“What’s that?” she asked, throwing the covers back and hopping out of bed.
“The Little we were helping last night—her name is Carrie—she’s safe now, honey. Because of you.”
“You mean I really helped her?”
“That’s right. We were able to find lots of crazy stuff in the club’s financials. But more than that, on the security feed, we saw when the club owner was trying to get rough with Carrie and some of the other girls that worked for him. Thankfully, we got there in time, before anyone was hurt. But that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for your skills. You’re a hero, babygirl.”
Annika tried to wrap her mind around it. She’d helped save someone? The thought made her smile.
She knew what it was like to feel alone and desperate. To be terrified. The fact that she was able to help another Little had a satisfied warmth spreading through her core.
“With that case wrapped up so easily,” Matteo said, “I’m free today. How about we go out? I have some things I’d like to do with you.”
Annika gasped.
She had some things she’d like for him to dowithher—andtoher. But she was way too bashful to suggest them.
So, she simply said, “I’m free. Obviously. We can do whatever you want.”
She almost added, “And I do meanwhatever,” but once again her shyness kept that little innuendo in.
“Good. You can get ready and then we’ll go. Iris put some of her clothes in the bathroom.”
“But I feel bad borrowing her stuff so much.”
Matteo shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. She’s happy to loan them. But after today, you won’t have to worry about it any longer.”
She wondered what he meant by that but had her answer a few seconds later when he spoke again.
“Because I’m taking you shopping, little girl. And I intend to spoil you rotten.”
Annika was in awe when she stepped out of the mansion and saw the long, sleek, black limousine waiting for her.
“What the heck?” she asked as her eyes grew wide.
“I figured you didn’t want to go shopping in that big van of ours,” Matteo told her. “So, I called up Harrison and asked if he could send a car over. He was happy to oblige.”
It took Annika a moment to form her words again. “You mean… I get to ride in this thing?”
“You bet,” Matteo replied. “Come on.”
He took her by the hand and led her to the back door where the driver stood waiting.
“Good morning.” The driver opened the door while smiling pleasantly.
Annika couldn’t believe this was her life. Never in a million years would she have thought she’d experience something like this. A squeal revealed just how excited she was.
Once they were in, Matteo thanked the driver as he shut the door. A moment later, the driver was behind the wheel, looking back through the open window that separated the front compartment from the long passenger section.
“Where to, Sir?”
“Melrose and La Cienga,” Matteo replied. “There’s a couple of stores I want to take this cutie to.”
“Coming right up.”
With that, the window slid closed, the car smoothly moved forward, and Annika and Matteo were off on their adventure.
The first store they went to on Melrose was a boutique with a pink and white stucco exterior, gorgeous potted plants out front, and vines growing up the side of the building.
