Every one of those dresses made her ass look perfect, made her tits look great, and made me wanna drag her into the change room and throw the curtain over.
I bought all four dresses she tried on. With three pairs of shoes. It was nearly four, but she fought with me. She threw attitude at me with her hands on her hips when telling me that she could wear the one pair of shoes with all the outfits and that she really didn’t need four dresses. Seeing that little bit of sass in her made me wanna grab her, throw the curtain of the changeroom over both of us so I could grab her by the ass and grind her into the full-length mirror. I swear I could almost feel her heat around my cock when I saw that sassy look in her eyes. I finally relented by randomly picking a pair and tossing them aside, telling the salesgirl to ring the rest of it up.
Violet’s chin dropped in shock like she couldn’t wrap her head around that. Neither can I.
She looked like she was going to argue with me and then looked like she was pouting and I demanded, “What’s wrong?” but then she pulled her lips tight and shook her head, so I threw my credit card at the salesgirl and told her to hurry.
Violet’s been quiet coming back while I carried her bags.
And I’ve been quiet, too. Stewing in my broody mood. Because she was a knockout in all four dresses. Because she looked timid while she showed me what she was wearing – hope in her eyes, I’m guessing, that I’d approve. Also because I had the urge to hold her hand walking there and back, but didn’t and it fucking annoyed me. It annoyed me that I had the urge and then it annoyed me that I felt like I couldn’t act on my urge.
And while we were in the dress shop, I got a text from Wes, requesting a call, so I wanted to get back, get out of earshot of Violet, and find out what Wes had to say.
***
After we get back to my place, I retrieve a package delivery from the floor by my door and she follows me to her room where I set the shopping bags down.
“So, which dress-” she starts.
“Wear the gold one, please,” I say. “Black stilettos. Unless you’re more comfortable with one of the others?”
“I like them all,” she says softly. “But I didn’t need four dresses. Though, the one pair of shoes you tossed aside were actually my favorites out of all four pairs. That one pair would’ve been good for any of the dresses.”
She’s not looking at me. I’m not surprised. I’ve been a surly fuck all day long.
I blow out a huff. “Be ready at six fifty. I have shit to do between now and then, so meet me in the kitchen when you’re ready to go. There will be food there but there’s gonna be a lot of booze flowing too so be sure to eat before we go.”
“Okay,” she squeaks.
I leave, thrusting my hand through my hair in frustration as I go.
***
“Killian? Wes here, hey,” he greets.
“Hit me,” I return, eyeballing the decanter of scotch on the side table and then glaring at my watch because it’s definitely too early to drink.
“Iadanza bought a handgun from a pawn shop called Sully’s. They’re not the most above-board pawnbroker in the area.”
“I know Sully’s. And fuck.”
“Yeah, man.”
“Anything else?”
“Watched his web surfing habits. Nothing clear on what he’s planning. He’s surfed some porn, played some online games, and logged into his bank account. Went to the bank and took out the last twenty-seven bucks in there. Headed to the pawn shop and bought the gun. Traded for it with a hundred bucks, a laptop, a shitty diamond ring, and a gawdy gold watch. Still watching. Still following. Though he has no cell and no longer has a laptop unless there was another one in the apartment, so can’t watch his web habits any longer.”
“Right. Got it. Diamond engagement ring?”
“Yeah. I’ll forward pictures to our shared cloud. You can check everything out in about ten minutes. He’s on the move so I’m on him.”
I say goodbye to Wes and stare out the window, drumming my fingers while I ponder the facts.
Is Ray planning a hold up? Is he planning to shoot me, try to take Violet back? Where’d the engagement ring come from? She was adamant she hadn’t had one.
Pawn shop. I told Violet I’d get her jewelry out for her. It’s not in at Sully’s but the shop logo on the ticket has an address that isn’t that far from Violet’s apartment.
I decide to go down there. But, before I go, I check in with Alana and Craig. Alana manages Genesis for me and oversees the managers for my other locations. Craig will be my manager at Numbers. They’re both there, with the party planner and the rest of my staff setting up for tonight.