Chapter 16
Colt took my hand in his as we wound our way through the sea of shops. It wasn’t like any mall I’d ever been to. Each store had names that belonged in Vogue, not on mall signage.
“There it is,” Colt said, leading me toward the massive Saks Fifth Avenue sign.
“Isn’t this a little much? Maybe we could go somewhere a little less…”
I wasn’t even sure how to finish that statement.
He squeezed my hand. “This is just what we need.”
A security guard held the door open for us as we passed.
“Thank you,” I said, but wasn’t sure my voice carried to his ears.
Colt wound through the store, dragging me behind him, until we reached a lounge area with a reception desk. A woman sat behind it, and she brightened the moment she saw Colt and me. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
He chuckled. “Hey, Carly. How are you?”
“You know, same ole, same ole. What sort of trouble are we getting into today?”
Jealousy pricked at me. It wasn’t that she was being particularly flirtatious, but there was a comfortable intimacy between her and Colt that told me they were friends. The kind of friendship I’d been robbed of all these years.
He tugged me forward. “This is Leighton. She’ll need an entire new wardrobe. Everything to outfit her for Prep life—loungewear, eveningwear, the works.”
The woman turned to me, and I braced for judgment. Instead, I found kindness in her eyes. “Nice to meet you, Leighton. I’m Carly. We are going to have so much fun today.”
I sent Colt a stern look. “You promised we wouldn’t go overboard. This is overboard.”
“Trust me, LeeLee. You’ll need all of this.”
“He’s right,” Carly said. “You’ll be swimming with sharks at Castle Prep. You’ll need all the protection you can get.”
I swallowed, trying to clear the dryness in my throat. “Maybe I should go to public school,” I mumbled. I’d fit in way better there.
Carly laughed. “I like you.”
Colt gave my hand one last squeeze. “I promise we can stop at that cupcake place on the way out.”
I brightened at that. “Then let’s get this over with.”
Colt sent Carly a grin. “Baked goods bribery works every time.”
“Those cupcakes are amazing. It’ll be worth it,” she said. “Come on, Leighton. I’ll go as quickly as possible.”
Carly led me back to an area with only two dressing rooms. There were couches and a bar area with an array of pastries laid out. “Can I get you something to drink or eat while we work?”
I shook my head. “I’m good. Thank you.”
“Okay, we’ll start with your measurements.” She pulled a measuring tape from her pocket. “This way, I can send you more items as the seasons progress, and you won’t have to come in unless you want to.”
A wave of nausea rolled through me. This was too much. The last thing I wanted was to be a drain on Colt.
Concern filled Carly’s face. “Are you okay?”
“It’s too much,” I whispered.
Her expression instantly gentled. “You weren’t raised in their world, were you?”
I shook my head. “I knew Colt growing up, but I never knew he lived like…this.”
“I bet it’s overwhelming. It’s like an entirely different plane of existence.”
I nodded. “I can’t imagine ever being used to it.”
“If it helps, I refill the guys’ wardrobes at least once a quarter. They don’t even blink. It might sound bad, but this is nothing to them, and it’ll make Colt feel good to take care of you. It gives him a sense of purpose.”
I took a deep breath. Maybe I could shift this in my mind. I was giving Colt something he needed. “Okay.”
Carly smiled. “Let’s do this.”
She took a million different measurements, inputting them into an app on her phone. When she wrapped the tape around my chest, she frowned. “We need some new bras. This one doesn’t come close to fitting you.”
I winced. It was the best one I had, but the straps cut into my shoulders, and the cups were definitely tight.
“I’ll get those, and we’ll start with casual wear. That will give me a base to go on.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
She reached out and squeezed my arm. “Us girls need to stick together.”
I followed her out of the dressing rooms to wait with Colt. I didn’t want to give my mind time to turn on me while I waited alone.
Colt’s head came up the second we were back. “Everything okay?”
Carly nodded. “I’m pulling our first set of items, but Leighton can wait with you while I do that.”
Colt grinned and patted the seat next to him. “You need a snack? Shopping always makes me hungry.”
I laughed. “I ate eggs, pancakes, and pastries an hour ago. I think I’m good.”
He shrugged. “Just don’t want you getting hangry on me.”
“I don’t think we’ll be in danger of that for at least another twelve hours.”
“Fair.” The smile slipped from Colt’s face as his head jerked up.
Three guys were making their way toward us. They looked about our age. All three were eerily beautiful, with flawless, pale skin and impeccably styled hair. But their eyes were dark in a way that sent a shiver through me.
Colt was on his feet in a flash, and I got to mine on instinct.
The guy in the front with dark brown hair and a cocky swagger grinned at my friend. “Colt, heard you were here with a female.”
Colt stepped in front of me as the guys got closer. “Damien.”
The guy’s grin only widened. “Protective, are we?” He made an exaggerated show of sniffing the air. As he did so, his eyes widened, and his nostrils flared. “Well, who do we have here? I heard rumors about a little lost one but didn’t imagine she’d smell quite this sweet.”
Colt gave Damien a hard shove. “Back up.”
Damien’s eyes narrowed as the two guys behind him stiffened. “Careful, pup. You don’t want to start something you can’t finish.”
Colt’s hands fisted at his sides. “I think that’s you. You’re already on probation. One more slip and you’re done for good.”
Damien’s mouth curled in a snarl. “It won’t last for long. And the Laurents always pay their debts.”
One of Damien’s friends grabbed his arm. “Your dad’ll be pissed.”
“Listen to Lucien, there. Wouldn’t want Daddy to get upset,” Colt goaded.
Damien snarled, and his second friend stepped in front of him. “Not here.”
Carly bustled over, her arms loaded with clothing. She didn’t hesitate to get between Colt and Damien, a huge smile plastered on her face. “I’m so sorry, gentlemen, but this place is closed to the public. But I’d be happy to make you an appointment for a later time.”
She blinked up at Damien with innocent doe eyes so convincing, you’d truly think she had no idea what she’d walked into. But even in the few minutes I’d known Carly, I knew there was no way she was so clueless.
Damien snarled at her. “We don’t stoop to department stores.”
He said it as if it were a dirty word. Then his gaze cut to me, a smile spreading across his face. “I can’t wait to be properly acquainted.”
Colt surged forward, but I caught the back of his T-shirt, pulling him back the best I could. “Don’t,” I whispered.
Damien laughed, then made a motion for his minions to follow him as he left.
The moment he was out of sight, Colt turned to me. “We need to leave. Now.”