Annika stopped beside a palm tree on the sidewalk and surveyed the place. The big green leaves at the top of the tall tree swayed in the slight, pleasant breeze and cast shadows on the clean concrete beneath her feet.
Gosh, they sure were a long way from the back alleys she was used to, it seemed.
“Uh, I’m not sure they’ll let me in there.”
“Why not?”
Embarrassment set in. But she managed to answer. “Homeless girls aren’t exactly welcome in fancy stores like this.”
Matteo took her hand in his. “I’m sorry if people were unkind to you. No one deserves that. But honey, you aren’t homeless now. And if anyone is ever mean to you again, well… they’ll have me to answer to.”
Annika turned her head to look at him. He looked at her. His eyes held no insincerity. Only affection.
And… love?
Could it be? They barely knew one another.
She was feeling something she’d never experienced before. It couldn’t be named. Not yet. But her gut told her this was big.
“Want to shop?” he asked.
“Yes!” she said.
He held the door open for her. On her way in, she stopped, cast a glance over her shoulder, and took another look at the awaiting limo parked at the curb.
How was this her life?
The trunk of the limousine was full of boxes and bags by the time it pulled into the parking lot of the final store.
“We’ll be out soon,” Matteo told the driver.
“Of course, sir. Take your time. Would you like me to get the door?”
“No. But thanks, Rick. I’ll grab it.”
They had got to know the driver a bit during their excursion. He was a nice guy and was really good at handling the oversized car. Annika admired his skill. She didn’t think she could manage such a long vehicle.
Stepping out of the backseat, she looked around the store and then the parking lot.
She didn’t recognize it.
“This must be a super fancy store! It’s behind a gate,” she noted, looking at the black iron fence lining the property.
But the store itself didn’t look very opulent. In fact, it was kind of plain and nondescript.
They’d been to some ritzy places already. Annika had enjoyed every moment of it. But she’d felt out of place just about everywhere they’d gone.
Was this going to be more of the same?
“It’s not fancy at all,” Matteo replied. “It’s just… unique. Come on. I’ll show you.”
Annika expected there to be a man standing at the store’s entrance. They’d encountered that several times already today. Sort of a store bouncer. Or whatever they were called. Annika assumed they were stationed there to keep poor girls like her out. She was shocked they didn’t want to check tax statements to make sure she or Matteo made enough to even shop in those places.
But this door was unguarded. There was, however a small electronic card reader attached to the wall. Matteo held something up to it. Annika heard a beep and then a click.
He held the door open for her. “After you.” His grin was wide. “Just wait until you see what’s inside. You’re going to love it.”
Chapter Sixteen
