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Hushing Ollie, I walked toward the front door and opened it.
“Imogene Prescott?” the courier asked.
“Yes.”
“Sign here.” He handed me a clipboard and pointed to a line with an X.
I did as he instructed, making sure to memorize the name on his shirt, as well as any distinguishing features in his appearance, like the cleft in his chin and wide set of his dark eyes. I had a feeling it wasn’t necessary, though. He made no attempt to hide his face from the doorbell camera.
Once I returned his clipboard, he handed me the package.
“Have a nice day.” He headed toward his idling truck just as Melanie pulled her car into the driveway.
She didn’t waste a second, making a beeline toward me, her concerned eyes focused on the box in my hands.
“What is that, Imogene?”
“I don’t know.”
She followed me into my townhouse, closing the door as I set the box on the coffee table.
“You don’t think it’s?—”
“It’s not from my mother’s bakery.”
“Not sure that makes much of a difference.” She dropped her bag onto the floor and bent to scratch Ollie’s head.
As well as sneak him a few treats.
“It’s way too heavy for a necklace.” I squinted, noticing a faint logo on the corner. “Looks like it’s from Alchemy, that dress store I went to a few days ago.”
“Is it now?” Her concern slowly waning, she moved to the couch and plopped down, patting the cushion for me to join her. Instead, Ollie jumped up, licking Melanie’s face. “At least I’m gettingsomeaction, even if it’s from a dog.” She rubbed her nose against Ollie’s. “But that’s okay. Because dogs are infinitely better than humans. Aren’t they, Ollie?”
He barked in agreement.
“Happy Birthday, by the way,” she said as I sat on the other side of Ollie.
“Thanks, Mel.”
“Now open this.” She bounced in her seat. “Not going to lie, Gin. I’m kind of excited to see what’s in it.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Me, too.”
I pulled the red ribbon and the elaborate bow came undone. When I lifted the lid, I found a note with an appointment card for an upscale spa in San Diego attached to it.
“Looks like we’re going to the spa today,” I told Melanie, showing her the card.
“Thank god.” She relaxed into the couch. “I’ve been meaning to schedule a massage. Now we get to do it on someone else’s dime.” She nodded toward the note. “What else does it say?”
I unfolded the paper and scanned the masculine scrawl. A feeling of déjà vu careened into me, making me breathless. It wasn’thishandwriting. For one, I could actually read it. But it reminded me of the last birthday I celebrated with Samuel. How he’d sent a courier to my apartment with the first clue to a scavenger hunt he’d planned just for me.
It was a birthday I’d never forget.
“A driver will pick you up at one o’clock to take you and a guest to your appointments,” I read out loud. “Enjoy your day. You deserve it. Happy birthday, Imogene.”
“Any indication of who your secret admirer is?” Melanie leaned over my shoulder to read the note for herself.
I shrugged dismissively. “Probably just Liam.”
