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“This is too much,” I said, shaking my head. “Just way too much.”
“Mr. Erickson was very adamant that if you expressed interest in something, I was to ring it up and bag it.”
“But I barely even touched it,” I said. “It’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong. But it’s way, way out of my price range. Like, enormously so. I think. You don’t have prices on anything, so I don’t know exactly, but I am positive it’s out of my range.”
“Dear,” the woman behind the counter said, and in such a way that there was a small amount of pity combined with the eagerness of someone who was standing to make a very large commission. “Julia? Is that right?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Julia. Mr. Erickson is abillionaire. With a ‘B.’ You could buy everything I have for sale in this store and it wouldn’t make a dent in his profit margins for theweek.He was extremely clear that I was to bag anything you showed an interest in, and I was to help you choose at least two dresses, accessories, and anything else you wanted.”
I paused for a moment as the realization set in.
“Which dresses?”
An hour later, I was walking out of the shop feeling like I had robbed a bank. I probably was getting away with more than most bank robbers got. All I could think about was that what was in the three bags I had was worth more than anything I’d ever owned in my life. Part of me thought I could sell it all and make the money to save the pub, but…
I couldn’t.
These were gifts from Hunter, and if I had to, I’d hide them in the back of my closet behind a false wall I’d build myself.
Grinning like a lunatic, I got in the car with Wade and he drove me downtown to a hotel I recognized instantly as one of the bigger chains of the Rusk’s growing empire. Wade helped me out of the car and walked me inside, carrying my bags until a bellhop, complete in the ancient bellhop uniform including the silly little hat, jumped out to take them.
I didn’t even need to tell them my name. They recognized Wade and a concierge guided me immediately to the elevator. When the doors opened, the bellhop was somehow already there, waiting with a smile, and helped me to my room. I patted my pockets, looking for any cash I might have on me, when I suddenly remembered my hidden twenty. I went to grab it when he put his hand out to stop me.
“You don’t need to do that, miss,” he said. “I was given a tip in advance and told not to take one from you. Trust me, it was big enough that I don’t want to screw this up.”
“Are you sure?”
“Miss, I amsure. Enjoy your stay.”
“I will.”
With that, he scurried off, and I closed the door, turning to take in the magnificent room.
It was easily bigger than any hotel room I had ever been in before. With a full bedroom, a kitchenette, and a study off to the side of the sunken living room area, it was more like an apartment. As a matter of fact, it was bigger than any apartment I ever had.
I could get used to this.
I showered quickly, taking care not to get my hair wet, since it would never dry on time, and then proceeded to get dressed. I felt like I was getting ready for prom. Or that when he saw me, Hunter might balk at the clearly expensive jewelry and accessories that had been tossed in the bag because I glanced at them. Not that I was complaining.
Figuring I could probably spend the night here since it was paid for anyway, I left my duffel bag in the bedroom and finished getting ready by the mirror in the bedroom. I had never felt so beautiful in my life. Not for any date or dance, never. I looked in the mirror and didn’t even see myself. It was as if someone had taken a basic model of me and turned it into an animated princess.
Wade responded when he saw me by bowing comically and opening the door for me.
“Wade,” I said, “don’t. Stop.”
“I can’t help it,” he said, grinning. “I have to bow when I see royalty.”
“Wade!”
I ducked into the car and giggled as I made sure I wasn’t ruining any of the silky, sparkling purple dress by sitting on it wrong. I didn’t know how clothes like this worked. Was it so expensive because the quality was so good? Or because it was like gossamer, and if I breathed incorrectly, it would fall apart and I’d look like a very fancy stripper?
The best bet was just to not breathe.
Or move.
Or do anything until I got to the restaurant.
