Chapter Forty-three

Once Bram finally got her to let him pick out her jewelry set, he had her put it all on and paid for everything right there at the counter. Izabella watched the sales lady pull a pile of tags out for what she was already wearing, and they scanned it. Bram literally covered her ears like he would a child about to hear a swear as the woman behind the register read off the amount to him. He had tried to buy her a really nice jewelry box, but she had insisted that she thought there was one already in her room.

As he paid, she looked at the jewelry again. Never in her life had she thought about wearing something so beautiful. Bram had wanted rubies and black diamonds, but they didn’t have anything like that in the store. When the woman suggested he take her to Tiffanies Izabella had nearly fainted. She really didn’t want him to suggest it. Bram had taken one look at her, and instead insisted on buying the one set they had with white and black diamonds, and then a second set with rubies and diamonds. She was wearing both bracelets now, but everything else had been bagged up.

He asked if they could have someone carry his bags out to the car, sliding a hundred-dollar bill over the counter, and both women promised to have them downstairs in 10 minutes. “Can I take the bags down for a hundred dollars?” Izabella looked up at him.

“I won’t argue. But, are you going to really want to carry heavy bags wearing those heels?” He looked at her skeptically.

“Yeah, but it’s a hundred dollars for something that the three of us can do. It just feels like such a waist.” Izabella pouted. She really wasn’t used to all this lavish spending.

“Yeah, sure. I can carry them all down, and I won’t be out anything. But I bet whoever they find who’s willing to bring this down for us will appreciate the extra hundred bucks in their pocket. And they’re doing me a service.” Bram shrugged. “At least this tip isn’t going into the register, but into the pocket of someone who may need it more than I do.”

“Then why don’t you tip the two women who have delt with all of our crazy?” Izabella chirped back. Both the women’s hands went in the air as they started talking about how that wasn’t necessary. Bram looked her right in the eye as he pulled out his wallet and held it out to her.

“Go ahead. Give them whatever you think they’re worth.” His blue eyes were shining at her, almost daring her to take it.

“And if I give them all the cash in here, what will you do next?” She snapped back.

Shrugging, he laughed. “Stop at an ATM for some more.”

Izabella pulled the wad of money out of his wallet, staring at it. She’d never held a hundred-dollar bill in her hand, let alone dozens of them. Stuffing the money back in the wallet, she handed it back. “I suppose it’s your money, do whatever you want with it.”

He did pull out another hundred and placed it on the counter. “I do appreciate your assistance. Thank you. My chauffer will be waiting by the trunk in front of the store.”

“Heels are very uncomfortable. I don’t understand why women like them.” She teetered, holding onto Bram’s arm to help stabilize herself.

He chuckled in her ear, letting his arm wrap around her waist. Devon held onto his other hand. “Maybe we shouldn’t have bought six-inch heels. They do look good on you though. And you’ll get used to them in no time. Are you happy with the outfit?”

“I’ve never felt so fancy in my life.” She smiled up at him. “I am getting a little tired though. Are we heading home now?” He nodded, smiling as Devon jumped onto the escalator. Bram gave her a hand. She felt so wobbly on her feet.

“We’re only a few blocks from home, do you want to walk and see if we can get your sea legs under you?” Bram asked. It was sunny and warm out, so Izabella nodded.

As they walked through the city, Devon wanted to stop at every street artist and actor they came across. Bram shamelessly bought him everything he asked for, and Izabella chided him. He just ignored her. They stopped at the corner store and bought a few items for supper, talked with Vanish, who was the shop owner, and the same guy who had stood up for Bram when the police tried to arrest him.

Devon met another boy in the hall, whom he’d had play dates with before the last nanny he had ruined it by getting in a fight with the boy’s nanny. Alex was his name, and Izabella took Alice’s number so that the boys could get together. Izabella didn’t miss the way she glanced at Bram, or how she said the number a little too loud. Bram’s sudden indifference was written across his face. Alice had hit on him before, and he wasn’t a fan. She made a mental note not to invite her over when Bram was home.

“So, by the time we got here, you seemed to be doing fine with walking in those.”

She giggled, “I guess I got my sea legs.” She sat the bench fighting with the poof in her skirt for a moment to reach the shoes.

“Need some help?” He smiled, kneeling and worked on getting the shoes off.

“You don’t have to help me with my shoes.” She blushed, still leaning over. He didn’t comment back, just looked up at her with shining blue eyes. His face so close, the butterflies in her stomach started to go wild. When his fingers slid around her foot, messaging gently, her body reacted in a strange way. Tingles ran through her, and she felt her fingers tighten on the edge of the bench. “What are you doing?”

“Your feet must hurt. I was just trying to help. Since I was the one who insisted.” As he looked up at her, there was something dark in his eyes, and she felt like she was falling victim to it. She’d never wanted to touch or kiss a man so badly in her life. In fact, this is the first time she considered it at all. As he slowly moved to the other side. Once the shoe was off, his fingers moved slowly over her feet and between her toes.

Izabella closed her eyes and bit her lip. She couldn’t stand looking at him while he touched her like that. It was too much. It was driving her wild and she didn’t know what to do. When he placed her feet on his knees and started to rub her ankles and up her leg, she felt herself start to shake. His hands moved slowly upward messaging her calves. When he hit the sensitive spot behind her knee she gasped and her eyes flew open as she grabbed his hands.

He looked hungry, and that smirk…

“Cut it out.” Devon threw a ball at his dad, hitting him in the arm. “She’s my nanny. Stop it.”

Bram stood up, apologized quietly, and went down the hall to his room. Izabella had no idea what just happened, but she just sat there. Staring at the bags that had been brought up and left by the door. “I guess I should take care of these.” She said quietly.

“Can you come play with me a while before you do?”

“Sure, kiddo. What do you want to do?” She felt like she was in a daze, but she couldn’t refuse playing with Devon. She smiled, trying to reign her brain and emotions in. What was wrong with her?