Boss I Love to Hate: An Office Romance(34)

Fuck, she was adorable.

She’d tried on four dresses already, and as she stomped into the changing room, making it known she was not a happy camper, I laughed under my breath.

“Come out. I want to see.”

“I hate you,” she replied. “And no.”

I winked at one of the attendants holding up the next dress for Sonia to try on. She loves me, I mouthed.

“Come out, or I’m coming inside that dressing room,” I threatened.

It did not do the trick. She fired back, “Two words: sexual harassment.”

This woman. Always a snarky comment.

I shook my head as I sipped my wine. Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru. This was the good stuff from France. I swished the red wine and watched the liquid coat the bottom of my glass. “It’s only sexual harassment if you don’t want me in that dressing room.”

The blonde attendant hid a smile, and her cheeks turned pink.

“Come out. One. Two …”

Before three, Sonia emerged. My eyes widened. Well, well, well. That was an interesting dress—fluffy and full, and it reminded me of a comforter. I nearly scoffed out a rude comment but thought better of it.

Sonia was picking the dresses that my dead grandma would wear. If she wanted to outdo this new girlfriend, she needed to step it up a notch. Though the dress did accentuate her small waist, it flared out into a ballgown that looked like she was about to jump off a plane and engage the skirt as a parachute.

She trudged toward me, arms crossed over her chest, lips pouty, and eyes screaming revenge. She reminded me of a pissed off Mary, and I had the sudden urge to laugh, but I covered my mouth instead. I wasn’t about to push my luck. Knowing Sonia, she’d deck me.

She pulled at the dress and twirled, the black-and-white floral skirt flaring out and contouring her body when she stilled.

It wasn’t as though she wasn’t attractive because Sonia was beautiful, and there was no doubt I’d give her a second glance, but everyone needed to give her a first glance. It was as if Sonia was trying to dim her beauty and hide her slim runner’s body under that giant skirt.

I stood and pointed to the pedestal. “Up.” I tipped my head toward the circular stand.

She groaned but followed directions, to my surprise.

“What’s wrong with it?” She placed her hands on her hips, ready for battle.

Boy, was that the question of the year. I could make a full-page list, but I knew her response would be merciless.

“It hides your figure.”

She frowned. “I don’t have a figure—unless beanpole is a classification.”

I couldn’t hide my frown. What in the world is this woman talking about?

How was it she had a bucket full of sass and was confident in her abilities at work, but she lacked confidence in her looks? She was petite and the kind of cute that would be the envy of the majority of the female population, a pouty bottom lip that could model, and the loveliest set of eyes I’d ever seen on anyone.

“It’s not the dress for you. I don’t like it.”

Sonia could do better if she wanted to stick out and shine, but I doubted that was her goal. She was bringing me as a date to do that job for her. Well, I was going to use this as an opportunity to show her how she could shine all on her own.

“This flares at the waist.” She swiveled, forcing the skirt to fan out. “I thought it’d give me some curves.”

“It doesn’t.”

She pursed her lips and then threw up her hands. “I’m not trying on a thousand dresses just to have you reject them all.” She pointed a shaky finger my way, one hand heavy on her hip—a Mary move. “And who says you get a say? My friend’s wedding. My body. I get to pick the dress.” Then, she stormed back into the fitting room.

“You always know how to get the girls riled up, don’t you, Brad?” Nadine laughed.

“It’s what I’m good at.” I pointed to a dress on the rack. “How about that?”

Nadine picked up the silvery-blue floor-length dress that I’d pointed out. I tipped my chin toward Sonia’s fitting room. Anything was better than the number she had on now.

“I have one that I think you’ll love, Sonia. One that I picked out personally for you.” Nadine threw me a sideways glance.

That was why I’d hired her; she knew how to read people, what they wanted, how to appease without offending. If Sonia knew I had picked the dress, she wouldn’t have tried it on.

A long five minutes later, I lifted my head from my phone as Sonia stepped out of the dressing room. Well, shit. On the hanger, it had been mediocre at best, but on Sonia …

I stood and went to slip my phone in my suit pocket, but it fell on the ground. She was stunning. The dress accented her petite figure, clinging to every part of her. The neckline swooped down to an achingly low level that had my eyes dipping to the slender curve of her neck, the span of pale bare skin right above her breast line.

I swallowed. Hard.

“And?” She twirled around, and I nearly fell over because the back of the dress dipped into a V, stopping right above her perfect ass.

“It’s beautiful, right, Brad?” Nadine sported a victorious smile.

“I’m not sure it’s me.” Sonia flattened her hands against the dress and stared back in the mirror.