Page 40 of Sweet Nothings

“What do you mean?” He’s lowered his voice again, but this time it’s darker.

“I went to the first store on the list Olivia sent, and the lady who works here says I need an appointment before trying anything on. Plus, she says they can’t get a dress done for me in time for our wedding.”

“What the fuck?” Lennon asks. “Did you give her your name?”

“I didn’t realize I was supposed to.”

Before my parents died and Kellan destroyed our reputation, our family name held meaning and importance like Lennon’s does in this city. But I never liked using it to get what I wanted. Lennon clearly doesn’t take issue with it.

“Tell her you’re Lennon Harding’s fiancée.”

“Lennon,” I sigh. “It’s fine. I can go somewhere else.”

“Laurel. You’re going to be my wife, and you deserve to pick whichever dress you fucking want. It shouldn’t matter which store you go to.” He pauses, his breath blowing through the phone to my ear as if he were here with me. My body heats.

“Is the woman who works there with you now?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Good. Put me on speaker.”

“Lennon.” His name falls on a sigh again.

I’m not even remotely embarrassed by Lennon wanting me to put him on speaker. The butterflies in my stomach and the heat radiating across my body is simply from the shift I sense in his tone. He’s irritated the woman is giving us a difficult time, but at the same time he’s being protective. Like he cares if I’m happy. And knowing that does all sorts of things to my chest and stomach.

“Laurel,” he grits out. “If you don’t put me on speaker right now, I won’t be able to control myself so easily the next time we meet in my conference room. Next time, it’ll be more than just your shoes.”

This time my stomach does a full somersault.

My heart hammers in my chest, and my body may as well burst into flames.

I momentarily consider not following through on putting him on speaker to find out what he means, but I decide against it.

“My fiancé would like to speak with you,” I tell the woman, eyeing the name tag attached to her black pants suit. “Erica.”

Erica crosses her arms over her chest as I pull the phone away from my ear and click the speaker button.

“You’re on speaker, Lennon,” I tell him.

Roe’s hand covers her mouth, and her eyes are spread wide in shock.

“Is this Erica?” Lennon asks.

“Yes, sir.” She eyes me, sending me a narrowed, annoyed gaze. “As I told your fiancée, she will need to find a dress at another store. Our bridal store runs on an appointment only system. You must have one to shop here and place an order for a dress. Besides, your wedding is on such short notice there’s no?—"

“I don’t remember asking you to repeat to me the exact same excuses you told my fiancée,” Lennon cuts in, anger dripping from his voice. “This is Lennon Harding. I believe my assistant Olivia spoke with you earlier telling you that you should be expecting my fiancée in today, did she not?”

“Oh.” Erica’s face is as white as a ghost. She nervously looks down at my phone, reading his name. Her neck bobs as she swallows deeply, realizing the mistake she made. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harding. I wasn’t aware?—"

“No,” he cuts her off. “You weren’t aware. Because if you were, you would be showing my fiancée any dress she requests instead of standing here talking to me, denying my fiancée of the dress she deserves. You would also know that there is no budget. The future Mrs. Harding will get whatever dress she falls in love with,andmy assistant was also informed that we were able to make special arrangements for any alterations that might be needed for the dress to be ready by Saturday. Am I correct, Erica, or were we all misinformed?”

“No, sir. You weren’t misinformed. I should have asked your fiancée her name when she entered the store. Of course, we have special arrangements set in place for you.”

“Good,” he says, satisfied. “I expect you to treat my fiancée and her sister with respect and give them the best dress buying experience.”

“Be assured, our team here will get whatever the future Mrs. Harding requests.”

“Great,” he says. “Oh, and Mrs. Harding?”

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