Chapter Twenty-Nine - Joshua #2
“I also told the truth when I said I was coming back on Monday.” I throw her a wink and she laughs, relaxing in her seat for the first time since getting in the car.
We pull into the parking lot, and her jaw drops when she surveys our surroundings. “A mall? What are we doing here?”
“I figured it’s time you pick out your own wardrobe.”
“Are you serious?”
My answer is to climb out of the driver’s seat and round the car to open her door. My hand hovers, and she takes it without a second glance.
Ryder’s car pulls up beside us, and the four men climb out, immediately dispersing to blend in with the crowd. I watch Elise, but her eyes wander to every person as she inspects them, fascinated by the normality after so long.
I gently squeeze her hand. “Lead the way, Princess.”
“What’s my budget?” Of course, she’d ask something like that.
“There isn’t one.”
“No budget?”
“None.”
When her lighthearted smile turns mischievous, I know I’ve made a mistake.
She pulls me alongside her, and we walk into the building. With a glance around, she spots a directory and studies it. She must find whatever it is she’s looking for because before I know it, we’re off again.
When we approach the storefront, I know exactly what her plan is. “Are you sure about this?”
She nods. “No point in hiding anymore.”
With that, she walks to the front counter of the hair salon, and I trail behind her.
“I’d like a cut and color,” Elise informs the receptionist.
The pale girl looks to be in her early thirties with a platinum blonde pixie cut and mousy features. Her face screws up into a bitter smile. “We’re all booked for the day. Besides, we schedule weeks in advance for something that time-consuming.”
I take a step forward, and Elise must sense my presence because her hand reaches back to halt my approach.
“I’ll give every employee in your salon a five-hundred-dollar tip in addition to the fee if you can get me in right now.”
Next time, I’m giving her a budget.
The woman’s eyes double in size, and she wordlessly opens and closes her mouth like a fish out of water. When her disbelieving gaze trails to mine, I give a tight nod, confirming the validity of Elise’s offer.
“Um, let me see what I can do for you,” she squeaks and nearly jogs to the back.
“Five hundred dollars each? Are you insane?”
“I thought I didn’t have a budget,” she says with an innocent head tilt.
“My mistake.”
The receptionist is back within minutes. “Right this way, ma’am. Your boyfriend can come back with you if you’d like.”
Elise hesitates, and it wouldn’t take a mind-reader to know she was about to correct the woman on our titles. I have no interest in being Elise’s boyfriend, but I suppose for the sake of convenience, it’s the best term. Elise must agree because she doesn’t comment.
“That’s okay, he can wait—”
“I’d love to. Thank you,” I interject, unwilling to leave Elise’s side.
She gives me her are you serious look, but I don’t dignify it with a response.
Two hours later, we’re walking out of the salon with a significant amount of money taken from my bank account and Elise’s new look. I’d been skeptical when she told the stylist what she wanted, but, damn, she’s beautiful.
All traces of blonde are gone, replaced by a dark chestnut color that already makes her look more like her family.
Her hair, which used to fall to her mid-back, is cut just below her shoulders.
Before we left, the stylist insisted on curling her hair, a look I’ve never seen on Elise, but it suits her.
She’s gorgeous.
The next three hours are spent walking in and out of stores, each time with more and more bags that I make my men carry out to the car.
I’d underestimated Elise’s ability to shop.
She hadn’t struck me as the type who likes to buy clothes, but I suppose after everything she’s endured, retail therapy is the least she deserves.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I glance down to see the message from Ryder.
Ryder: The guys are ready whenever you give the signal. I still don’t think this is a good idea, but we’re all in place.
Ryder made his opinion perfectly clear, but that doesn’t change the fact that I have to do this.
“Which one?” Elise asks, pulling me from my thoughts. She holds up the same pair of shoes in two different colors.
“Does it matter?”
She rolls her eyes. “Of course, it matters. If I wear a white top, the brown will match better, but if I—”
“Just get them both,” I exclaim, and she laughs.
Glad someone’s amused.
We walk around the store, and the next section we stop at is bras and underwear.
“Now, this is something I’m happy to share my opinion on.” I arch a suggestive brow.
Elise brushes her dark locks over her shoulder, though they fall back almost immediately. “I think I can handle this on my own.”
Looking back at my phone, I decide to use this as my chance.
“Actually, I’m stepping outside to make a call,” I say, and dig into my wallet to hand her my card. “Come out whenever you’re done.”
She nods, and I place a gentle kiss on her forehead before turning to go. My chest is tight with nerves, and I hope I’m not about to screw up all the progress we’ve made.
Time to see how Elise’s words fare in the face of opportunity.