Chapter 6

Michael strolled into the suite, the sound of laughter echoing from the living room. Anelise and Ollie were engaged in a game that required Ollie to balance his shoe on his head, causing him to erupt in fits of laughter. Michael watched them, a smile tugging at his lips and a warm flutter in his heart.

“Daddy!” Ollie’s excited squeal filled the room as he spotted Michael in the doorway.

“Hey, champ!” Michael scooped him up in a bear hug.

“Ani and me are going to the park!” Ollie giggled as Michael swung him around.

“The park, huh? Sounds like a blast! Can I have a quick chat with Ani before you guys head out?” Michael asked, earning a nod from Ollie.

Anelise rose from the floor, slipping into her shoes, and offered Michael a warm smile. “You’re home early.”

Michael returned her smile. “Yeah, something came up. I need a favor.”

“What’s going on?” She asked, her smile unwavering.

“Well… Would you mind accompanying me to a business dinner tomorrow night?” He asked, stumbling over his words.

Anelise raised an eyebrow. “A business dinner? What about Ollie?”

Michael quickly filled her in on Gwen’s latest antics and how Sasha would be coming over to babysit Ollie.

“Wow, she’s persistent. I’ll give her that!” Anelise chuckled.

“I’m glad you find this amusing!” Michael grumbled. “I ~despise~ women like her!”

Anelise simply shook her head. “I get it. There are guys like that too, always pushing their agenda. If you’re okay with leaving Ollie with Sasha, then I’m in.”

“Oh, Ani, thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me! There’s one more thing. We’re going to one of the top restaurants in London. It’s a pretty fancy place.”

Anelise chewed her lip, a gesture that sent a jolt of desire through Michael. “Well, I don’t really have anything suitable to wear…”

“Buy something nice. I’ll cover it! I’m the one who got us into this situation, so it’s only fair,” he said, handing her a credit card. “I’ll be home for the rest of the day, so I can watch Ollie. Why don’t you take the afternoon off? Please?”

Anelise looked into his pleading eyes and felt an urge to smooth the worry lines on his forehead. “Okay. I’ll go get a dress. But I’ll need shoes too. I didn’t pack anything fancy.”

“Go wild!” He grinned.

Anelise laughed. “Alright. I guess I’m going shopping! You boys going to behave?”

Michael nodded and watched as she gathered her things and headed out the door. He turned to his son. “Well, buddy, your dad’s a real goofball! Now, let’s hit the park!” Ollie bounced on the bed while Michael changed, and then they were off.

The concierge directed Anelise to a store where she could find an appropriate dress and shoes. As she rode in the taxi, she pulled out her phone and dialed Leslie.

“Hey, girl!” Leslie’s excited voice rang out.

“Hey, I’ve got a problem…”

“What?” Leslie’s voice turned serious. “Mom’s here, I’m putting you on speaker. She can help!”

Anelise relayed the events of the previous day and her recent conversation with Michael.

“Do you want my opinion?” Naomi’s sweet voice filled the line.

“Yes! I don’t know what to do!” Anelise groaned.

“Well, you’re going to get a dress and shoes, and you’re going to make that nasty woman regret ever doubting that you and Michael are a couple,” Naomi declared.

“But we’re not. How do I do that?” Ani asked.

“From what Lulu has told me, the man is incredibly attractive, and you’re attracted to him, right?”

“Yes…”

“Then, just use that attraction and go from there.”

“You know I’m terrible at flirting!” Ani protested.

“Just be yourself, Ani. That’s all you need to do. Maybe smile at him, touch his hand, let him open doors for you, like a real date.” Naomi suggested.

“But I haven’t been on many dates!” She whined.

“Ani, stop. You can do this!” Leslie reassured her. “Now, when you’ve picked out a few dresses you like, let’s do a video call, and we’ll help you choose the best one.”

Anelise agreed and ended the call. She arrived at Harrod’s, determined to find a cocktail dress. She picked out a few options and a salesperson led her to a dressing room. She dialed the women back.

They discussed her choices, but none of them seemed quite right for the occasion. As Anelise returned the dresses, she showed them the dress racks and nearly dropped the phone when Naomi shouted.

“There! The dark eggplant-colored one! Try that on!” she insisted.

“Are you sure, Naomi?” Ani asked as she found one in her size.

“Who’s been on Nashville’s best-dressed list for the last fifteen years?” she asked, causing both girls to giggle.

Anelise took the dress into the dressing room, quickly slipped it on, and showed them in the mirror. They were silent for a moment. Then Naomi spoke, “You look stunning, Ani!”

“Do you think so?” Ani asked, her eyes reflecting uncertainty.

The boat neck dress dipped just low enough to reveal her cleavage and was fitted to her waist, accentuating it, while the sheath style skirt fell to mid-calf. She turned to check if it made her butt look big.

Addressing her concern, Naomi gushed, “Not at all! You look perfectly proportioned, sweetheart! And that color really suits you! The deep purple really brings out your hair and eyes.”

“You look absolutely ~gorgeous~, Ani!” Leslie gushed. “Get some killer black heels and some fancy underwear, and you’re all set!”

Annelise was doubtful, and it was clear as day. “Ani, believe me when I say this. That woman won’t hesitate to believe you and Michael are an item when she sees you in this dress!” Leslie insisted, with Naomi nodding in agreement.

Finally, Annelise gave in and asked the salesperson to set the dress aside while she looked for shoes. She promised to send them a picture once she was all dolled up and then hung up.

She found a stunning pair of heels that not only made her legs look irresistible but were also versatile enough to wear back home. She paid for them with Michael’s card. She also picked up some sultry black lace underwear and a few other dresses that she couldn’t resist.

Several hours later, she returned to the hotel to find Michael and Ollie snoozing on the couch. She hadn’t managed to snap a picture of Michael for Leslie, so she discreetly took a few and sent them to her best friend.

The response was immediate, “Ok, the ‘Matt Douglas Scale’ is totally shattered! Hello Michael Whitlock! Even Mom is drooling!”

Annelise replied with a smirk, “I know! The struggle is real here!”

“I bet when he sees you in that dress, he’ll be ready to pop your cherry!”

“Haha, I doubt it! But thanks for your help!”

“Always for you! Love you!”

“Love you too!”

Annelise stashed the dresses away and headed to the kitchen to whip up some spaghetti for dinner. She was deep in her own thoughts until she heard, “Did you buy out the entire store?”

She turned to see Michael leaning against the door frame, a smirk on his face.

She flashed him a smile, pulled out Michael’s card from her purse and said, “Not quite. But I did get a dress and some heels, so thank you.”

“Ani, I’m really sorry for pulling you into this. I didn’t think she’d call my bluff.”

“It’s okay, Michael, really. We’ll have a blast tomorrow night. Hopefully, I won’t embarrass you too much at that fancy restaurant with all of London’s elite,” she responded.

“I don’t think there’s anything you could do to embarrass me, Ani. Honestly,” he said with sincerity.

She nodded, blushing, and returned to her cooking. “Maybe you could take Ollie swimming after dinner? That usually helps tire him out.”

He swallowed and nodded. “Sure. Sounds like a plan.”

Michael was hoping he wouldn’t gawk if she looked as good in a swimsuit as he had imagined. But he was wrong. She looked even better as she swam around, playing with his son.

He had to be careful not to get too close to her, so she wouldn’t notice the massive hard-on he had the entire time they were in the water. He was grateful that there was no one else around who could have seen this and called the cops.

As he lay in bed that night, he thought about how aroused he had been and jerked off to the memory of her, unsure of what to do next.