“Luke, that’s what girls do. We borrow each other’s clothes. It’s no big deal.”
“I want to take you shopping for your birthday.”
“No.” I shake my head emphatically and walk toward the kitchen.
“Why ever not?”
“You do not need to buy me clothes. I can buy three thousand dollar shoes without batting an eye, Luke. I don’t need you to clothe me.”
“I didn’t say you needed me to. I’m your boyfriend for Christ sake. That’s what we do. Let me spoil you.”
“You do spoil me.” I smile as I remember the flowers, the coffee, dinner last night. “You spoil me in all the ways that matter.”
“Nat, I’m very wealthy. I can afford to spend money on you.”
“Ditto.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“You are so fucking stubborn!” He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair and I can’t help but be amused.
“Are you smirking?”
“Kind of. You’re funny when you’re irritated with me.”
He laughs and looks at the ceiling.
“God you’re frustrating.”
“I know. But I love you.”
His eyes soften and he pulls me into his arms. “I love you too.”
I lean up and kiss him sweetly on the lips, then the corner of his mouth.
“I’m serious, baby. Take my credit card, grab Jules and go shopping. Both of you, on me, for your birthday.”
I open my mouth to argue but Jules breezes into the kitchen. “Okay, don’t have to tell me twice. Thanks.” She winks at him and grins.
“Hey! No way. I mean it.”
“Jules, do you have plans tomorrow before dinner at your parents?” Luke is talking to her but looking at me, his jaw set.
I am so going to lose this argument.
“Nope. I happen to have a clear calendar.” She smiles.
“Great. Will you please take my girlfriend shopping? And I think the spa is in order too.”
The spa too? My jaw drops.
“It would be an honor and a pleasure, generous boyfriend-in-law.” Jules laughs at her quip and Luke joins her, and all I can do is look back and forth between them.
“I’m in the Goddamn room, people!”
“I know, baby, I’m just planning a little something for your birthday.” He flashes a wolfish smile and winks and I don’t know whether to smack him or really kiss him.
“I like your boyfriend, Nat.” Jules smiles at me sweetly and I know I’m sunk.
“Fine,” I mutter.
“Your enthusiasm is inspiring.”
Luke’s eyes are shining in humor.
“We’ll go to the spa, but no shopping.” I’m really hoping he’ll accept the compromise, but I can see by the set of his jaw that there’s no use in arguing.
“You will shop. Buy whatever you want. There’s no limit on the card.”
I shake my head at him. “Talk about stubborn.”
He shrugs and kisses me hard, then pulls away abruptly, leaving me off balance.
“Will you come to my place when your sessions are over?”
“Yeah, I’ll text you when I’m done.” I sigh, resigned to my fate tomorrow. I know that Jules will make me follow Luke’s instructions.
Traitor.
“Good. I’ll see you later.” He kisses me again and rests his forehead on mine. “I love you, beautiful.”
And just like that my world is set right again, and in this moment I’d do just about anything he wanted.
“I love you too, bossy man.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Jules, I don’t want to spend his money.” I hear the whine in my voice, but I don’t care.
“Sweetie, he wants to do something nice for you. It’s your birthday.”
We are wandering through Neiman Marcus in downtown Seattle. The crowds are light today given that it’s the middle of the week. The perfectly-coiffed saleswomen are very attentive and over eager to make a mid-week commission.
“I feel like a gold digger.”
Jules laughs as she pulls a blue blouse off a rack, then quickly dismisses it.
“You are no gold digger. Here, try this.”
She hands me a black blouse and we continue wandering.
We’ve already been to the spa this morning. We both had facials, massages, pedicures and manicures, and had our bits and pieces freshly waxed. I have to say, it felt fantastic. “The spa was enough. It was generous and relaxing and perfect.”
“Nat, stop fighting this. Luke is being incredibly generous and wants – wants –us to enjoy ourselves today. I agree that there’s no need to go ape-shit crazy, but humor the man and get a few nice things.
You’ll probably need a few formal dresses if he continues to plan things like the other night, which, by the way, holy shit. Plus, you may have to go to a movie premiere or something sometime, and you have to look the part.”
Holy shit is right.
I’d never considered that. Does he go to the premiers of the movies he works on now?
Hell.
Two hours, and a few thousand dollars later, we leave the store loaded down with bags and boxes. I can’t believe she talked me into all of this.
I’m happy that she also managed to snag a few things for herself. Luke would approve.
I have purchased three new evening dresses
and
the
appropriate
undergarments for them, a few blouses and jeans, two new pairs of shoes –Manolo Blahniks! – and a new Gucci handbag.
I might chicken out and return it all tomorrow.
Jules also scored a new pair of Louboutins and a handbag. She looks beautiful as we leave the store and head to the car. She’s the happiest I’ve seen her since her tryst with her boss; smiling, carefree and relaxed.
Three hours at the spa and two hours of spending someone else’s money at Neiman’s will do that to a girl.
We head back to our house to get ready for the party tonight. I’m really excited to see Jules’ family and to meet her new niece, little Sophie.
Luke will be here in an hour.
“Are you going to wear that pretty new red top with the new jeans?” Jules pulls her new Louis Vuitton handbag out of its brown dust cover and makes quick work of moving all her things into it.