“I WOULD’VE GONE TO Lenore’s lingerie shop in town, but she’s a little too expensive for me right now. After the baby’s born and I lose the extra weight, I’m going to treat myself there.”
Every time I was in Boner’s presence, I’d ramble. Then, I’d try to explain my rambling, which only led to more rambling. And now I was rambling about stupid bras. Gah!
We’d dropped Nina off at the first beauty salon we passed at the mall. Boner had tagged along with me to the maternity store where I found a couple of pairs of shorts and a new pair of jeans. Now, I needed to find bras, and there was only one place to go that had a wide selection of styles, fabrics, and sizes.
Boner’s long, shiny dark hair swung as he tracked through the displays and tables at Victoria’s Secret, hands shoved in his pockets. I was dazzled by the colorful and flashy displays of undies and nighties and lingerie and makeup and perfume bottles. Happy overstimulation to the extreme. I needed to get out more.
Boner made a strange growly noise that got stuck in the back of his throat.
I grinned. “What is it?” As if I didn’t know.
His eyes flashed. “What the hell do you think? Why couldn’t you do this shit with Nina?”
“She’s doing her thing at the salon—hair, mani, pedi, the works. You could’ve just dropped me off, you know. You didn’t have to tag along. I’m not going to get lost, for Pete’s sake. There’s a bench right outside the store. Go sit down. I’ll be out in fifteen minutes. I promise.”
He shot me a what-planet-are-you-from look. “I’m not leaving you on your own.”
A shiver raced through me from the base of my spine, all the way up my neck, like it did whenever he said those protective declaratory remarks in that insistent tone. But, of course, he said those things because the baby I was carrying was the source of any fascination he had with me. I had to stop assuming that his concern, those intense looks, were about anything else or anything more.
“Fine. Suit yourself.”
I grabbed a delicate peach-colored lace demi bra and thong panty set from a display rack and held it against my body.
So pretty. If only…
I turned to face Boner. “What do you think?”
A look of pain flashed across his face. He narrowed his eyes as if the lingerie gave off a glare that was as harsh and bright as direct sunlight.
I walked toward him slowly. “Well?”
His gaze traveled the length of my body from the bra against my chest and down my torso before settling on the delicate panty. His teeth scraped his bottom lip, and heat stabbed my insides.
He shook his head and glared at me.
I leaned in closer to him. “You okay, Boner?” I whispered.
His eyes held mine. Those eyes.
I liked any opportunity I had to spend time with him. He was always in the back of my mind. When I changed Becca’s diaper, I thought about Boner. When I took a shower in the morning, I thought about Boner. I waited for Rae in the doctor’s office, and instead of seeing the images I was scrolling through on my Instagram feed (which included many tatted, bearded hotties), I would see those incredible green eyes, that dark face.
“Buy it, and let’s go,” he said, his voice even, controlled, low.
Those hard green eyes shot their lasers at my lips, and my pulse spiked.
“I’m just kidding, Boner. Bad joke. Sorry. Unfortunately, this isn’t what I came here for. I came here for something totally utilitarian—a bigger bra to fit these growing boobers.”
His gaze dived to my chest again, and then he swung away from me.
What is wrong with me? Why do I keep provoking him?
I dropped the peach set onto the nearest stand and charged toward the smooth form-fitting support bras in the next room. I plucked three bras a size larger than my normal 34C off the display table.
“I’m going to try these on,” I mumbled as I gestured toward the fitting rooms at the back of the store.
He only nodded and folded his arms.
There was no salesgirl around, and I went right in to an open dressing room and closed the door behind me. I tore off my T-shirt and unhooked my bra. I put the straps of the new bra through my arms, hooking it at my back, and then I leaned over the way my mama had taught me, fitting my girls in their place. I rose up and adjusted the cups again as I looked in the mirror.
I tugged on the straps, on the sides of the cups. “Shoot, still small.”
I made a face at myself in the mirror as my fingers worked the tiny metal hooks. “Come on. Shit!”
My ringtone went off. “Great.” I grabbed my bag and fished out my phone.
“Hello?”
“Jill?” Nina’s voice squawked over the line.
“Nina?”
“Listen, I decided to get highlights. So, I’m gonna be another forty-five minutes at least, okay? Will Boner be pissed?”
“That’s fine. I’ll let him know.” My hands went behind my back to jimmy the hook once more.
“You should get over here. They’re having a special deal on—”
“I can’t right now, Nina. Bye!” I dropped the phone and twisted the bra some more.
“Damn it!”