Chapter 173
To my surprise, he nodded. “Sounds great.”
What?! Why was he so distant if he still wanted me around have tea with him? He was so confusing!
Soren drank his tea while relaxing on the couch.
I tried to change the subject. “When exactly will Sol be going abroad?”
“Not sure. She’s been a bit busy lately.”
“Alright. Well, I’ve finished making her dress, so she’s welcome to come try it on any time. If there’s no issue with it, she can take it right before she leaves for Lundyn.”
Soren flashed me a gentleman’s smile. “Thank you. You’ve been working hard on our family’s commissions lately, huh?”
“Nah. I should be thanking you and your family. These commissions pay well, both in money and reputation. The Kenways are my greatest windfall.”
Soren’s smile widened as he checked his watch.
I glanced at my phone. It was 2:00 p.m.–he had to be needed at work.
“Hmm. It’s getting late,” he said, rising to his feet. “I shouldn’t keep you from working.”
“Oh, not at all! Serving my esteemed client is a huge part of my job,” I replied, grinning.
He smiled silently and watched my face as if he had something he wanted to say.
I raised an eyebrow. “What’s on your mind?”
He cleared his throat. “I think… your blouse… might need to be pulled up a little higher…”
I was stunned.
Now I understood his sudden avoidance–or why he had seemed to blush!
I was wearing a V–neck blouse today. I liked the feel of its fabric, and it was the type that didn’t need to be ironed
often.
Every
time I needed to go out, I just put on a double–faced wool coat. Once indoors, I’d remove the coat as usual.
While inspecting his measurements, I had completely neglected everything else.
But his reminder hit me like a freight train–how much had he seen down my shirt whenever I leaned forward?
My tongue was tied. I didn’t know what to say!
“I’m really sorry! 1-1 didn’t mean to… look,” he stammered, clearly more embarrassed by my stunned reaction. “I wanted to tell you just now, but I thought… maybe you’d be too embarrassed, so it wasn’t a good time. But if I said nothing, what if… What if someone else took advantage of that?”
I felt my cheeks burn. What did he mean? That he was okay with seeing a little peek but didn’t want anyone else to? Oh!
Wait, snap out of it, Taylor! This wasn’t the point! Right now, I should respond! What if he thought I did it on purpose?!
7/2
#25 BONUS
Chapter 173
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down despite the embarrassment. “I–I didn’t notice I was like that. Please don’t tell me you thought I did this on purpose…”
“No, no! I didn’t think that at all! It’s a woman’s choice to dress however she likes. That’s something I respect. It’s just… You’re, well, a woman with quite the… assets,
“I think it’s worth being cautious since some men aren’t so good at controlling themselves. They could turn into beasts if given the right stimulus. You might accidentally put yourself in danger.”
If I heard this from anyone else, I’d accuse him of victim–blaming, of suggesting that women somehow invited inappropriate behavior.
But from Soren? I found it to be pretty reasonable.
“You’re not wrong,” I said, blushing harder.
I could feel my cheeks trembling. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
