Page 49 of Taken Away

The little bell over the door of Lulu’s chimed the second Aubrey stepped inside.

The boutique was exactly what she had expected from Sylva. Exposed brick. Wide-plank floors. Soft jazz drifting low beneath the hum of conversation. Racks of beautiful clothes arranged by color beneath antique brass chandeliers.

It looked less like a small-town shop and more like somewhere in Charleston where women with trust funds and opinions drank champagne while buying shoes.

Aubrey stopped inside the doorway.

“This town is deeply confusing,” she muttered.

Savannah laughed beside her.

“Told you.”

A woman with glossy dark hair and a tape measure draped around her neck looked up from behind the counter.

“Well,” she announced. “There’s the Blackwood niece.”

Aubrey blinked.

“I’m sorry?”

The woman came around the counter smiling.

“Honey, this is Sylva. We knew before you crossed the county line.”

“Terrifying.”

“Very.” She shook Aubrey’s hand. “I’m Lulu.”

“Of course you are.”

Savannah snorted.

Lulu pointed directly at Aubrey.

“No florals.”

“I wasn’t planning on florals.”

“No pink. No ruffles. And absolutely nothing that looks like you Googled ‘what to wear in the mountains.’”

Savannah nodded solemnly.

“She’s right. The town would smell fear.”

Aubrey looked between them.

“You two are enjoying this way too much.”

“Oh, we absolutely are,” Savannah said.

Aubrey dug through her oversized leather purse, frowning. “Actually, I need to drop the rental back at Blackwater before five. Apparently my ‘luxury midsize SUV’ costs more per day than some small countries’ defense budgets.”

Savannah glanced up from the rack. “No worries. I’ll follow you over.”

Aubrey blinked. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Please. I need the entertainment.”