"Hello, what size is the little girl you are buying these for?"
Crap, I thought, but I turned around and smiled politely.
"Well, my niece is five years and tends to fit the small size for most things," I said. I kept going through the rack, hoping I could find something less than fifty dollars.
"Excellent. Thank you," the woman replied, turning and then heading back to the counter. That was not the response I had been expecting. I frowned slightly and looked at Robbie. He was leaning against the clerk's checkout counter, a self-satisfied smirk filling his face. His green eyes danced with amusement. I stopped looking at the dresses and walked up to him.
"What did you just do?"
He puffed up like a satisfied peacock with a cocky grin.
"Robbie..." I put my hands on my h*ps and gave him my best no-nonsense look. It worked well on Avery and since he was really just an overgrown child, I hoped it would work on him too. He just grinned even more broadly.
"All right, sir. I have your order ready. It will be shipped and at the little girl's house by tomorrow evening," the clerk said, joining us at the counter.
"I'm really sorry, but what is his order?" I asked the young woman.
"He just got one of every dress we offer. Your niece is a very lucky little girl." She gave me a blinding smile. I didn't even want to think what her commission on this sale might be.
"Robbie, you didn't have to do that," I said once the clerk left to go help another customer.
"I know." His eyes twinkled with delight. "But you love that little girl and you want to see her happy."
"But, Robbie, it's so much money..." I stopped when the numbers in my head hit the thousands as I added it up.
"What good is dating a billionaire if he doesn't spend money on extravagant presents?" he asked. I shook my head at him. It was so easy to forget that he had money.
"Thank you. You didn't have to do that, but thank you," I said, a happy smile replacing my no-nonsense look.
"This will make her happy, and in turn, that will make you happy." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead gently. "I think I'm the one who is getting the best part of the deal."
The lights flickered, and a warning that the store would be closing soon came across the overhead speakers. Robbie took my hand in his, and together we headed back toward the entrance. About halfway to the doors, I stopped, dropping Robbie's hand and hurrying toward the book display.
Robbie watched me, a look of curiosity transforming into a soft smile as I picked up his beloved children's book and quickly paid for it at a small counter nearby.
"I think she'll enjoy reading this to you," I said as I came back to Robbie, the bag looped over my arm.
We stepped out into the New York night, the lights fabulously bright. It felt like it was still daytime with all the people still rushing about, but my watch said it was just past one in the morning.
"I need to get you home before your sister kills me," Robbie said as he saw me looking at my watch. "She's going to think I'm a bad influence or something for keeping you out so late."
I put my hands on his chest, feeling the warmth of his body through the dark green dress shirt. He reached out and pulled me in to him, one hand behind my neck and the other on my waist. Our lips connected, sweeter than honey, and I melted into him. His kiss was gentle at first but also filled with hunger. Every fiber in my being ached to be with him, to have more than just this kiss in a brightly lit street corner.
He released me, breathless and flushed. I knew I was breathing hard, but I could barely contain myself. I wanted to kiss him all night. Damn getting home! Damn tomorrow! All I wanted was to have him kiss me again.
He smiled, his perfect, supple lips curling up and making his eyes sparkle like the ocean. "Time to get you home," he whispered.
I nodded. Always the good one, I thought, but I let him wrap his arm around me and lead me back to the hotel where a car was waiting to take us to the helicopter.
***
I kissed Robbie the whole way home. I'm sure the helicopter pilot thought we were behaving like love-struck teenagers, but I didn't care. I just wanted to kiss him until my lips were raw and even then, I knew I would want more.
The helicopter landed, and Robbie walked me home. The night was cold and I was glad for Robbie's jacket wrapped around me. His hand was warm in mine as he escorted me to my front porch. I stepped as slowly as I could, trying to make the night last forever. I didn't want it to end. I just wanted to stay, my hand in Robbie's, for as long as I could.
The wooden porch creaked softly as we stepped up onto it. I slid my key in the door, hearing the lock click open. Grace had left a light on in the hallway so I wouldn't come home to a dark house. For a moment, I thought about asking Robbie to come inside, but I knew that was a bad idea. Not bad because I was afraid of what would happen, but bad because I knew Avery would come bounding into my bedroom in the morning. As much as I wanted him, it was just going to have to wait.
I turned from the door, and Robbie's arms wrapped around me. He was bathed in moonlight, his eyes deep green pools that I wanted to dive into and never surface. He smiled, his face somehow growing more handsome right before he leaned forward to kiss me. I melted into his kiss, soaking it up and losing myself to him.
I smiled softly as we separated, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. This had been the best night of my life.
"Goodnight, Princess," Robbie whispered as he let me go, stepping back off the porch. I pushed the door open, gliding into the warm house on happy feet. I peeked out the window, watching him stride down the driveway, a silly-happy grin plastered on his face as he walked under the streetlight. Clearly, he had enjoyed the night as much as I had.
I smiled and locked the door, feeling as giddy as a teenager. I knew there was a grin glued to my face and I didn't want it to go away.
I stepped into the kitchen to grab a glass of water to take to bed and nearly ran over Grace. She was wearing an old tattered robe that was once cream-colored, but was now a faded gray. Several pens stuck out of a messy bun while her reading glasses perched precariously on her forehead. She had a big glass of milk and several oatmeal cookies in her hand. I could tell she was still in full study mode.
"I was wondering when you were going to get home, young lady," she whispered, giving me her best motherly glare. I just smiled at her and went to the cabinet to get a glass. "Did you have a good time?"
"I had a spectacular time," I answered, setting the glass on the counter. "He took me to this amazing restaurant, and then we walked around in Times Square. It was so incredibly wonderful."