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She led me toward the rack of shoes, running her hand over a line of gorgeous mules that rivaled any designer brand I’ve ever seen in person. “Every girl’s dream.”
“I’m not quite the shopaholic that I used to be,” I admitted. “But I do still enjoy a nice shoe.”
“I want you to pick out your favorite pair,” Alicia said. “It’s my gift to you for sharing this momentous day with me.”
I knew I had to keep my eyes on the prize. I wasn’t here to shop. I was here to get to the bottom of Alicia Bates and her new boyfriend and help Thierry crack this case in record time.
But I couldn’t turn down the offer of a free pair of shoes.
My gaze moved over each of the beauties until I landed on the perfect pair. Staggeringly high, shockingly pink, and with a few sparkling crystals on the toe. Which sounded tacky as hell but somehow looked as elegant as a little black dress.
“Those are the winners?” she asked, smiling.
“They might not have them in my size.”
“Check to see,” she suggested.
I lifted them off the rack and glanced at the size, surprised that they were exactly my size. I glanced at Alicia. “Is that magic or coincidence?”
She smiled knowingly. “What do you think?”
That was a very good question.
I slipped off my sneakers and slid my feet into my new best friends, feeling like Cinderella and her glass slippers.
“How are these so comfortable?” I asked with amazement as I paced back and forth in a short line. My feet felt like they were nestled in cool, fluffy pillows. I could literally run a marathon in these beauties. “It must be magic.”
Alicia shrugged. “Damon’s secret.”
Yes, that was exactly what I wanted to know: Damon’s secret.
“Do you love them?” she asked.
“Almost as much as I love Thierry,” I replied with a grin. “Almost.”
She laughed. “They’re yours.”
I shook my head. I’d caught a glimpse of the price tag when looking for the size. “You don’t have to. They’re so expensive.”
“I want to. Please let me buy these shoes for you, Sarah.”
“Thank you, that’s so generous of you,” I said, my gratitude genuine. It wasn’t every day a practical stranger wanted to buy me an incredible gift like this.
But I wasn’t that naïve. I wondered what she might want in return.
Still, I was totally taking the shoes. In fact, since they were so ridiculously comfortable, I might never take them off.
True to her word, Alicia flagged down a salesperson and gave them her credit card. I tucked my scuffed sneakers into my handbag for safekeeping.
I gazed down at my sparkling pink beauties, which looked just a little out of place beneath the hem of my jeans, but not enough to take them off. Possibly, ever.
“They look beautiful on you,” a deep voice that held a light French accent said. “Not everyone can pull off such a bold look.”
I glanced up to see that a man had approached, his hand pressed to Alicia’s back. He was tall, handsome, and well-dressed in a tailored black suit, white shirt, and gray tie. A black eye patch matched the color of his hair, which was long and tied at the nape of his neck. At first glance, he looked like a wealthy pirate. I half-expected to see a diamond-studded parrot nearby.
“Thank you,” I said, knowing without a doubt that this was the mysterious cobbler in question.
“Is this a friend of yours?” he asked Alicia.
