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Pausing, I tried to think of who it could be. I placed the curling iron down as the knock sounded again, more insistent this time. Picking up my pace, I closed the white robe I wore and opened the door.

Tawnie stood there, holding a garment bag and a bouquet of red roses. My face morphed into confusion as I stepped aside to let her in. “Um, hi. Come in.”

“I know we haven’t known each other long, and I don’t know if you even consider us friends, but I have to ask—why is Mr. Stone sending you flowers and buying you this gorgeous dress?” Tawnie asked, laying the garment bag across the bed.

“I, um—” The words caught in my throat. I didn’t know how to answer because I was just as curious as she was.

Tawnie moved closer, extending the flowers and a jewelry box I hadn’t noticed before. “They’re beautiful. The dress and that,” she motioned toward the velvet oblong box. “He picked it out himself. He didn’t even pick out his own clothes for the event.”

Yet, he picked this out?

I stared at the items in my hands, unsure of what to do. Bringing the flowers to my face, I inhaled deeply, the scent of roses filling my senses. They were perfect—each petal delicately open, the stems vibrant and green.

“There’s a note attached. I didn’t look at it though,” Tawnie said.

I was sweating.

I grabbed the cream-colored paper hanging by a red thread and opened it, my heart thudding as I unfolded the note.

Eleanor,

I know you’ll look stunning in anything you wear, but you look devastating in red.

Mr. Stone

My heart pinched, and a swarm of butterflies filled my stomach. Is this what it felt like to be truly desired by someone? I ran my thumb over the ink, his handwriting matching him so perfectly—strong, deliberate, yet elegant.

An aroma wafted from the paper, subtle and unmistakable. I brought it to my nose, inhaling deeply. His cologne lingered on the note, striking every nerve in my body. I was on fire, closing my eyes as I breathed him in again.

“Wow,” I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips. Tawnie cleared her throat, her hand propped on her hip, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “I really don’t know what all of this is about. We’re going to a gala tonight, but I wasn’t expecting this.”

“Here,” she said, gently taking the flowers from my hands. “You’ll be late if you keep standing around admiring these. Just wait until you see what’s in there.” She nodded toward the garment bag.

My fingers trembled slightly as I approached the zipper, wrapping them around the metal and pulling it down slowly. As the bag opened, it revealed the most beautiful dress I had ever seen.

In my time running BuzzBurst, I’d worn some exquisite gowns—from Saint Laurent to Givenchy and everything in between. I’d had dresses tailored to my body, fabric laced with gold, but this—this dress made all the others look like mere imitations.

The red fabric shimmered with delicate crystals hanging from fine threads, each one adding movement and dimension. The neckline swooped gracefully, the layers framing the chest perfectly, and the skirt fell in a way that hinted at a daring slit.

“Ugh,” Tawnie groaned behind me, her eyes as wide as mine, admiring the dress. “Every time I see it, I melt a little bit. It’s stunning, and trust me, it wasn’t cheap.”

“How do you know?” I asked, my voice filled with awe.

“Well, I had to go pick it up and pay for it. He made me run out to the city today, which took me hours. I left early this morning and didn’t get back until just now.”

Hours? He sent Tawnie to the city and it took that long to get a dress for me?

My heart ached, my eyes threatened to prickle with tears, but I took a long inhale and refused to let any emotion show. This wasn’t that deep. I needed to get a fucking grip.

I turned back to the dress, gently lifting it from the bag, leaving the velvet jewelry box on the bed for later. In the bathroom, I shut the door behind me, slipping off my robe. I stepped into the dress, the fabric molding to the curves of my body.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was already pretty confident in myself, confident in the way I looked, but in this, I felt like I could rule the world.

Red was my color and Colton knew it too.

After finishing my hair, I came out of the bathroom to Tawnie still here. She gasped when she saw me, her hand flying to cover her mouth.

“I’m speechless. Eleanor, you look incredible!”