Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
There were one or two people who’d look at them and their entourage, but no one even paid more than a brief glance their way. It was nice, refreshing, and so much better than all the experiences she’d had in the past eight months. Even their brief engagement had been filled with speculation. No one could imagine why Dante Gallo would marry her. She was nothing.
Again, she couldn’t help but wonder why her father had insisted on finding someone to marry her. Now, she knew he’d blackmailed him to do this.
Aria would never admit it to him, but it hurt that in order to get anyone to be with her, her father had to result to trickery and blackmail.
“Ah, here we are.”
She couldn’t help but frown as they stepped into a well-known boutique. Her mother was always raving about the place, as were a few other women.
“Why are we here?”
“I think it’s only fair I take my wife shopping, don’t you?”
They’d never gone shopping. The clothes she wore were the ones she was able to afford before her parents took away her allowance.
She didn’t intend for them to stay married long. As nice as it would be to have some new clothes, she didn’t think this was the right way to go about it.
“I … I don’t think this is right,” she said, gripping his arm. His soldiers had already given them some distance, and were heading around the shop.
“Why not?” Dante asked.
“If I find that … stuff, you won’t need to stay married to me any longer than you have to,” she said. “There’s no point in wasting your money.”
Dante stared at her for several seconds. Aria had never needed to read people before, and it was concerning. He kept looking at her, and then he smiled.
“How about you let me have this fun, dressing up my wife?” he asked.
“But, you don’t have to.”
He cupped her face and it was strange for Aria, she didn’t flinch. Not for a second did she feel any fear.
“Look at me.”
She stared at him. It was hard for her to form any kind of thought. He was touching her, and she didn’t know what to say or do.
His hands on her face should terrify her, but instead she felt alive. This was strange.
“Let me treat you. Let’s not think about what might happen. You’re my wife, Aria, and I think it’s time I started treating you like it.”
Was this a trick? Was he luring her into a false sense of security, and then when he was ready, he’d kill her? She hoped not.
Dante took her hand. While they’d been talking, one of the soldiers had already made the arrangements so the shop was completely empty. One of the assistants came toward Dante with a smile on her lips.
Aria noticed several buttons at the top of her shirt had come undone, and the giggle was a little over the top.
“Good morning, sir, what can I get you today?” the assistant asked.
“I’m looking for a new wardrobe for my wife.”
“Your wife.”
Aria smiled as the other woman chanced a brief glance toward her.
“Yes, my wife.” Dante slid his arm across her shoulders, and pulled her against him. “Do you think you could help us with that?”
The woman was charmed by Dante, or by his wealth.
“Certainly. If you would like to take your wife over to the changing rooms, I will collect several items and be right there with you.”
She spun on her heel and left.
“She chooses everything?” Aria asked.
“For me, they do,” Dante said.
“You’ve come here before?”
“Yes, with my mother and sister, at my father’s request many years ago.”
Aria had met his family. From what she could tell, Dante wasn’t close to his siblings, but there were quite a few years difference between them all. Dante was the oldest, and the one that needed the constant training. Aria wasn’t close to his family, nor her own. In the past eight months, she’d pretty much been on her own inside his country home.
They arrived at the changing rooms, and Dante took a seat, spreading out his arms.
“What happens now?” Aria asked.
“Simple, she brings along a bunch of clothing, and you try them on. I get to decide if I like it or not. Easy.”
Aria spun toward him, folding her arms beneath her chest. “Are you sure there aren’t a million other things you’d rather be doing?”
“Nope.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Dante chuckled. “You’re right. There are a million other things I need to be doing, yet I am here with my wife, enjoying her company.”
“Shopping. I thought the whole adage was men hated to shop.”
He winked at her. “I’m not like most men.”
She was about to ask him more questions but their assistant arrived, as well as two other women.
“I’ve got everything to get us started.”
Aria hated shopping. Her mother would often complain about the size she had to wear, and usually it would result in a diet. Stepping into the changing room with the assistant, she wasn’t used to having someone with her. She expected the other women to make a snide comment about her weight, as that had happened in the past. Yet, she said nothing. No rude comment. No disgusted looks.