She wandered through the clothing department, seeing what was new for summer this year. Mary Beth chose a few items and headed for the dressing room, closing the door and stripping down to her underwear.

White, plain, boring underwear. The same brand and style she’d always worn because . . . well, just because. She’d breezed through the Intimates section on her way in without pausing to look at the bras and panties on beribboned hangers. Maybe she should get dressed again and go back. She could spend Bobby Joe’s money on black lace and scarlet satin.

She decided against it, considering he never got lower than the second button from her neck unless she threw herself at him. The few times she’d been brave enough to suggest going further, he’d been skittish. Truth told, she hadn’t known whether to feel insulted or relieved.

But she had promised herself to him. Twice. She didn’t have to hide the diamond rings he’d given her. Without her willing it, her fingers brushed the chain around her neck and slid down to the ruby. The overhead light made the gold-set pendant glow red. Her body heat had made it warm to the touch after being nestled between her breasts for so many hours. Mary Beth looked more closely at her reflection. The pendant had marked her skin with a tiny, strawberry-shaped impression, as if Parr Weston had secretly branded her as his own.

After today, she told herself, she would never wear it again. Parr would never know. But she didn’t unclasp the fine chain.

Her thoughts raced as she looked at herself, the clothes still on hangers forgotten for the moment. What if Parr ever saw her like this, her nearly nude body captured by his ardent gaze? She already had the feeling he undressed her with his eyes every time they met. And strange to say, she didn’t mind. In fact, she craved it, with bad-girl intensity. Just hearing his voice during that brief call had sparked her imagination. Being angry with him only made the flame leap higher.

She collapsed on the small bench provided in the dressing room, giving in to a sensual fantasy of him caressing her elsewhere, anywhere with a door that locked, slipping off her bra straps one by one, taking his time about unhooking the front closure, pleased beyond measure to see his gift to her worn over her heart. Kissing her lips while he fondled her bared breasts, then bending to nip at her arched neck, moving lower to kiss the swelling flesh his large hands cupped so firmly, teasing her peaked, throbbing nipples with expert fingers until he lifted her breasts to his mouth and suckled each in turn. The imagined pleasure was so intense she bit back a moan.