Page 14 of Tempted To Be Mine

We went through coat after coat. Jeremy had an opinion on every single one, and he wasn’t shy about sharing them.

After the tenth rejection, I flopped down on one of the velvet benches in the fitting area. “This is exhausting.”

“Welcome to my world.” Jeremy dropped down beside me. “Now you know what it’s like to try on clothes for a living.”

“I don’t know how you do it.”

“Money.”

I laughed. “Fair enough.”

The saleswoman appeared with another armload of options. I groaned.

“Okay, new plan,” Jeremy said, standing up. “You’re too in your head about this. You need to loosen up.”

“I’m plenty loose.”

He grabbed a ridiculous fur-trimmed hat from a nearby display and put it on his head. He struck a pose. Pursed his lips and popped a hip. “See? You gotta have fun with it.”

He looked absolutely absurd but he wore it with complete confidence. He grabbed a matching scarf and wrapped it around his neck with exaggerated flair.

“You are ridiculous.”

“Come on, get up. Let’s do this. We have picked nothing. You’re too stiff. Have fun. It’s shopping. Isn’t there something in your DNA that says you love shopping?”

“I don’t hate shopping. I’m just, I don’t know.”

“Get up. Let’s do this.”

Jeremy was right. I was taking this too seriously. It was just clothes. And I was shopping with my best friend, who was currently modeling the world’s ugliest winter accessories like they were haute couture.

“Okay, fine,” I said, standing up. “Give me the next coat.”

The saleswoman handed me a navy parka with a faux-fur-lined hood. I slipped it on and immediately felt the difference. It was warm like being wrapped in a heated blanket.

I looked in the mirror. The navy was perfect against my skin, just like Jeremy had said. The cut was flattering but functional, with enough room to layer underneath. The hood framed my face without swallowing it.

“That’s the one,” Jeremy said, still wearing the ridiculous goggles. “You look amazing.”

“Really?”

“Do a spin.”

I did. “Sold,” I said.

“It’s too bulky. You’re hiding everything.”

“I don’t care. It’s bulky and warm. I don’t care if I look like a snowball. I’m getting it.”

We moved on to sweaters after that. Thick cable-knit ones in pretty pastels. A gorgeous cashmere turtleneck in a soft blush pink that felt like wearing a cloud. Jeremy kept trying things on too, modeling increasingly absurd combinations while I laughed and made my selections.

“This one,” I said, holding up a chunky knit cardigan in forest green. “This is perfect for layering.”

“Agreed. And get the gray one too. You need options.”

“I don’t need options. I need warmth.”

By the time we got to the accessories, I was actually having fun. I tried on gloves and settled on some big chunky ones that would make it impossible to type or even use my phone, but my fingers would be warm.