“But my birthday isn’t until tomorrow.”
He winked. “That’s why I’m saving your big gift until then.”
An hour later, Olivia walked out from the guest room. I was sitting on the couch playing with my phone, and her eyes lit up when she saw me. She ran and jumped onto my lap.
“Sutton! We’re going to get manicures and pedicures and have tea and go shopping and—”
Amelia walked out from the bedroom, rubbing her eyes. “You weren’t supposed to tell her any of that, dumb butt.”
Olivia slapped her hands over her mouth while her sister padded to the couch, dragging her feet and shaking her head.
“Good morning, Amelia,” I said.
“Hi.” She plopped down next to me and yawned. Unlike Olivia, who’d bounded into the room, full of energy,Amelia seemed more my speed in the morning. Except she was too young for coffee.
“Uncle Jagger is going to be mad you spoiled the surprise,” she said to her sister.
I smiled. “We don’t have to tell him. But…tell me more. Where are we going?”
The girls filled me in on some of our plans for the day. Apparently, Jagger had made us manicure and pedicure appointments at The Plaza, where we also had a reservation for high tea, followed by going to some stores that neither of them could remember the names of.
“Wow,” I said. “Well, we better start getting ready. Who wants their hair done for the big day?”
Both girls stretched their arms into the air. I laughed. “I brought a bag of goodies. Let’s get you ladies washed up, and then I’ll show you all the hair accessories you have to choose from.”
***
Later that afternoon, I looked at the price tag of the dress I currently had on.
Bergdorf Goodman was definitelynotin my budget.
The personal shopper noticed and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “When Mr. Langston made the appointment, he said to tell you that you’re not to look at any tags.” She smiled. “Today is his treat.”
He’d already spent a few thousand dollars on the girls’ new clothes, which they needed since they hadn’t brought too much, though I would’ve taken them to Old Navy or somewhere more practical. But two grand for a summer dress, just because it had the Fendi logo on it, wasn’t going to happen.
“It looks beautiful on you.”
“It’s not really my style,” I lied and went back into the dressing room.
Amelia yelled from the other side of the wall. “Try on the green one!”
The green silk dress was absolutely beautiful. But when I lifted that tag, my eyes bulged from my head. Forty-eight hundred dollars for this? Was it sewn by royalty?
“I think I’m going to skip it and get dressed.”
A voice I hadn’t expected responded this time. “I’d really like to see it on you.”
I’d already slipped off the other dress. I unlocked the door and stuck my head out. Jagger was leaning casually against the arched dressing-room entryway. “How did you find us?”
“Sam.”
“Oh. Yeah, of course. When did you get back?”
“I came straight here from the airport.” He spoke with the same even-keeled, commanding tone that had done me in from the beginning. “Put the dress on, Sutton.”
Goosebumps prickled my arms, and I found myself nodding and shutting the dressing-room door. What kind of magic powers did this man have? All it took was a few words, and I became desperate to please him? I wasn’t sure, but whatever it was, it had me pulling on a dress I’d had no intention of trying on only a minute ago. And I felt relief when it looked good. I even fluffed my hair a bit before unlocking the door and stepping back out.
“You look so pretty, Sutton!” Olivia jumped up and down.
