man (38 page)

‘Lots of dresses,’ Jesse interrupts. ‘She likes dresses.’

‘You like dresses.’ I mutter, earning myself a nudge of his knee.

She smiles, revealing a perfect set of Hollywood, too white teeth. ‘You’re about a ten, yes?’

‘Yes.’ I confirm.

‘Not too short.’ Jesse spits quickly.

I look at him with my mouth agape. This is what I knew would happen. I’m not generally a short dress person, but he’s turning me into one with his caveman attitude.

Zoe laughs. ‘Jesse, she has fantastic legs. It would be a shame to waste them. What shoe size are you, Ava?’

I like her. ‘I’m a five.’

‘Great, let’s go.’ She stands, and I join her. Jesse gets up too.

‘I can’t believe you’ve done this to me.’ I whine as he dips and kisses me on the cheek. I like Zoe, but I would much prefer to be left to my own devices.

He sighs. ‘Ava, let me have my fun,’ He leans in and crowds me. ‘I get my own little fashion show with my favourite lady modeling.’ He pouts.

‘Who gets to pick the dress, Jesse?’

He nuzzles my nose. ‘You do. I’m just observing. I promise. Go on, knock yourself out.’ He sits back down on the sofa and starts making a call. I’m relieved. I don’t think I could bear him following us around the store, trampling everything I give a second look at.

Zoe leads me through the department. ‘So, you’re being spoiled today?’ she asks on a friendly smile. She is lovely, but those teeth are really very white.

‘I am, under duress.’ I return her smile.

‘You don’t want to be spoiled?’ she laughs, picking up a long, green gown and presenting it to me. It’s lovely but more Kate’s colour than mine. I give a little apologetic shake of my head. She mirrors it. ‘No, I agree. What about this one?’ She places a hand on a lovely Grecian style dress.

‘That’s lovely.’ I admit, but it also looks very expensive.

‘It is. We’ll try it. What about this?’

‘Wow!’ I blurt at the cream, tight number with a thigh high slash up the leg. ‘Jesse can be a bit uptight with overexposure.’ I laugh as I hold the split open. You would have to shave everything off!

‘He can?’ She looks at me curiously. If she says… ‘He’s so laidback.’ she adds.

No, he’s not!

I release the dress and move on to a red satin one. ‘Not with me,’ I mutter. ‘I like this one.’

Zoe replaces her curious stare with a smile. ‘Good choice. And this one?’ She walks across the way and strokes a stunning cream, strapless affair. Is strapless allowed?

‘It’s lovely.’ I agree. I can try it. I’m sure he will make it known if it’s a no go. My attention is seized across the department, and I’m wandering over before I realise my legs are moving.

I run my finger lightly down the front of the black, delicate lace gown. It’s beautiful.

‘You absolutely must try that one.’ Zoe says, joining me in front of the gown. She takes it down and turns it gently. It’s attached to a security wire which can only mean one thing. ‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ she asks dreamily.

Oh it is. It is also in the realms of ridiculously expensive if the store feels the need to wire it up.  There is also no price on the tag – another tell-tale sign that I’ll pass out at the price. I run my eyes down the back of the fitted dress that splays mid-thigh to pool the floor slightly. The design is simple, with a plunged V shaped back, dainty capped sleeves that fall slightly off the shoulder, and a flattering deep neckline. It absolutely screams couture.

‘Jesse loves me in lace.’ I muse quietly. He also loves me in black.

‘Then we should definitely try,’ Zoe hangs it back up. ‘How long have you been seeing Jesse?’ she asks casually.

The question instantly puts me on guard. What do I say? The truth is, I’ve been seeing him for a month-ish and a week of that was spent with Jesse drunk and me nursing a broken heart. A sudden nasty thought invades my mushy brain.

‘Not long,’ I try and sound as casual as Zoe when I follow it up with, ‘Does he bring all of the women he dates here?’

She actually starts laughing. I don’t know if that’s a good thing. ‘God, no! He would be bankrupt!’

It’s definitely a bad thing.

She must catch my expression because she pales a little. ‘Ava, I’m sorry. That came out all wrong.’ She shifts uncomfortably on her heels. ‘What I meant to say was if he brought all of the women he had slept…’ She halts and pales further. I feel slightly sick. ‘Shit!’ she exclaims.

‘Zoe, don’t worry about it,’ I turn my attention to another dress. Who am I kidding? I know he put himself about.

‘Ava, he’s never actually dated anyone. As far as I know, anyway. He’s quite a catch. You’ll be fighting the women of The Manor off, that’s for sure.’

‘Yeah,’ I laugh lightly. I need to get away from this line of conversation. That thought –the one of Jesse with another woman – pops into my head again. Zoe clearly knows his business. ‘Where to next?’ I plaster on a non-jealous, unaffected face, if there is such a thing. I’m bubbling on the inside and bristling on the out. Why did he have to be such a slut?  

‘Shoes!’ Zoe sings, leading me off towards the Egyptian elevators.

An hour later, we return to the plush personal shopping area with a young guy pulling a rail of dresses and shoes. Jesse is still sat on the sofa with his phone to his ear.

He smiles brightly and disconnects the call. ‘Have fun?’ he asks as he gets up and smoothers my face with his lips. ‘I missed you.’

‘I’ve been gone an hour.’ I laugh and grip his shoulders as he pushes me back.

‘Too long.’ he grumbles. ‘What have you got?’ He brings me back up to vertical.

‘Too much to choose from.’ I say. I managed to convince Zoe to abandon the lace gown. In fact, I avoided anything that was attached to a security wire.

‘Go try.’ He slaps my bum, and I turn to follow Zoe and the rail into a large fitting room. Zoe’s admiring face doesn’t escape my notice.

For the next few hours, I’m trussed into dress after dress. I count twenty dresses, all of which are stunning and all of which Jesse approves of.

Zoe disappears for a while, leaving me to sit and wonder which bloody dress I’m going to choose. They are all too nice. My head jumps up when she walks back in with another rail of dresses, but these ones are more day dresses and evening dresses, not gowns. I look at her, completely confused.

She shrugs. ‘I’m under strict orders to make you try lots of dresses, so I got these,’ she says as she goes to the back of the rail. She comes back to the front holding the lace gown. ‘And this too.’

‘What?’ I blurt, pushing myself to my feet. I’m in my underwear and gaping like a goldfish.

‘Well,’ She starts towards me, ‘He didn’t say to try this gown in particular, but he did say you must have what you want.’ She smiles brightly. ‘And I know you really want this one.’

‘Zoe, I can’t,’ I stutter, trying to convince my brain that the dress is hideous – disgusting. Damn right awful. It’s not bloody working.

‘If it’s the price that’s bothering you, then don’t worry. It’s within the budget.’ She hangs the dress on the wall hook.

‘There’s a budget? What’s the budget?’ I ask hesitantly.

She turns and grins. ‘The budget is; there is no budget.’

I groan and collapse back into the chair. ‘Can I ask how much it is?’

‘No.’ she replies cheerily. ‘Put this on.’ She hands me a black lace bodice. I start to get myself into it and Zoe turns me around to fasten the row of hook and eyes trailing up the back. I’m distracted from my hesitancy with the thought of Jesse’s face and all this lace. I smile. He’ll orgasm on the spot.

I’m helped into the gown by Zoe and presented to the oversized mirror. ‘Holy shit!’ she exclaims, and then slaps her hand over her mouth. ‘I’m sorry. That was so unprofessional of me.’

Holy shit, indeed. I turn slightly to view the back and gasp a little. It clings to every curve I have perfectly and skims the floor when I raise on tiptoes. The lining under the lace is matt, giving the delicate, intricate pattern a shimmery effect, and the deep neck line is perfect with the cap sleeves sitting just off my shoulders, revealing my collarbones. I hear Zoe scuttle off and return.

She kneels before me. ‘Put these on.’ she instructs. I pull my eyes from the mirror and look down to find a pair of black, sling back Dior heels at my feet. I feel a faint coming on. I slip them on and Zoe stands back. ‘Ava, you have to have this dress.’ she says, deadly serious. ‘Go and show Jesse.’

‘No!’ I blurt rudely. ‘Sorry, I know he’ll love it.’ It’s lace and it’s black. He’ll pool at my feet, I know he will, but what about the slight exposure of flesh? Will that be cause for my neurotic control freak to tackle me to the ground and wrap me in his body to stop anyone from seeing my skin? And, finally, how much does the damn thing cost?

I quickly battle with my conscience over the bloody dress as Zoe hands me a clutch to match the shoes. I want to cry. I knew I shouldn’t have tried it on. ‘Did he see it?’ I turn to face Zoe and she looks at me all confused. ‘This dress, did he see it on the rail when you came back?’ I ask.

‘No, I think he’s gone to the gents.’ she replies. I raise my hand to my mouth and start frantically tapping my front tooth with my nail.

‘Okay, I’m having the dress, but I don’t want Jesse to know.’ I’m taking a risk with this. Zoe claps her hands together, and I smile at her delighted face. ‘What’s all this?’ I point to the additional rail she’s dragged in.

‘He wants you to have lots of dresses.’ She shrugs.

I laugh. He is taking the instant access rule way too far. I get myself out of the dress and have another stab of uncertainty as Zoe takes it and gives strict instructions to a young girl not to let Jesse see it. I start on the other dresses. I’m having three maximum and he better not argue with me.

I work off a million calories getting myself in and out of dozens of dresses. We build up a like, no and a maybe pile, and I’m surprised that I’m enjoying myself. Jesse sprawls back on the sofa and watches as I appear and disappear, wearing a different dress each time.

‘She’s like a clothes horse, isn’t she?’ Zoe muses to Jesse when I appear in a very short, Chloe, grey dress. I love it, but like all of the other dresses that have a price tag of over three hundred pounds, it will go on the
no
pile.

I watch as his face turns to shock. ‘Get it off!’ he spits, and I return to the changing room laughing. He’s right, I love it, but it is way too short. It could pass for an undergarment.

I’m whacked when I’m finally finished trying everything on. I’ve changed more times in a couple of hours than I have this month. I go through the
yes
pile with Zoe and get a bit anxious when I realise just how many like items there are. I flick through the rail and try to narrow it down.

‘What have we got then?’ I hear him approach. I cringe.

‘Oh, she’s got some fabulous pieces. I’m very jealous,’ Zoe says. ‘I’m just going to get this all wrapped and bagged for you.’

Oh hell!

I’m even more mortified when Jesse hands Zoe a credit card. She takes it and leaves us alone.

‘Jesse, I’m really not comfortable with this.’ I take his hands and stand in front of him so I have his full attention.

His shoulders sag disappointedly. ‘Why?’ His voice is genuinely hurt.

I watch Zoe disappear with all of my likes. ‘Please, I don’t want you spending all of this money on me.’

‘It’s not all that much.’ He tries to reason with me, but I saw the price tags. It’s way too much, and I don’t even know how much the gown is.

I look down at the floor. I don’t want to get into a row in Harrods over this. I return my eyes to his. ‘Just buy me a dress for tonight. That would be acceptable to me.’

‘Just one dress?’ he asks unhappily. ‘Another five dresses and you’ve got a deal.’

I’m pleasantly surprised by this. ‘Two.’ I counter, anyway.

‘Five.’ he tosses back at me. ‘This wasn’t part of the deal.’

No it wasn’t, but I don’t care how old he is anymore, and I’ve done this meeting in the middle scenario before. I’ve learnt that while I maneuver, Jesse sticks exactly where he started.

I narrow my eyes on him. ‘I don’t care how old you are. Keep your silly little age secret.’

‘Okay, but it’s still five.’ he says acceptingly. I suspect he was never going to keep his end of the deal, anyway. ‘I’ve got to make a phone call.’ He drops a kiss on my lips. ‘You go and pick five dresses. Zoe has my card. My pin is one, nine, seven, four.’

I recoil. ‘I can’t believe you’ve just told me your pin number.’

‘No secrets, remember?’

No secrets? Is he kidding me? He strolls off, and I have a sudden, delighted moment of comprehension. I do a quick mental calculation. ‘You
are
thirty seven,’ I shout to his back. He stops. ‘Your pin number. You were born in seventy four.’ I can’t help the triumph in my voice. I’ve totally rumbled him. Men are so predictable. ‘You didn’t lie at all, did you?’

He slowly turns and flashes me his signature smile, reserved only for me, before blowing me a kiss and leaving me to go and pick my five dresses.

I walk out of the personal shopping area and find Jesse waiting for me. It didn’t take me long to select my five favourite dresses.

I hand him his card and plant a kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you.’ I’m not sure whether I’m most grateful for the dresses or for his slip up in revealing that he is actually thirty seven. Either way, I’m a very happy girl.

‘You are more than welcome,’ He takes my bags from me. ‘Do I get another show?’ He raises his eyebrows.

‘Of course,’ I can’t deny him for how reasonable he’s being. ‘But you don’t get to see the gown.’

‘Which one did you pick?’ he asks curiously. He liked all of them, but he didn’t see
the
gown that is safely out of view in a suit bag.

‘You’ll find out later.’ I inhale him into me as he nestles his face in my neck. ‘So, my man really is knocking on forty.’ I rib.

He pulls away and rolls his eyes before taking my hand and leading me through the store. ‘Does it bother you?’ he asks casually, but I know he’s worried that it does.