Unwrapped By The Duke. Amy Ruttan

either. There was no one but her. She was it and even though she didn’t like it, she had to do her duty and mingle with the social elite in London.

      She hadn’t minded the ride to Knightsbridge. She’d been a bit tired after her long day, and had just not expected the stylist to pounce on her the moment she walked through the doors of the department store.

      She’d even tried to fend her off by telling her she’d just poke around the dresses on her own, but that was a definite faux pas.

      Take a deep breath. It’ll be over soon. All you have to do is pick one.

      “Do you have anything in silver?” she asked. “I like silver.”

      The stylist gasped. “You need color! It’s almost Christmas and this is a big event.”

      “It is?”

      The stylist nodded. “Your father was quite insistent about you picking out something absolutely stunning.”

      “Yes, but the thing is I don’t like to stand out too much.”

      Which was true.

      To avoid her mother’s ire she had always remained quiet and retreated into the background. She didn’t like being the center of attention, because no good came from it. Then Frederick had spotted her in a crowd of interns and had singled her out.

      It had been thrilling, but she hadn’t earned his respect. Only disdain and censure when their relationship had ended. No other surgeon had trusted her.

      There was no way she wanted to stand out at the Gileses’ social event.

      The stylist ignored her and was clucking away through the fabric about chiffon or some other such nonsense. Geri groaned and cursed inwardly and as she looked around the department store she caught sight of Mr. Ashwood across the floor.

      He was with a young woman who was blonde, stunningly beautiful, lean and tall, but not as tall as him. She was clinging to his arm and they were laughing. A flash of jealousy coursed through her.

      She shouldn’t be surprised that Thomas had a beautiful significant other. He was incredibly handsome. Dark, intense and sexy as hell.

      He was a bad boy wrapped up in a respectable package.

      Stop it, Geri!

      He bent down and kissed the woman on the forehead. Geri looked away. She didn’t want Thomas to recognize her.

      “I think I’ve found the perfect dress for you!” the stylist announced as she took Geri’s hand and pulled her toward the change rooms. “You’ll love it.”

      “I’m sure I will.” And hopefully by the time she’d tried on the dress and bought it, Thomas and his girlfriend would be gone.

      * * *

      Her father had paid for the dress and the stylist. So all Geri had to do was wait for it to be wrapped up. It was a lovely dress, but it was also the most expensive piece of clothing she’d ever owned. Usually she bought her clothes from fashionable, chic places that didn’t cost an arm and leg.

      She’d been a bridesmaid once at her friend’s wedding just after medical school and that dress hadn’t cost her what this dress was costing her father.

      If the bridesmaid’s dress hadn’t been so hideous and teal, she would’ve just worn that to the social gathering.

      She smiled secretly to herself. Maybe she should just return this designer gown and dig out that old teal monstrosity of lace and puffed sleeves to wear after all. Except she did really like the dress the stylist had picked out.

      It was festive and Geri did so love Christmas.

      When she walked out into the street she breathed in the fresh, crisp December air. It had just begun to snow softly and the Christmas lights were just starting to come on along Knightsbridge.

      Jensen pulled up in her father’s black town car. He got out and opened the door, but she wasn’t quite ready to go back home to Holland Park just yet. She wanted to take a long leisurely walk and revel in Christmas.

      It was her favorite time of the year, even if her mother wasn’t a big celebrator of Christmas. Geri would spend her Christmases curled up on the couch, watching Christmas specials, and those happy families and stories of hope were the family love she’d secretly craved as a child.

      Now this new life she found herself in felt overwhelming and she just wanted to take a moment and be by herself, soaking in the first real Christmas snow of December.

      She handed Jensen the garment bag and a bag with various other accessories and shoes that went with it. “Can you take this home, Jensen? You can tell my father I’ve bought a dress and shoes. I’m going to go to his social function, but right now I just want to take a walk.”