“Errg…”
Eloquent as always, I was still looking for a response when he put his hand on my back and led me out of The Cookie Jar.I felt eyes on me the whole time but couldn’t bring myself to give even the slightest shit.
Once we were back in the car, he handed me the paper bag.I raised a questioning brow at Vance, who shrugged.“I know how much you love chocolate.”
I peeked inside and saw a chocolate croissant.
Don’t cry.It’s not that weird for someone to be thoughtful.Your friends do it all the time.This is the same thing.Except that you’re half in love with him.Minor difference, nothing else.
“Thank you.It’s one of my favorites.”
It had a gooey chocolatey center.Pure heaven.
“Should we start with Howard Lorton and then move on to Denver City Furniture?”Vance navigated his shiny car—which always looked like it had just been washed—through town.“And if we still don’t have everything we need, we can check out Furniture Row.”
I loved Howard Lorton and had been on their website quite a few times.They had a beautiful maple sleigh bed that I’d looked at.Not that it would fit into my apartment, but a girl could dream and make up numerous Pinterest boards.
“Sounds good.”
I was surprised that he wouldn’t have had all his furniture custom-made.Or gone to a more exclusive place.The confusion must have shown in my voice, because he frowned.“Do you want to go somewhere else?I don’t have a preference.I just thought those places had a good selection.”
“They’re great places.I’m just surprised you would want to shop there.”
He turned onto the highway, the frown still on his face.“Why not?”
I blushed, because now I felt stupid for thinking he would only shop at exclusive furniture stores.“I’m sorry.I’m being ridiculous.All those places sound great.I’ve been looking at their selections online, and I think there are a few things that could work.”
“You’ve been on their websites?Are you looking for new furniture?”
“The day I can afford new furniture is a long way off.But a girl can dream.And I love making up my perfect room without buying anything.It’s great retail therapy without the actual retail.So I’m familiar with what they have.”
I found myself looking forward to not only going furniture shopping but also spending the day with Vance.
Chapter eighteen
“Interesting”wasn’ttherightword to describe our excursion.“Stunning” and “eye-opening” would be better.Vance had no problem spending money.Whenever I stopped in front of a piece of furniture I liked, he bought it.After the third time he’d bought something that I’d admired in passing—nobody needed a lamp that had ten settings—I kept my gaze on the floor.Or only briefly glanced over the selection in front of me.He still bought enough to furnish two houses.Including kids’ furniture for his spare bedrooms.
He must be planning on his sisters’ kids coming to stay.And he went all out.He didn’t just get them beds but a desk and chair, fairy lights, and a couch.
The rooms would look amazing.And he bought the sleigh bed I’d had my eye on.He wanted it as a Cali King, which made sense given his size.I bet he wouldn’t fit in it otherwise.
“How about these sheets?Do you think they would work for the spare room?”
He held up a deep blue set that would look amazing on the light wooden frame he’d purchased.“Absolutely.And the white fitted sheet with the small flowers would be perfect with it.”
He nodded and added them to the overflowing cart he was pushing.
A glance at the time told me we had to get a move on.“I need to be back soon.I have to be at the bar in two hours.”
Since we’d bought most things in the store, not including all the stuff from Howard Lorton, I think it might have been time to call it anyway; there were only so many beds and couches a single man could buy for an empty house.
At least our shopping trip had taken my mind off having to work tonight.Frankie’s wasn’t exactly my favorite place.But since they were the only ones who were hiring, I didn’t have a choice.
Vance drove me home, coming inside the apartment and closing the door.“I’ll wait while you get ready and drive you there.”
“That’s okay, I’ll drive myself.Otherwise, I don’t have my car to get home.”
“I’ll drive you home as well.”
