Saving Forever - Part 4 (6 page)

Chapter 7

Charity enjoyed a luxurious bath, content to be in Elijah’s house knowing he would be home soon. She giggled to herself whenever she thought of the conversation they had in his office. She felt like such a tease… and loved what it did to him and how it made her feel.

Wearing just a towel, her hair high in a bun, she dug through her clothes and frowned. Why didn’t she have anything sexy? She had a gorgeous dress but there was no way she was dressing up in that to seduce him. What she needed was lingerie. Not only now but for the honeymoon as well.

It was after nine o’clock and she wasn’t about to head out to try and find some late night sex novelty shop… as much as Elijah would probably love that. She laughed and joked out loud, “What guy wouldn’t?”

She found a red lace bra in her bag but no matching undies. She wanted to seduce him, not look like a whore. She slipped the bra on and tucked the towel around her hips as she glanced around the room. Maybe a splash of red lipstick? She went back to the bathroom, added it and came back to the room.

Elijah wore designer labels and had great taste in clothes. The walk-in closet might have something sexy. Maybe a button-up shirt? Flipping the light on, she went in and went through his clothes. The air inside the closet carried his musky sent. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting it fill her nostrils and absorb into her body. “Delicious.” She could feel herself grow warm. Apparently a week apart was too much for her.

Not finding anything suitable for what she had in mind she decided to give her clothes one more sort through, there had to be something. She reached to turn off the light and saw one of Elijah’s medical coats from the hospital.

She grinned wickedly when she checked the shelf above and found an old college doctor’s kit with a stethoscope. “Perfect.”

The coat was too big so she found one of his belts and tied it around her waist. She checked in the mirror and shook her head. This wasn’t her. She looked ridiculous.

“Charity?” Elijah called from the other room. “You still up?”

She froze… then frantically began pulling at the belt, putting in another knot instead of untying it. She tugged with one hand, clutching the top of the coat to hide the red lace bra.

Elijah leaned against the doorframe an amused look on his face. “Everything alright?”

She stopped struggling and from the burning sensation on her face, she knew she was blushing. She continued to hold the top of the coat together. “Do you mind helping me?”

Elijah grinned and tilted his head. “Are you… You’re dressed up like a doctor?” His lips broadened into a smile. “Or are you a nurse? A naughty one?”

She clutched the medical coat. “No. No. No!” She covered her eyes with her free hand. “I can’t do this. It’s so not me.”

Expert hands untied the knot around her waist with ease. He wiggled his fingers. “These weapons of repair are masterminds on their own.”

She smiled despite her utter embarrassment.  “How many times have you said that to yourself in the mirror?”

He tossed the belt on the floor. “Maybe every day before I go into surgery.” He moved behind her and into the walk-in closet, reappearing with a fluffy white bathrobe. “I bought this for you after surgery but you didn’t seem to need it.” He chuckled as he wrapped it around her. “Seems like you could use it now.” The grin on his face needed to be wiped off somehow.

She loved him for his smugness… only because he was so stinkin’ cute. She took off the coat and handed it to him, enjoying the moment when his eyes went large as she stood in only her red bra. His mouth dropped open but she didn’t give him a chance to say anything. “The robe’s very nice.” She slipped her arms through and tied the belt loosely. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He began unbuttoning his shirt, pausing a moment to point at her cleavage. “That’s very pretty.”

She slapped his hand. “I looked like a slut.”

“You did not! I liked the outfit, and your innocence that goes with it.”

They stood grinning and smiling at each other like a couple of school kids.

“I’m not taking the robe off.”

He blinked. “Alrightie then. Why don’t I jump in the shower and meet you back in here, say, in five minutes?” He winked and headed to the bathroom.

When she heard the shower door close she whipped off the outfit and settled for a tank top and a pair of his boxers. She climbed into bed and settled under the sheets, leaning against the headboard.

Elijah returned with just a towel around his hips. He smiled at her but didn’t say anything.

“Now what?” she asked wearily.

“Nothing.” The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

She glanced down. Nothing. She shrugged. “How was Simon?”

Elijah lifted the sheet and let the towel fall to the floor before hopping onto the bed. He moved so fast Charity didn’t get a chance to peek. “Simon’s very pumped.”

“So is Julie.”

“It’ll be a fun trip.”

“Does my father have to go?”

“Charity!”

“I’m kidding. He can hang with your mom. It’ll be the wicked witch of the east and the wicked warlock of the west.”

Elijah stared at her face, grinning and holding back his laughter. “My mother is not a witch. Wait till I tell her you said that.”

Charity reached for the light beside her bed. She snuggled down under the covers. “Do it and you’ll have the worst honeymoon known to mankind.”

“Fair enough.” He scooted over to her, chuckling. “I’m glad you’re back here.”

She sat up and flipped the light back on. “What is so stinkin’ funny?”

He pulled her down so she lay on top of him. “Kiss me.” He didn’t wait for her to respond, he pressed his lips hard against her and took her breath away. Too soon he pulled back and looked at her, watching her eyes.

Charity stared into his before letting her gaze trail down to his lips… covered in bright red lipstick. “Ahh crap,” she muttered and leaned over him to grab some Kleenex from the nightstand. She wiped his face and then her own. “Is it off?” The pink and red on the Kleenex seemed to shout yes.

“Nearly.”

What a night this turned out to be!

“Come here, gorgeous.” Elijah rolled her beside him and began to caress her with his hands while gently kissing her. They stayed that way a long time. He eventually coaxed her into rolling over and snuggled against the curve of her body.

She sighed contently. “I believe that’s the best make-out session I’ve ever had.” She relaxed into the pillow and mattress, blissfully happy to be home.

“Cool. ‘Cause that’s all the action you are going to get for the next couple of weeks.”

She shifted slightly and raised her head to look at him. “Seriously?”

He kissed her bare shoulder. “Sure, why not? I’m game if you are?”

“We going to flip a coin and see who has to say our wedding vows first then too?” she joked.

Elijah rolled over and opened the drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a quarter. “You call it.” He flipped the coin in the air.

She didn’t have time to think. “Heads. Heads!” she shouted, laughing.

He caught it as she said it the second time and held it out to her. “Tails. Guess I win.” He tossed the coin back in the drawer. “I’ll go with second. You know, lady’s first.”

She turned the light out again. Elijah settled against the curve of her body again. “You do realize,” she said to him, “that you’re going to have to start wearing boxers or something to bed if you want to keep this abstinence vow.”

“Deal.” He pressed his face against her back and she could feel his hot breath against her. He put his head on his pillow. “If I have to wear boxes, then you can’t be dressing up all dirty, looking all bad-ass.”

“I’m bad,” she whispered, trying not to laugh.

“So bad,” he agreed. His finger traced a light imaginary line up along her hip and ribs.

“Terrible,” she giggled.

His hand reached under her as he pulled her closer to him. “What am I going to do about it?”

“Punish me?”

He chuckled. “I highly doubt it.”

She pressed her hips against his and smiled when he groaned and shifted slightly to hide his growing erection. “You’re probably right.”

Chapter 8

Julie couldn’t hide her excitement as they walked along the busy sidewalk of downtown New York City. “We couldn’t have planned a better day to shop! The weather’s perfect!”

Charity tried to see the blue sky against the towering buildings. “I’m sure the guys are loving it for golfing.”

Julie checked her phone. “I downloaded the walking GPS app and it’s showing the Off the Rack shop just a few blocks up. Do you know what kind of dress you want?”

“Something without a lot of lace. Either strapless or just thin spaghetti style straps. Maybe empire waist? I might need a shawl or jacket since New Zealand is going to be winter. It’s warmer than here in winter, but just in case it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Julie nodded. “I’ve been checking out dresses online like crazy between surgeries.” She made a face when Charity raised her eyebrows at her. “What? I’m excited!”

Charity slung her arm through Julie’s. “I know you are. That’s why I want you there and here shopping with me today. I always imagined this big extravagant wedding when I was a kid. Like yours and Simons. Now that I’m older, I can’t imagine a big hoopla.”

“Simon and I have been married six years. If I had the choice, I’d go your way now. I think it’s very romantic.”

“I’m learning Elijah is quite the romantic.”

“He’s a good guy. I’m so glad you guys met.”

“Me, too.”

“Here’s the shop!” Julie pointed across the road to an elegant looking older building. There were large windows with mannequins displaying wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and even a mannequin scene with a bride and groom kissing. A sales person stood inside that window undressing the bride. “Poor bride. Looks like someone wants to try her dress on.”

Charity hit the crosswalk button and the two of them waited for the little screen across the road to stop showing a hand and switch to the green man letting them know it was safe to walk. “I’m not jaywalking. Last time I was here I actually saw someone get a ticket for doing that!”

As they walked inside, a small bell chimed. The sales girl in the window smiled at them. “Every bride deserves the perfect wedding dress. If you need help with anything, please let one of us know.” She nodded to the left. “Just let one of the girls know when you need a fitting room.”

“Thanks.” Julie pulled Charity toward a large rack filled with silky white dresses. She began flipping through them. “You’re a six, right?”

Charity nodded.

Another sales girl walked by. “We have a seamstress at the store if you need it done in a rush.” She reached over a checkout counter and grabbed a marker shaped like a strawberry. “What’s your name, sweetie? I’ll get a room started for you.”

Sweetie? The girl looked ten years younger than Charity.

“Her name is Charity,” Julie said. “She’s getting married in two weeks.”

“Two weeks? My, you are cutting it close.” The girl glanced down at Charity’s stomach but didn’t say anything.

Julie broke into giggles.

“She’s not the first person to think that.” Charity started looking at the dresses.

The sales girl/consultant came back and handed her a cute, but rather large, bride-to-be sticker. “My name is Kylie.”

“I’m Charity.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Charity. Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding. Do you have any idea of what kind of dress you are looking for?”

“I’m not sure. I was thinking empire waist. Strapless or maybe thinner straps.”

“She’s getting married down in New Zealand,” Julie added. She pulled out a dress and held it up to Charity. “What do you think of this one?” It was empire waist, with rhinestones or something sparkly around the top.

“Maybe?” Charity had no idea.

Kylie took the dress and hung it over her arm. “Why don’t you try on a few things and see what kind of style you like?” She moved to another rack and pulled out a dress with thin straps. “What kind of clothes do you like to wear? Current? Retro? Are you looking for something traditional?”

Charity shook her head. “Not traditional. Just something simple and pretty.” Her idea of traditional was puff sleeves, loads of lace and a big, wide hip section. Not her style at all.

“What’s your everyday style? What do you tend to wear?”

“Probably something with a fifty, sixties era kind of flair, but not hippy. More classy.”

“New Zealand you said right? So probably outside?”

Charity nodded. “I’m thinking on the beach. The house where we are staying is huge.”

“Filthy huge,” Julie added.

The consultant nodded in understanding. “Maybe something like a retro, party dress silhouette.”

“No disco ball,” Julie said.

“Classy,” Charity added. “No veil or train for me, thanks.”

The girl snapped her fingers. “I know something that just came in that you might like.” She disappeared and came back two minutes later with four gowns over her arms. “It comes in a full length or tea cup length.” She held a creamy coffee color up in one hand and a white full length one in the other.

Charity gasped. The dress was beautiful. Beyond beautiful.

Julie squealed beside her.

The consultant turned around so they could see the backs of the dresses. “I’m not sure if you want tea length so it’s easy to walk on the beach. I was thinking that because your legs are so long, you might like the full length version.”

“Full length,” Julie said. “But try them both on.”

“The dress is made of tulle,” Kylie explained. “It’s sexy, flirty, very retro but totally classy. It features Venice applications and elegant beading on the bodice. There’s a silk dupioni sash which cinches around the waist.” The girl winked at Charity. “You have great breasts. This dress will definitely show them off without over doing it.”

They headed over to the dressing rooms. Julie waited outside talking to the sales girl while Charity stood inside the overlarge change room, trying to decide which one to try on first. She decided on the full length creamy white one. Slipping it on, she pulled the straps of her bra off her shoulders and tried to do the back zipper up. It was one of the invisible zippers and she could only get it up about half way.

She poked her head out the door. “Can you do the zipper for me?”

Kylie came in and zipped it up all the way. She whistled. “Wow.”

Charity stepped out of the change room and looked in the three full-length mirrors.

Julie grinned beside her and lifted Charity’s hair into a make-shift bun. “You’re gorgeous.”

The open back and lack of straps gave Charity’s elegant shoulders just the right amount of attention.

“Do you like it?” The sales girl stood grinning. “Do you want to try on the tea cup size?”

Charity shook her head. She was afraid to speak. The dress took her breath away. She looked like a bride in one of those magazines. She couldn’t believe it was her.

Julie hugged her. “They say when you find the perfect dress you’ll know.”

“I know,” Charity whispered. “I know.” She smiled shyly at Julie.

Julie stepped back. “Spin around. Look at the gorgeous back part of it again.”

Charity did as she asked. She grabbed the price tag and checked the price. Just over a thousand dollars? She hadn’t made a budget but it seemed a great price to her.

“We can have it boxed so you can travel with it. A lot of people are getting married somewhere hot these days so we offer that service now.”

Charity couldn’t believe how easy this had been. They had been in the shop for what, forty minutes only? It was crazy! It had taken longer to get downtown.

“Can she buy this dress? The one she has on right now?” Julie came around to touch the front of the dress. “You don’t have to order it in or anything?”

The girl laughed. “No. That’s why the store’s called Off the Rack. You pick it, you can buy it.”

Charity grinned. “Sounds good to me.”

“You’ll need a necklace of some kind.”

“I have my mother’s pearl necklace from when she got married.” Her father had given her a box of most of her mother’s things and she remembered the necklace was in there. “It’s a single strand. I think it would look perfect. She got married in the sixties and my grandmother had it made. The string holding the pearls is baby blue.”

“Then something old, blue and borrowed is taken care of!”

“I know!” Charity laughed, excited at how easy today was turning out to be. “Let me get out of this so Kylie can get it boxed and sorted.”

Kylie stepped forward and undid the zipper. “I’ll get the bill sorted and if you girls want to go for lunch or something, I’ll have it boxed and ready for you. Are you taking it home today or do you have an address to have it shipped to?”

Charity went and changed into her regular clothes. Feeling a bit like a princess turned frog, she put on fresh lipstick and played with her hair so she felt a bit dressier. At the counter she asked to have the dress boxed and shipped to Elijah’s house. It would be packed up so he couldn’t see it. If they weren’t having sex, he wasn’t allowed to see her dress till the day either.

After paying and thanking Kylie for the hundredth time, Julie finally pulled her out of the shop. “Come on, girl! The boys have probably just finished nine holes. Let’s grab a bite to eat.”

“Then we need to head to Tiffany’s. I picked out a ring online for Elijah and ordered it. I just need to pick it up.”

“Sure thing, then we head to a naughty shop. You need some lingerie for your honeymoon.”

Charity’s face burned. The image of her wearing her red bra and Elijah’s medical coat flashed through her head. There was
no way
she was going to tell Julie about that one. “How about we hit Macy’s or something? I’m not into any of that dress up stuff.”

Julie laughed and slipped her arm through Charity’s. “You need to find something classy for under that dress. I can’t believe how gorgeous it is on you! Remember my dress? It was beautiful but it took me six months of shopping to finally find it. You did it in like six minutes!”

“I must have horseshoes up my arse or something.” Charity grinned.

“Kinda goes perfect with your gun-shot wedding, engagement and… well… gun shooting.”

Charity stopped walking and stared wide-eyed at her best friend.

“I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

Charity burst out laughing. “What’s that saying: when you know, you know?”