Claudia sensed that the tie in her hand probably wasn't the best choice. Returning it to the shelf, she selected another one, and strode over to the suit to see how they matched.

Opting to just put the tie on the suit, she took a couple of steps back to view the full effect.

As she retreated, she bumped into a man's solid chest.

Startled, Claudia spun around, exclaiming, "Mr. Dreskin, I'm sorry!" She glanced down at the foot she had stepped on, apologizing, “I didn't see you there."

Lifting her eyes once more, she looked at Bennett's face with concern, asking, "Does it hurt?"

“No.”

Casting her a glance, Bennett removed his hand from her shoulder, questioning, "Are you selecting ties?"

Feeling self-conscious, Claudia admitted, "My taste might not be that good."

“Who said so?"

Caught off guard, she questioned, “What?”

“Who told you that your aesthetic judgment might not be good?"

Claudia Lightly touched her nose, responding, "I just think so." Bennett studied her, stating, "I believe you have fine taste."

His words made Claudia’s heart swell with pride. Her eyes sparkled as she asked, "Really?"

“Yes," he affirmed, gazing into her eyes.

“Don't you consider me attractive?"

Blushing, Claudia hesitated for a moment before admitting, "Yes."

“See? You do have good taste!" With a gentle smile, Bennett inquired, “So, have you finished choosing?"

“Almost done. I still need to find a tie."

In reality, Bennett's ties were mostly of the same style, making them easy to match. Whichever she chose would work.

But she had a plan. She wanted to choose something special for him. "Okay," he answered, standing silently and watching her continue her selection.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Claudia quickly made a choice.

She retrieved the suitcase from beneath the wardrobe, carefully folding the clothes and placing them inside.

“ALL set, Mr. Dreskin!" Claudia announced, zipping up the suitcase, and turning to face him.

Bennett gazed down at the woman before him, her twinkling eyes smiling, as if seeking approval.