Protecting Sunshine

9. Torturing Tim

Wes shook his head. "This is a bad idea."

"It's a great idea," Angela disagreed with a smile.

"If Lucy is seen, then it'll effect her mother, too," he tried to explain.

"Even better! My mom is the one whose forcing me to see him everyday," Lucy countered.

"We're here," Aaron announced as he parked the car in front of the mall.

"Thanks, Aaron," Lucy smiled and started walking quickly with Talia in tow. She did not wait for Tim to arrive in his follow car. Just because Tim was now officially part of her detail, Lucy still could make certain rules including never riding in a car with him again, so he drove alone following wherever she went.

Angela linked arms with Lucy as they strutted inside the mall while Wes apprehensively stayed two paces behind them. Aaron walked in front while Talia and Tim were behind the group. That was another rule Lucy made- Tim could never in front, because she did not want to have to see him.

They stopped in front of the tiniest shop in the entire mall. Wes blushed and said, "I am so not sticking around for this. I'm gonna be literally anywhere else," and he practically jogged away.

"It's kind of a small store. We can't all fit," Angela stated the obvious.

"Just one agent inside with us should be fine," Lucy agreed.

"Go ahead, Agent Bradford," Talia volunteered him with a raised eyebrow.

"But, you're a woman. Surely Lucy and Angela would prefer if YOU escorted them inside," Tim replied bashfully.

"Normally, I would agree, but since you're the only one here whose seen me naked, it's not a big deal," Lucy faced him to declare with a challenging tone.

He set his jaw but did not object. She was angry with him, and rightfully so. Since they left Air Force 1 and returned to California, Lucy had barely spoken to Tim in a week other than to state her rules to keep him at arm's length as best as she could. He hated their new reality, but he was aware he DOES deserve some grief for being so dishonest. However, forcing him to watch Lucy try on lingerie in a tiny little boutique is cruel and unusual punishment. Unfortunately, even Talia and Aaron were on Lucy's side, so Tim had no choice but to follow her into the small shop.

Lucy is not that much of a fan of lingerie, and under any other circumstances, she probably would not purchase any more than the PILE that Angela bought on her behalf a little over a week ago, but if this would torture Tim, Lucy was prepared to buy out the entire store.

"Oh, this is sexy!" Angela mused and held up something that should not be considered lingerie, considering it was basically a few strings and nothing more. "Try it on!"

With a nod, Lucy agreed and continued milling about the store's selections. She did not pick out anything and only agreed to wear whatever Angela had chosen. Now, it was time for the real torture to begin.

"Take a seat with me, Timothy," Angela directed and dragged him into the large couch in front of the changing rooms.

"I should really be standing to react to any threats," he responded feebly.

"Sit, Agent Bradford," Lucy ordered and went into the little changing booth behind the black velvet curtain. She had not called him by his first name since they broke up if only to remind herself who he really is.

The sales associate wanted to be present for the fashion show, but Angela shooed the eager woman away to the back of the shop for some privacy.

Lucy gritted her teeth and put on a grey lacy set. She liked how confident she felt when she looked at herself in the mirror, but she hated to admit that she what she liked even more was the way Tim's eyes widened at the sight. Even when trying to be stoic, he could not resist reacting momentarily, which made Lucy feel victorious in selecting this particular form of torture for her ex boyfriend.