On Friday, Lee insists I leave on time instead of staying late like I usually do. I’m a little offended, but only until a delivery shows up on my doorstep an hour later. The man brings in a stack of boxes so tall, they obscure his face. I’m surprised when he puts them down and it’s Lee’s driver.

“What are these?” I ask.

“Gifts,” he says, grabbing the dress bag draped over the boxes and holding it up. “Go ahead and open them, I’ll wait.”

I open the boxes and find a luxurious new coat, an expensive pair of shiny nude patent leather heels with signature red soles, and a glittery Jimmy Choo clutch purse with an optional chain strap.

“Try on the shoes and make sure they fit,” Esteban says.

I glance up at him, unable to hide my surprise. “He bought me all this for the ball?”

Esteban nods, then looks pointedly at the shoebox.

I sit back and kick out a leg so I can try on a heel, but I feel a little ridiculous wearing the elegant shoe with my pink and gray Aristocats pajamas. “I should probably just wear this to the ball, huh?”

He smiles mildly at my joke and nods in approval as I angle my foot and admire the shoe. “Seems to fit.”

Once I’ve replaced the shoe in the box, I stand up and turn my attention to the long dress bag Esteban is holding for me. “Is this the dress?” I ask, since that’s the only thing left.

Rather than answer me, he unzips the bag and pulls the dress free. “You’ll have to try it on and make sure it fits,” he says, handing me the bunch of soft red satin.

I can’t tell what it looks like, but I hurry to my bedroom to try it on. It takes a couple of tries before I’m sure I’m wearing it right, but my breath catches once I’m finally standing in front of the full-length mirror gazing at my own reflection.

I’ve never worn such an elegant gown before, and I’ve definitely never worn something so sexy. I’m a little reluctant to walk out and show it to Esteban. I turn and watch the red satin separate and reveal my long leg. I turn even more and peek at my entirely exposed back.

This is much, much sexier than I was prepared for.

The thought excites me a little, though.

If Lee picked out a dress like this for me, he must want to see me in it… right?

Eagerness tamps down the burst of self-consciousness. I lift the bottom of the dress and parade out into the living room in the sexy red satin number. Esteban’s eyebrows rise in surprise the moment he sees me. He stands a little taller, then regards me as if seeing me clearly for the first time.