A/N: Here's chapter nine. I hope you still enjoy this fic. A review is always appreciated. In this chapter, Lizzie shops for clothes and gets jealous.
Chapter nine
She finally made her way to the dressing rooms with quite a few items in her hands. While she'd picked out clothes Red had remained silent. Yet every item she held in her hands she asked herself if it was something he would like. The clothes she'd picked were all practical and warm for the cold weather. No dresses or skirts and she wondered if he had noticed and what he thought about that.
"I'm looking forward to you showing me all your outfits." Red said before Lizzie stepped into the dressing room.
She looked at herself in the mirror. The long dark red vest and faded grey chino's looked nice. Beneath the vest she wore a simple black blouse. She liked the vest and pants a lot and they fitted her nicely. Maybe she should choose something different instead of the black blouse. Lizzie opened the dressing room curtain to ask Red what his thoughts were. However Red was not seated in the chair opposite to her dressing room. Taking a few steps out of the dressing room she spotted him. He was talking to a tall brunette who was standing far too close to him for Lizzie's liking. Red didn't seem to mind. She saw him touch the woman's elbow briefly. It hurt that he'd lost interest already. Quietly she made her way back to the dressing room and closed the curtain behind her. She sat down on the small stool and put her head in her hands. Her good mood was gone and her anger and hurt were back again. She took a deep breath, stood up and changed back into her own clothes. With the clothes draped over her arms again she opened the curtain.
"You've already tried everything on?" Red asked, this time seated in the chair that Lizzie had expected him in before. "You haven't showed me anything." He pouted.
Not charmed by his pouting, Lizzie got angry. "Clearly you were too busy."
He heard the anger in her voice and immediately prepared himself for a fight. He guessed she was referring to his talk with Alicia, the owner of the boutique. She was the daughter of the butcher which was why he knew her. Yes she had flirted with him, but he hadn't engaged in the flirting at all. He'd asked her to give Lizzie a discount and that he would pay the difference. He'd also asked her to help Lizzie out with anything she needed. "I'm sorry." He apologised. "I had some questions for Alicia."
"I'm sure Alicia was more than willing to help."
Speak of the devil, Lizzie thought as she watched the woman join them. "I see you picked out some beautiful items. Let's see how they look on you." Alicia seemed to be ignorant to the tension between the two and guided Lizzie back into the dressing room.
Reluctantly she started changing into the new clothes again. She didn't really know why she let Alicia order her around like that nor did she know why she so easily accepted his behaviour. Part of her was still angry with him, but she knew that lashing out in anger was something she'd done too often lately. Red didn't deserve that despite the fact that she didn't like how Alicia had practically been draped all over him. If they were really
going to move forward she would need to deal with that anger. She changed into the long red vest again and the faded grey chinos. She once again opted for the simple black blouse but was still unsure if it was the right choice. She looked at herself in the mirror in the dressing room. She still liked the vest and pants a lot. She didn't feel like showing Red the outfit though.
"Don't be shy. Show us what you got." Alicia called out to her. Lizzie sighed in frustration.
She took an extra moment to calm down before she opened the curtain and stepped out. She fidgeted with the sleeves of her vest unsure of what to expect. She quickly turned her back to Red to look at herself in the mirror. Alicia immediately walked up to her, stopped behind Lizzie and seemed to scrutinize her appearance.
"That blouse is not working for you. The rest looks good on you." She turned and walked back into her store. "I'll find you something more suitable." She said over her shoulder.
Lizzie was about to step back inside her dressing room, her safe haven, away from Red's prying eyes, when he stopped her. "You haven't given me a chance to look at you." His voice was deep, warm and it made her shiver.
He stepped up to her until his chest almost touched her back. He looked at her in the mirror, their eyes locked. "I love the way you look in this long red vest. Red most definitely suits you."
She didn't quite know what to say but her blush said it all. She looked away and before she closed the curtain she muttered a thank you.
A good half an hour later and many outfit changes later Lizzie had finally picked her outfits. Halfway through she'd been already done with it, but Alicia had ignored her protest and just shoved more outfits in her hands. She refused to take the woman's suggestions though. Alicia picked out outfits that were more revealing than she felt comfortable with. It was winter, it was freezing, she wasn't going to walk around in a blouse or shirt that was very low cut. No, she opted for warm, comfortable clothes that were still feminine. Whenever she showed an outfit she watched Red's reaction carefully. He seemed to like the more revealing outfits better than the ones she'd picked, but she was the one wearing the clothes, not him.
Back in her own clothes she left Red alone in the dressing room. She still needed to buy underwear and she didn't need his help with that and had told him so. She took her time picking out some nice sets and couldn't help herself from thinking what Red would like. She knew she was presumptuous, but it was how she felt. Holding red lace in her hands she remembered his words. Feeling bold she decided to add this to her other choices. She quickly put her items at the cash registry and paid for them. She didn't want Red to see just yet what she'd bought.
"There is one more item to shop for." Red said from behind Lizzie.
Startled, she turned around. She quickly grabbed the bag with her underwear in her hands. She thought what it was that she would still need. She couldn't think of anything nor did she feel like trying on more clothes. "I think I'm done for today."
Red shook his head. His eyes went to the shopping bag that held the underwear she'd bought. It had taken quite a bit of effort to not help her out and make suggestions. But he knew that would be too much too soon. He didn't want to scare her off. "You still need to by a bathing suit."
"Excuse me?" Lizzie exclaimed. "Why would I need a bathing suit? It's freezing. It's winter."
"There's a great hot tub on the porch and it would be a shame if we didn't use it. Wouldn't you like to soak in it?" He paused for a moment. "Or would you prefer to go nude?"
She swallowed thickly at his words which he had uttered in that low voice of his, the tone that brought shivers to her body. She hadn't noticed the hot tub when she'd explored the house. She would love to have a soak in it. "Did you bring your swim shorts?"
"Mm…" Red nodded. "I did. Though I have no objections to skipping my swim shorts entirely."
"I don't doubt that." She huffed. "I'll go…" She felt a bit unsure. "I'll go look for something."
"I'm sure Alicia would be willing to help." He was already waving Alicia over.
"No." Lizzie grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand down. "I can manage myself."
There wasn't much to choose from, but Lizzie found a few nice bathing suits and tried them on. She eventually chose a simple blue bikini. When she stepped out of the dressing rooms and walked back into the boutique to pay for everything she spotted Red talking to Alicia again. As she got closer she heard parts of the conversation.
"It's such a great place." She heard Alicia say. "And that hot tub." She practically purred in Red's ear. "Such a good buy."
The anger and jealousy she felt not too long ago was back again. He'd told her he'd never brought anyone to his cabin. That she'd been the only one whom he had shared his refuge with. Clearly he'd been lying. Apparently Alicia had been at the cabin and clearly they'd enjoyed the hot tub together.
"Aah there you are Lizzie." Red said when he spotted her. "Did you find something appropriate? Though I hope it's something that's hardly appropriate." He teased.
"Yes I did though I doubt I will need it." She quickly paid for everything. The price of it all surprised her but it didn't truly register with her. With her hands full of several bags, she practically stormed out of the store.
TBC..