From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 28

Yolanda rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated. “It’s just your back, Eleanor. That’s nothing. With a body like yours, you should be wearing dresses that actually show it off.”

She waved over a sales clerk, handed her a few dresses, and practically pushed Eleanor toward the fitting room. “Go on, give it a try.”

Yolanda picked out a few more dresses for herself and ducked into the next changing room.

Eleanor hesitated, holding the dress against her. She’d always been careful with her clothes, sticking to safe choices. Her mom had never liked anything too revealing, and that attitude had rubbed off on her over the years.

She closed the curtain and slipped into the dress. When she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. The thin straps highlighted her delicate collarbones, and the big bow at the small of her back sparkled with tiny rhinestones, catching the light every time she moved. The dress hugged her waist, making her look even slimmer, and the smooth sweep of her shoulder blades looked almost ethereal.

For a second, she just stared, not quite believing the woman in the reflection was really her.

“Yolanda, are you finished yet?” Eleanor called, pulling the curtain open just a little.

“Not yet, I’m fighting with this zipper. Look around and see if anything else catches your eye.”

The sales associate spotted her right away and hurried over, beaming. “Miss, that gown is stunning on you. Your skin is glowing. Honestly, you look amazing.”

She added in a lower voice, “Ms. Stansel always knows how to pick them. That dress was made for you.”

Before Eleanor could reply, the associate’s attention shifted to the entrance. She brightened and quickly hurried off to greet new customers.

Jessie and Peter had just walked in, Peter carrying Olga, who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else.

“Ms. Goff, you arrived at the perfect time. We just got a new shipment. Would you like to see the new styles?”

Jessie barely glanced at the sales associate. Her eyes were locked on Eleanor in the blue gown. That much bare skin almost seemed to sting her eyes.

When did Eleanor start looking so good?

Peter noticed her too. For a split second, something flickered in his usually calm gaze. When he saw Eleanor’s exposed back, his eyes darkened.

Even Olga stared, momentarily speechless.

“Mommy…”

Eleanor turned away, heading for another part of the store, but Jessie’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

Peter hesitated. “It just isn’t appropriate.”

He couldn’t stand how revealing it was. He’d noticed a man in the lounge area staring at Eleanor, and it made him bristle with annoyance.

Olga wriggled out of Peter’s arms and ran over to Eleanor, her little legs moving as fast as they could.

“Mommy, take off Auntie Jessie’s dress! It doesn’t look good on you at all. My Auntie Jessie would look so much better in it!”

Despite her size, Olga was surprisingly strong. She grabbed at the dress and nearly yanked it off.

Just then, a soft scent of black tea drifted by, and a man’s jacket settled over Eleanor’s shoulders.

She turned, startled, her eyes going wide.

It was Max.

He had a faint smile on his lips, but his voice was cool and flat. “Little one, didn’t anyone ever teach you that what you just did was really rude?”