Page 72 of Off Limits Mogul

Arianne’s face drops.

“If it’s too much to ask––”

She lifts a hand. “You want me to spend the day with Keira Weatherly? From Lucky Break?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it.”

I tell Arianne about Keira losing her luggage and Saturday’sshopping trip. I omit the part about how much it was a torturous experience for me.

“She got a few pieces, but there’s so much more she needs. I’m not the best shopping companion. Keira’s mom is dead?—”

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Arianne says. “In interviews, she’s never talked about her mother.”

“It’s a sore subject,” I say.

“Got it.”

“I’m the only one she has in LA. Her best friend Chelle?—”

“The paparazzi can be such vultures,” she says.

“They’re not all assholes, but the ones who were after Chelle and Henley for a scoop are nasty parasites.”

“I agree.”

“Going back to what I was saying, I’m sure Keira will have a lot more fun if she goes shopping with a woman to buy whatever else she needs.”

“I would be honored,” Arianne says. “Can my best friend Phoebe Pedersen tag along?”

“Why not? It would be great for Keira to hang out with new friends.”

“I know what it’s like to land in a new city and not know a soul. It happened to me when I moved to Silicon Valley, again when I moved to London, and more recently, when I landed in Los Angeles. In terms of shopping, I had to start a wardrobe from scratch because my London-friendly clothing was a liability under this heat. I’m the perfect candidate for the job. Phoebe referred me to the best personal shopper in the city. She’s great.” She waves a finger down the length of her body. “Case in point.”

“So, Keira is in good hands,” I say.

“Yes, she is.”

“I can’t thank you enough, Arianne.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Wait until Phoebe and I are done with her.”

“I look forward to it.” I smile wide. “I’ll get Keira a credit card under my account so I’m not a bottleneck during your shopping excursion.”

“Lucky girl,” Arianne says.

“I promised her brother I’d take care of her.”

“And it seems you’re doing a damn good job of it,” she says. “So many shops… so little time… so much money to spend…” She grins from ear to ear. “Is there a limit to your generosity?”

“Within reason,” I say.

“That’s subjective, Mr. Hartford. I suspect your bank balance is different from mine.”

I laugh. “Fair enough. I’ll let Keira know she needs to call me when she passes the ten-thousand-dollar mark.”

“That’s not generosity. That’s every girl’s wet dream come true.”

My eyebrows hit my forehead.