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“Wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“And you’re buying me the most expensive winter coat we can find.”

“Done.”

“When do you want to go shopping?”

“We’ve got a few days of downtime after this shoot wraps. How about Thursday? We can hit Rodeo, make a day of it.”

She sighed, but it was the resigned kind of sigh. The one that meant I’d won. “Thursday works.”

“Perfect.” I stood up, feeling like I had won the lottery. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go look smoldering for the camera.”

“Try not to wander off again.”

“No promises.”

“I will stick a GPS in your asscheek. And a bell around your neck.”

“Kinky, but if that’s your thing.”

She rolled her eyes. “Go away. Now, I have to rearrange your whole fucking schedule. This should be fun.”

I headed back toward the set, but I couldn’t stop smiling. Alaska was going to be cold as hell, but at least Lucy would be there. And somewhere between the photoshoots and the frozen landscapes, we were going to build the world’s greatest snowman.

I’d make sure of it.

Lucy on a frozen mountain was going to be something. Probably a disaster. Definitely an adventure. Note to self, Google snowman construction.

5

LUCY

Ifelt like a whole new woman. Two nights in my own bed, my own space with my own things, had been the dose of normalcy I needed.

The Uber driver pulled to a stop in front of the address Jeremy had texted me. I told myself not to panic. I could afford a shopping spree. Jeremy paid me very well. Most of my expenses were paid for by the campaigns or him. And I had not gone shopping in forever.

I could handle Rodeo Drive. They had clearance racks, right?

I climbed out of the car, hoping I didn’t look like a ragamuffin by Beverly Hills standards.

Jeremy strolled down the sidewalk like it was his runway. He strutted without trying. It was just the way he walked. The man had swagger. He wore jeans and a basic tee. He had on sunglasses and that five o’clock shadow that was his thing. The man didn’t have to try to look good. I’d seen him fresh out of bed plenty of times. He literally woke up looking that good.

“Hey,” he said with a smile. “Ready for this?”

“Nope.”

He pulled open the door and gestured for me to walk in. Thankfully, the stores would be catering to the elite that would be heading off for winter vacays where there was actually snow.

“Okay,” he said, rubbing his hands together with entirely too much enthusiasm. “Let’s find you some winter gear.”

I looked around at the racks of designer coats and cashmere sweaters. A saleswoman in head-to-toe black was already making her way toward us. I saw the way she looked at Jeremy.

“Mr. Blackwell,” she said, like she’d been expecting him. Maybe she had. “So lovely to see you again. How can I help you today?”

“My friend here needs a complete winter wardrobe.” He gestured at me like I was a project. “She’s going to Alaska and she owns nothing warmer than a cardigan.”

The saleswoman turned to me, her eyes doing a quick assessment. I felt suddenly underdressed in my jeans and silk blouse. I’d worn my Louboutin booties that I’d gotten on clearance in Paris two years ago. But I still felt lacking surrounded by Prada and Dolce.