Page 75 of In Good Company

“Cal, I said no,” Lucy mutters. She looks over at the attendant, Samantha, and gives her a tight smile. “Do you maybe have anything that doesn’t cost as much as a brand-new car?”

Samantha lifts an eyebrow and smiles at Lucy. “If a man is willing to buy you a purse, even with this price tag, you shouldn’t tell him no.”

I laugh at Samantha’s words. Immediately, I try to cover it up with a cough when I see the dirty look that Lucy tosses my way. I haven’t had her look at me like that in a very long time. It’s as cute as ever.

“Ugh,” Lucy grumbles, twisting her hands in front of her. “You can’t buy me a purse that costs twenty thousand dollars.”

“It’s under twenty thousand,” I counter, fighting the smile threatening to take over my lips. “And yes, I can. It’s the purse you like and the purse you’re going to get.”

We’ve been shopping for about an hour. Samantha’s shown us multiple beautiful handbags, but I could tell that the one sitting on the table in front of us was Lucy’s favorite. She gasped when Samantha brought it out. The moment I saw her eyes go wide and her lips part in awe, I knew I had to get the bag for her. She looked at the purse like it was a prized possession. I want to buy it for her.

I just need her to agree to it.

“Cal, it’sbarelyunder twenty thousand. You can’t buy it for me. What if I ruin it? My job is messy. I’m messy. It’s not practical for me to have a purse worth this much.”

“You can always get it professionally cleaned. Just let yourboyfriend buy you the purse,” Samantha adds at the last minute.

Lucy lets out a strangled noise as she looks at me wide-eyed. “Oh, he’s not my boyf?—”

“Yeah, Lucy, just let me buy it for you,” I cut her off with a smug grin. Being called her boyfriend made satisfaction wash over me. I realize Ilikethe sound of it.

Lucy adjusts her position on the couch, crossing one leg over the other. “This isn’t fair. It’s two against one.”

I lift my shoulder in a casual shrug. “I guess you should just let me buy it, then.”

Lucy stares at me through narrowed eyelids. “What if that one isn’t my favorite?” She pulls her eyes from mine and points across the room, where a tiny purse sits by itself on a white shelf. “That one’s my favorite.” She pushes her shoulders back and sits up straighter, clearly proud of herself for lying and saying that her favorite bag is the one that’s a fraction of the price of the one I know she likes best.

I lick my lips as I form an idea. My eyes track over the private room as I remember the other items Lucy had her eye on while shopping. A wide smile spreads over my lips as my attention returns to Samantha.

“We will take the large bag, the small one my girlfriend just pointed out, and…” I point to a tan-colored crochet bag hanging across the room. It looks perfect for Lucy’s farmer’s market hauls. “We’ll also take that one as well.”

Lucy hits my thigh with the back of my hand. “No, we won’t,” she hurriedly gets out.

Samantha doesn’t listen to her. She places the bag I know is Lucy’s actual favorite back in its cloth dust bag and picks it up off the table.

“Wait,” Lucy calls after her, trying to get Samantha’s attention.

Instead, I place my hand on Lucy’s thigh and squeeze. “Baby, look at me.”

Lucy focuses on Samantha, who’s already made it across the room. “No, I need her to stop before she rings everything up and it’s too late. You’re spending way too much money on me.”

“Look at me,” I repeat, gently grabbing her chin and coaxing her to face me.

Lucy listens, her beautiful brown eyes connecting with mine.

Before she can protest me buying her things again, I clear my throat. “I know you’re not used to it, but I want to change that. You deserve to be spoiled, Lucy Rae. Will you do me a favor and let me be the one to do it?” My voice cracks a little at the end. I let it. I need her to know how badly I want to be the man to spoil her for as long as she’ll let me.

Her eyes soften as she leans deeper into my touch. I resist the urge to lean in and press a kiss to the freckles at the tip of her nose.

“Well, when you put it like that, how can I say no to you?” she asks, her voice soft.

I smile before leaning in and pressing a kiss to her lips. “Spoiling you is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do, so you don’t.”

“You’re spoiling me too much.”

I shake my head, kissing her again because I feel like it. My words are said against her lips. “There’s no such thing, Lucy baby.”

FORTY-ONE

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