Page 75 of Charming Deception

“No,” I say weakly, “not from Cole.”

“Oh, shit.” Her eyes widen. “The beautiful billionaire strikes again. Now he’s giving you Gucci?”

I go sit on the bed. My legs feel weak. I’m getting a sick adrenaline rush off all his attention.

Nicole goes to check out the suitcase that’s clearly worth more than everything I brought with me to the city. She turns over the stylish luggage tag. “There’s a note here.” She reads it out loud: “In case you want to come back.”

I squeeze out an uncomfortable noise.

“Well, aren’t you gonna open it? What if there’s stuff inside?”

“I’m pretty sure there is.”

“Want me to open it?”

“Sure.” I scan the letter again, not really seeing it. Certain words just keep floating around my brain.

Romeo returned to work…

I’m getting his wife appropriate care for her vision loss.

My single-minded pursuit of you…

“Oh, it’s heavy!” Nicole spreads the suitcase open on the floor, delighted.

It’s packed.

She carefully turns over another tag that’s been attached to the inside and reads another note: “In case you don’t come back.” Her eyes meet mine, her pupils blown wide. The Wanty cat is back. “Oh, baby. I’m swooning inside.”

“Thank you for containing yourself,” I say dryly.

“I’m trying.”

I watch as she pores over the items in the suitcase.

“It’s all things you might need, you know, for starting your new life! There’s a set of cutlery and plates and linen napkins and luxury soap and toiletries and… oh! Seed starter packs for herbs and flowers, and some little pots to plant them in! There’s a gift card here for Gardenworks. And a cute little pack of bungee cords!”

She picks it up. Mini ones in bright colors.

“There’s a note on it. It says… You have to be prepared for anything.”

I swallow. That was exactly what I said to him when we first met, in the street, when I pulled out my bungee cords.

“And there’s a little toolbox…” She lifts it out. “This is so cute! And it’s so… you.”

“It is,” I say faintly.

“How does he know you so well?” Nicole marvels. “This is incredibly thoughtful.”

I clear my throat, trying to find words. “Or incredibly creepy, considering he’s been spying on me.”

“Spying?”

“The guy who brought this, Rurik, is one of his security guys. I told you, they’ve been following me around.”

I don’t want to acknowledge that Jameson could’ve learned so much about me simply by paying attention.

And, you know, being interested.

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