Page 39 of The Artist

“You’d better be.I don’t want to have to explain to Mom what you were doing when they find your body in a ditch somewhere.”

Alexis shook her head.“Now, boys.Let’s talk about something else.”

Peter turned toward her and smiled.“Yes, let’s.I want to take you shopping.We’re having dinner and dancing tonight and you need something appropriate to wear.”

Surprised and secretly thrilled, Alexis put up a token argument.“But…but I don’t expect you to buy me clothes.I can buy my own clothes.”

“Fine.We can argue on the way.Let’s go.Cole, I’ll see you later.”Peter began walking farther into the house.

Alexis followed him.He stopped at the door off the kitchen, she assumed was the garage.

Opening it, he turned on the lights and held the door for her.

She looked into a modest four car garage.The first vehicle was a black SUV.Next to that was a dark, sparkling blue Camaro.

Since she was in high school, she’d loved Camaros.The star quarterback had driven one and he’d taken Alexis out in it once.It was a great date until he got too handsy.When she said “no”, he took her home immediately and never called her again.And that was fine with her.

The third vehicle was a cherry red Ford Mustang.She walked over to it and ran her hand across the hood.She might have loved Camaros in high school, but as an adult, she’d fallen in love with Mustangs and that love had never waned.

“Ding.Ding.Ding.It looks like we have a winner.”

She shifted back as if she was a little girl with her hand caught in the cookie jar.“We don’t have to.We can take whichever vehicle you like.”

“Fine.We’ll take the F-150.”

She glanced at the green truck and then back to her Mustang before realizing she was still caressing the red car.And when did she decide it was her Mustang?

Looking at Peter, she saw he held up a set of keys.

When had he gotten those?

“Do you want to drive it?”

Her jaw dropped.She didn’t even have to think twice.Instead, she snatched the keys and moved to the driver’s door.Before she got in, she tossed her bag onto the back seat, then she turned toward Peter.“Are you coming?You’re buying me a party dress either way.”She decided he could well afford to buy her a dress and she wanted to look spectacular driving this car.

He shook his head and laughed.“I’ve created a monster.”

“You have.You should never have shown me the Mustang.”Alexis winked.

Peter just shook his head, but his smile never faded.He walked around to the passenger side door and climbed in.

“Okay.”She started the engine.

He reached above her to the garage door opener on the visor and pressed the button.

The door in front of the Mustang opened.Only then did she realize doors were on both the front and back walls.She could drive forward rather than back out regardless of how the car was parked.

She slid the gear shift into Drive and pulled out of the garage.“Where to?I’m not that familiar with Denver, so you have to direct me.”

“Okay.”He gave her the directions and after about forty minutes they arrived downtown.After she parked they headed to a boutique on the Sixteenth Street Mall.

“I’ve been here once when I was a teenager.My mother brought me here to get a dress for the prom and then I didn’t end up going anyway.”

“What happened?Did you hate the dress?”

“No, I actually loved it, but my boyfriend at the time broke up with me just before the prom and took someone else.I wasn’t about to go by myself, so I stayed home and ate ice cream while wearing my dress.”Maybe I’m cursed where men are concerned.

“I see.”