29. Lorelei

29

LORELEI

" O kay," Magda says with a wide smile on her face as she rubs her hands together.

She eyes me like I'm her new favorite toy and I'm about to be subjected to a whole new kind of playtime.

My stomach knots and my hands tremble.

It's not just her overexcitement that makes me feel more anxious than I ever want to experience, but this whole place.

My heart races as I drag my eyes from the perfectly styled woman before me and gaze around the store.

Everything about it screams perfection, from its designer labels to its almost mirrored floor, which reflects the strategically placed lighting and artistic mannequins.

I do not belong here.

I find Kian relaxing back on one of the huge couches with one ankle resting on the other knee, but while I might have expected him to have his nose back in his cell, his sole focus is me.

It doesn't help in any way.

"I know exactly what we need to try," Magda gushes excitedly, but I'm barely paying any attention.

Kian's lips curl up in what I assume is meant to be a supportive kind of smile, but it does very little to calm me. The only thing it manages to achieve is to put me more on edge.

Not only do I feel like a fish out of water, but my boss, that man I always try to stand strong against, has a front-row seat to it.

Hold your head up high, Lorelei.

This is your job.

"Great," I lie, turning back to Magda just in time to see her pull a stunning royal blue gown from the rack before us.

It's the kind of thing that Tatum would wear and look a million dollars in.

Me, however…

I trail around behind her, trying to look enthusiastic as she adds another four gowns to the rail. She's pulling it along with as much ease as I'm sure she does her designer suitcase on the morning of a vacation.

"Let's go and see if we have a winner, shall we?" she asks excitedly as she leads me to the dressing room.

I lost Kian's attention a while ago. I felt it the moment he looked down. A weird coolness washed over my body, a coolness I've tried really hard not to think about too much. But as I move toward the dressing room at the back of the store, I can't help but look over my shoulder.

The second I do, my eyes collide with his and a shot of adrenaline shoots through my veins.

I might not have any interest in being his date to anything, but he knew exactly what he was doing with this: taking me to a charity event that supports underprivileged young footballers. This is my kryptonite.

I may not be able to put much money into the pot, but I will support this cause in every way I can. Even if it's only with my presence and sharing it on my pitiful social media platform.

I can't say no. And that means I have to stand beside the mighty Kian Callahan and look the part.

Something flutters down low…he's going to wear a tux.

Oh, help me, God.

" N ope. Nope. Nope," Magda says when I pull back the curtain on the black dress she selected. "It's beautiful, but no. Get back in there."

She pulls the curtain closed with a flourish, leaving me once again standing in the middle of the biggest dressing room I've ever seen.

My own reflection stares back at me from all three walls, and I hesitantly look at myself.

She's right, the dress is beautiful, but it's not the one. I don't expect to feel comfortable in any item of clothing from a shop as exclusive as this one. I feel like I'm wearing a costume, not a luxury dress that costs more than a car, I'm sure.

Obviously, there are no price tags on anything. I don't want to imagine how many figures would be staring back at me if there were tags.

My stomach lurches at the thought of how much money Kian might be throwing away just to have me attend this event with him.

He certainly wouldn't have to if he invited Sasha or any of the numerous wealthy socialites he usually spends time with.

Blowing out a long, slow breath, I will myself to put them out of my mind.

You are worthy of this, Lorelei.

You are as worthy as all those other women.

Turning to the final option, I let my eyes roam down the stunning royal blue dress before reaching for it.

Here goes nothing.

The gown's weight shocks me when I remove it from the hanger, but it feels like silk as I step into it and pull it up my body.

My skin erupts with goosebumps as I adjust the single strap over my shoulder and reach for the side zipper.

I haven't looked up, but I don't need to. I already know this is the one.

Was this how Tate felt when she tried her wedding dress on?

Shaking that thought from my head, I finally look up.

"Oh my god."

My stomach knots so tightly, it hurts as my heart begins to race.

This dress…it…

Fuck.

Was it made for me?

My chest heaves as I stand there staring at myself in disbelief.

The smooth lines of my body, the way it cinches in my waist, smooths over my hips and pushes my tits into the perfect place is mind-blowing.

"How are you doing in there?" Magda asks, impatiently waiting outside for me to reveal myself.

I'm pretty sure she thought she hid her disappointment when the other three dresses didn't have the desired effect, but I could read her every thought.

This one is going to change everything, though.

My hand trembles slightly as I reach for the heavy curtain cutting me off, and I suck in a deep breath as I prepare for her reaction.

But it turns out that it doesn't matter how deep that breath was; I could never have been prepared for the ridiculous screech she lets out the second her eyes land on me.

"Yes, yes, yes. That is the one," she announces excitedly, her eyes a little glassy with pride and awe.

Having been disturbed by Magda's over-the-top reaction, footsteps race our way before a large shadow appears at the entrance to the dressing rooms.

"What's—oh fuck," Kian gasps the second his eyes find me.

Heat unfurls inside me as he slowly takes me in from head to toe.

But it's got nothing on the moment his eyes find mine. They're nothing but deep pools of desire, and damn if they don't suck me right in.

"She's going to show you up in that dress, Mr. Callahan," Magda tells him.

His smirk ensures his bottom lip is released by his teeth.

"As it should be. Please can you ensure Lorelei has everything she is going to need for that dress? Your colleague already has my credit card details."

With one last smoldering look, he turns on his heels and walks away.

"I-I already have shoes and a purse," I stutter like an idiot.

Kian shakes his head.

"Everything, Magda," he instructs before walking away.

With a beaming smile, Magda announces, "I know exactly what you need to complete this outfit," and then rushes behind Kian.

" A re you really accompanying me to this appointment?" I ask as Kian slides out of the car behind me, in front of what is arguably the most famous salon in the city.

Women wait months to get an appointment here. God only knows how he managed to get one at the last minute.

"Yes. Something tells me that you'd run away if I left you alone right now," he says confidently, standing to his full height beside me on the sidewalk.

With his hand on the small of my back, he guides me toward the entrance with his words ringing in my ears.

Would I have tried running if he sent me to do all this on my own?

Yes. One hundred percent, I would have run.

I may not have totally defied him. I possibly would have bought a new dress, although my limit would have been a trip to Macy's, not the boutique he took me to. But I definitely wouldn't have been standing in the reception of this salon with the most groomed woman I've ever seen in real life staring back at me.

She's beautiful, sure. Wide eyes and nice high cheekbones, but she's trying too hard. I bet she would look even better without the filler, fake lashes, and makeup. But that's just my opinion. I'm not exactly an expert.

I'm half decent at doing my own makeup, and I've figured out a decent routine for my curly hair over the years that I often get compliments, but that's about my limit. Everything about me is natural, and I intend to keep it that way.

Mom loves all this stuff. But then, she has spent her entire life trying to be someone she's not. Whereas all I want to be is nothing like the woman who birthed me.

"Mr. Callahan," the woman gushes, staring at him with blatant come-fuck-me eyes.

Does every woman in his city know this man standing beside me?

Yes. Yes, they do.

"It's so wonderful to see you. It's been too long," she continues, resting her forearms against the desk and pushing her modest chest up to give him a show.

But to her disappointment—and my delight, not that I'd admit that to anyone—his eyes don't so much as flicker to her chest.

His reaction to her is nothing like the one he had to me in that dress earlier.

"Lorelei has a hair and makeup appointment," he states, completely unaffected by this woman's attempt at flirting with him.

"Oh, yes," she breathes before finally ripping her eyes from him and glancing at me.

Both her eyebrows shoot up.

I barely contain the need to roll my eyes the second she looks at the computer.

She taps away before announcing, "Yes, we have you in one of the private rooms upstairs. I'll take you right up if you want to follow me."

Reluctantly, I follow her, and I'm hardly surprised when the tapping of Kian's shoes against the tiles beneath us rings out behind me.

She takes us to an elevator at the back of the salon and escorts us upstairs.

The whole way, she attempts to engage Kian in conversation while completely ignoring my presence.

"If you need anything during your stay with us, please don't hesitate to reach out," she says before none too discreetly slipping Kian a business card. Something tells me that it doesn't hold the number for the salon…

Thankfully, my stylist is much more excited to see me, although that doesn't mean that he doesn't check out Kian the second he steps into the room.

"Lorelei," he sings, rushing over to take my hands and kiss both of my cheeks. "I'm Richie, and I'm going to work my magic on your hair today." Releasing my hands, he reaches for my locks. "Beautiful curls. And in such good condition as well."

I stand there while he inspects me before ushering me over toward his station. After wrapping a gown around me, I take a seat, allowing him to continue with…well, whatever he's doing, and move my hair this way and that while muttering to himself.

My eyes catch Kian's in the mirror, and I can barely hold in my laugh at his expression.

Everyone might know him here, but it's more than obvious that he hasn't attended an appointment with anyone else. That thought does things to my insides that it really shouldn't.

I'm no more important than any other woman he's attended an event with. I'm just…more of a flight risk.

I smirk, loving that he has no idea how to handle a woman who isn't falling at his feet.

There's a knock on the door, and a woman enters with a tray in her hand and two glasses of champagne.

"No, thank you. I'll take a black coffee if you have it," Kian says, having made himself comfortable on a couch in the corner. "Lorelei can have both of those." His eyes lock on mine again. "I think she's going to need it."