Page 16 of Stryker's Ruin
“You can’t lose me. I won’t let you go.” He lifts my chin. “That’s on me. I need to remember you aren’t used to all these people. So, a couple ground rules. Always stay on my left. I’ll keep my arm around you as much as I can. If the crowd is coming at you always look slightly over the oncoming person’s right shoulder. Typically, that keys them to shift left giving you an opening. It’s never a straight shot, more of a weaving through. I don’t want you near the street, so we’ll stay closer to the buildings.” He chucks my chin and kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Wrapping his arm over my shoulder he hugs me to his side. “Keep an eye on the people passing us. If you see a backpack orpurse you like let me know, same for any shop you want to go into.”
He takes me to a restaurant near the riverwalk, then to our appointment at the dress shop. The woman who greets us, gives Stryker a very thorough once over before introducing herself. “Hi, I’m Charmaine. I’ve been texting with you. I have the room all set up for your….”
“Fiancée,” he says.
My heart jumps and I study my hands. Oh, if only it were so. His kindness and attention already make me feel like a princess. I wish this fairy tale could go on and on forever.
“Let me grab my laptop, and I’ll show you to the rooms.”
He turns his back to Charmaine. “I need to stay close to you. I won’t be in the room where you’re undressing but in the adjoining one.”
“Please, I won’t know what to get. I need someone’s help.”
“Charmaine will make sure things fit, then you get to choose what you like. What makes you feel good.”
“Will you help choose? Please?”
He nods. “I’ll help, but she’s supposed to be good. I—ah— told her you lost everything in a fire and are still a little shaken.”
My eyes fill with tears. He thinks of everything.
Charmaine returns and looks at me kindly. “I understand that you had a traumatic event and lost everything. So we’re starting completely over, hopefully finding you some new favorites.”
I nod.
“Let’s have some fun. I’ve gone over all the pictures the two of you sent. Seeing you, I think your choices are perfect for your build and coloring. Let’s get started.”
She leads us to a large room that’s divided by a sliding wall. There’s a couch, chair, and table with water on one side and racks of clothing and a padded bench on the other.
“We’ll get a quick measurement for your undergarments then get started. Follow me, please.”
Once inside the changing room she makes quick work of deciding what sizes I need. “Some of these dresses are going to be the wrong size. I’m going to have my assistant get the right size while I grab the lingerie.” She pats my shoulder. You poor dear, having been through so much with the fire. We’ll get this straightened out right away.” She hands me a robe. “Why don’t you go sit in the other room with your fiancé, I’ll have them bring you some tea or coffee. Which would you prefer?”
“Coffee, please.”
I hear her pause to explain to Stryker and the door closes. He comes to the opening. “How you doin’?” He looks at the racks of clothes. “Overwhelmed?”
“Yes. Thank you for the excuse for…for my current wardrobe. I’ve never seen clothes like these. I don’t know where to start.”
“Just let her go for it, this is what she does.”
“Who sent her pictures? Was it Vince?”
He clears his throat and shrugs. “I did. I just picked a few things I thought would look good on you. You don’t need all the frilly stuff. You’re beautiful and elegant naturally. You’ll make anything you wear look good.”
CHAPTER 11
Stryker
Three hours later, I call it quits. I’m either a glutton for punishment or a voyeur. Probably a little bit of both. I knew I wanted to be the one helping her choose. Before Charmaine took her to the lingerie department, I stopped her and told her which ones I liked and told her I wanted every color of whichever style Ruin chose. My personal preference was the red, but I kept that to myself. I already had five dresses and casual outfits selected. The fancy shit and accessories were up to them, although Ruin looked damn good in all of it.
I’ve been sitting here with a hard-on the whole time, wishing she belonged to me. Fantasizing about what I’d give her, places I’d take her, how I’d make love to her. As they make the last decisions I remember the bag. “Charmaine, she needs an everyday purse and an evening bag with all the little stuff women carry and a backpack for day trips. I’d really like her to wear that blue dress with the little yellow flowers when we leave.”
She nods.
Grabbing a business card from the tray on the table, I write the address for my building and hand it to her. “Have everything taken to this address. The concierge is expecting the delivery.”