Page 35 (1/2)

"I assu to buy them?"

"One of every color"

"I have to put e with yellow spots It hurts e and yellow, got it Oh, they have dresses" Her eyes rounded at the possibilities

When they stopped for lunch at a ss of apparel took up the space on the pavement by their feet He insisted they had the best non-Asian sandwiches in California, which Stella found interesting because she hadn’t even known Asian sandwiches were a thing

She expected the sandwiches to be stacked high with deli goodness, but when he brought lunch to their outdoor table, it was plain baguettes with turkey, Swiss, and butter At least he’d bought an almond croissant, too To her surprise, her first bite of the baguette was delicious

"The secret is really good bread and butter All you need is strong basics," he said with a wink, and she got the feeling he was talking about ht afternoon shopper traffic passed by and the sun shone down through the trees, Stella decided she ular Sunday schedule was shot, but she was open to developing a neeekend routine She was adaptable, especially when things involved Michael

Dressed in casual khakis and a white button-down open at the collar and rolled up to his elbows, he looked azine delicious--as usual It occurred to her they’d spent the entirefor her How selfish and self-absorbed of her

"Do you want to look atif any of them appealed to him

He shook his head with a funny set you so?" When his expression went uncoht of the situation by adding, "Since you won’t letlook "Would you really get hini if I wanted it?"

She stared down at the crumbs on her sandrapper and nodded "I can afford it, if that’s what you’re asking I don’t really kno to talk about s I want to spend it on I would love to get you a car Especially if--" She cut herself off before she could say sory

"If what?"

"I’d rather not say I’m pretty sure it’s not appropriate"

He tilted his head to the side, and his expression grew shuttered "I’d like to hear it"

"I was going to say" She took an uncoot you the one you have"

He focused on folding his sandrapper into a neat square "Are you asking if the car was a gift?"

She was pretty sure it was, and it infuriated her "Yes"

"It was, actually"

"From the blonde at the club"

His brorinkled "How do you know that?"

"She’s the client on’t leave you alone" Thehim flashed in her mind, and Stella’s hackles rose Not only that, but he’d had sex with her--probably lass surface of the table as her breathing went fast and bitter

He settled a hand on top of hers, and her heart rate eased "I don’t like getting those kinds of gifts Please don’t, okay?"

"Okay" But she couldn’t help feeling he kept the gift because he liked the woiven it to hi to you? You kept the things they gave you?

She wanted hi her to give hiot your work cut out for you if you’re going to start getting jealous of my past clients, Stella," he said, his eyes level and his voice so was a sad reality they had to accept

Question after question piled on her tongue If he didn’t like it, why did he do it? He was so talented with clothes Why didn’t heit? What did he use his escorting er?

Why couldn’t he be hers for real?

He was hers for now, though He didn’t want the blonde He hadn’t been with the blonde this

As they finished up with lunch, the question from before persisted in the back of her mind

Why couldn’t he be hers for real?