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That makes me groan internally. So much for having a sensible budget. “Shelly,” I say. “Do me a favor. Whatever that budget is – could we maybe spend less than half?”
Shelly looks a little disappointed, but she nods. “Certainly. You’re in charge, of course.”
“I really appreciate that,” I say, feeling like it’s one small victory, at least.
What follows is a couple of hours of what seems like madness to me.
Shelly starts by doing an accurate assessment of what will suit and fit my body without so much as reaching for a measuring tape, and I’m baffled by how amazing all of her choices are. We start from there, and then she tweaks her suggestions according to my likes and dislikes until she’s provided me with what must surely be the perfect wardrobe.
And I can’t believe I’m even accepting it, but after the first hour, Sean comes and joins us with a brand new suit folded up inside a garment bag, and sits quietly to wait and watch. Shelly makes sure that we’re both provided with refreshments at every stage of the way, with our every need being catered for.
If this is what being a VIP is like, I think I could really start to get used to it.
“There’s just one problem with all of this,” I say, looking at the items I’ve allowed Shelly to keep to one side as perfect for me. It isn’t anywhere close to half the budget, she assures me, and yet it looks like an awful lot. “I’m not going to have room in my luggage to take all of this home.”
“Shelly, you must have some nice suitcases for us to choose from?” Sean says mildly, sending her scurrying off to another department to bring us some samples.
I shake my head in wonder. “I don’t know how you can just spend all of this money so casually,” I say. “Are you sure this is really alright?”
“I’m sure,” he says, setting down the men’s fashion magazine Shelly had brought to entertain him. “Listen, Candace, you don’t have to feel bad about accepting gifts from me. I’ve made a lot of money in my life, and I haven’t had a lot to spend it on other than myself. It feels good to do something for another person. And especially a person as jaw-droppingly beautiful as you.”
I blush at the compliment, but I don’t quite feel convinced just yet. Surely, there must be more to his story than he’s letting on. There must be something else he could spend his money on if he wanted to.
“Isn’t there anyone else?” I ask. “Someone from your past, even? You never had any children…?”
Sean cocks his head sideways at me with a funny smile. “No, Candace,” he says. “I don’t have children, and there’s nothing to tell about my past. There’s no one you need to be worried about.”
“Oh, well, not worried,” I start because I really do want to get to the bottom of this – to find out conclusively if he has any ex-wives or even significant ex-girlfriends hanging around. But just at that moment, Shelly arrives with a wheeled trolley showcasing different options of designer suitcases, and I have to cut off the thought – saving it for another time when we can speak alone.
But it hasn’t left my mind. I’m going to find out about Sean’s past sooner or later – because a man who is this gorgeous and this good at his job must surely have someone important in his life at some point.
Chapter Seventeen
Sean
After shopping and lunch, the whole of the afternoon is ours. We’re in the final stages of the build-up to the main event, and I can feel the excitement building inside of me. The thought that I will claim Candace in the most powerful of ways, not just making her mine, but doing it before any other man has ever had the chance to lay a finger on her. It makes a shiver run down my spine in anticipation whenever I think of it.
But first, there is more to come. I didn’t just plan to dazzle her with money and good food. There is more to come – and she needs to know that life with me is not about the occasional flashy treat and nothing else. There are more important things than money, but it makes me more than happy to spend it on her. Why keep it lying around, piling up in the bank if you have someone special to treat?
“Where now, then?” Candace asks, settling back into her seat in the taxi. I hired the man to take us around for as long as we need him because I knew we would have a lot of things to carry – and the trunk is now full almost to bursting.
“Back to my hotel,” I say, with a grin. “We’d better unload. All of these things can stay with me for now – I know you don’t have room to store them in your room.”
