Read Online Sleeping with the Playboy by Julianne MacLean - Free Book Online

Jocelyn said. “We can stop by my apartment and I can pick something up.”
    â€œYou live on the other side of town. This’ll be much quicker. I know a great spot.”
    She reluctantly agreed, and they drove down a narrow, tree-lined street. Donovan pulled up in front of an exclusive ladies’ boutique on the bottom floor of a late-Victorian mansion, and turned off the car. “What are you…a size five?”
    â€œSeven, actually,” she replied awkwardly.
    â€œGreat. Let’s go.”
    He led the way in, and bells chimed over the door as they entered. An older lady with her hair in a bun,wearing a pale yellow silk suit and pearls, approached. “Dr. Knight, what a pleasure. What can I help you with today?”
    They know him here?
    â€œActually, Doris, you can help my friend. We’re going to La Perla tonight.”
    â€œLovely.” She turned her warm gaze on Jocelyn, who felt more than a little out of place in this high-end clothing shop. It was not a place she would ever set foot in on her own.
    â€œI have some stunning gowns over here that would look wonderful on you,” Doris said. She gestured for Jocelyn to follow. Donovan followed, too. Doris picked a gold, sequined dress off a brass rack. “What about this?”
    Jocelyn glanced down at the tag. The dress cost nine hundred and fifty dollars. Good God. “Uh, that might be a little too…”
    â€œToo flashy?” Doris said. “I understand. What about this?” The smiling woman moved to another rack and presented a deep crimson off-the-shoulder dress. It was twelve hundred dollars.
    Jocelyn touched her index finger to her lips. “That, I think, is…um…”
    â€œNot the right color?”
    Not the right price! “Yes, exactly.”
    â€œOkay, I think I know exactly what you’re looking for.” Doris moved to the corner of the boutique and found a black, sleeveless, curve-hugging dress with a train. “Perfect for La Perla.”
    â€œPerfect for Jocelyn,” Donovan said, moving past her and touching the delicate fabric.
    Jocelyn didn’t dare look at the price tag on thatone. The odd thing was, Donovan didn’t look at it, either.
    She shook her head in utter disbelief. The rich.
    Feeling more than a little uncomfortable with all this, Jocelyn looped her arm through Donovan’s and gently pulled him away from Doris. “Could I have a word with you?” she whispered politely.
    â€œSure.” They moved behind a mannequin dressed in a sailing outfit.
    â€œThis is too much,” Jocelyn whispered. “I can’t let you buy me a dress here.”
    â€œWhy not?” he asked innocently.
    â€œBecause it’s too expensive. I couldn’t possibly accept a gift like this.”
    â€œIt’s not that expensive. Not relatively.”
    â€œRelative to what?”
    â€œTo…to other shops. Really, twelve hundred’s not that much for a dress like that.”
    â€œWhat, twelve thousand would be more in line with what you’d call expensive?”
    â€œWell, yeah.”
    She felt the difference between them like a deep chasm at that moment. Twelve hundred dollars was pocket change to him.
    â€œAnd how do you know about prices of dresses anyway?” she asked, still whispering. “And how does Doris know your name? Do you often come here to buy clothes for your lady friends? The ones who leave messages on your answering machine? The ones you never call back?”
    He raised his eyebrows, looking amused. “You sound jealous.”
    â€œI am not jealous. I just find it odd that the clerk here knows you by name and—”
    â€œWhat about this one?” Doris said, appearing unexpectedly behind Jocelyn, who felt her face color.
    â€œI liked the other one better,” Donovan said.
    Doris went away, and he took a step closer to Jocelyn to whisper in her ear. “Why don’t you just try it