Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Tara turned around, holding a huge bouquet of flowers that were so big they covered her friend’s face. “You kinda do,” she said, peeking around the arrangement, as she headed toward the kitchen area. “Have you seen your hair?”
Lauren stood and smoothed a hand over the strands, grimacing as her fingers got caught in the tangles and snarls from not brushing it after waking up. Whatever.
“Well, well, well, I wonder who these are from,” Tara drawled as she set the vase on the table, then removed the small envelope from the arrangement.
“That’s mine, thank you very much.” Reaching her friend’s side, Lauren plucked the note from Tara’s fingers, her heart racing with a thousand hopeful probabilities, because only one person she could think of would send her flowers this elaborate. Blooms that undoubtedly cost a few hundred dollars, even if she didn’t know why he’d sent them.
“Oh, she perks up,” Tara teased.
Lauren rolled her eyes as she tore open the envelope then read the message inside, written in a masculine scrawl. I’m not a pro at grand gestures, or even apologies, but you deserve them. Meet me for dinner tonight. Love, Chase.
The breath left Lauren’s lungs, and a giddy excitement permeated her entire body. The first part of that note made the heartache of the last week melt away, but it was the last two words, Love, Chase, that had the first glimmering signs of optimism blossoming inside her.
“Huh,” Tara said from beside her. “Impressive. The guy certainly knows how to grovel, which is an important trait for any man to have. Are you going to meet him for dinner?”
“Of course I am,” she said without any hesitation.
Her friend arched a pierced brow. “Even after everything he put you through?”
“I’m not going to lie. I hated everything about the way things ended between us last Sunday, but… I understand Chase enough to know that he needed this time and space to process how quick and intense things developed between us.” She was just grateful that he came to what she hoped was a promising conclusion as the note indicated, instead of deciding Lauren was better off without him. Which she wasn’t.
Another knock sounded at the door, and this time Lauren rushed over and made it there first, finding another delivery person, a woman, standing on the other side of the threshold holding a glossy black box with Oscar de la Renta stamped in gold on top, along with another envelope.
She thanked the woman, then brought the box over to the table and set it next to the vase of flowers. Tara’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she saw the name of the designer on the box, while Lauren pulled the next message out of the envelope.
The note read, I’m thinking positively and hope you’ve decided that your answer to meet me for dinner is a yes. Here’s something for you to wear, but you would look beautiful in anything, or nothing at all. A driver will pick you up at 5:30. See you soon, Chase.
Biting her bottom lip, Lauren lifted the lid and peeled back the tissue paper, gasping as she pulled out a cocktail dress in a gorgeous shade of dark pink. It was a simple silhouette with a sweeping neckline, a cinched waist, and a fluted skirt, but what made the dress so stunning was the small, crystal flower embellishments embroidered into the fabric. Clearly, Chase already knew her tastes. Also inside the box was a silver clutch and matching strappy heels.
“Holy shit,” Tara breathed in awe. “He’s pulling out all the stops. Your guy is not messing around, because a dress like that had to have set him back at least five grand, if not more.”
Lauren winced at the amount, because she was certain Tara was right and damn, that was a lot of money. But she also realized how much time and effort all this planning had taken for this grand gesture and apology, all to make her feel special.
She spent the rest of the afternoon with Tara, feeling like Cinderella getting ready for the ball. After soaking in a fragrant bath, Tara helped her with her makeup and curling her hair, then zipping up the dress when it was almost time to go.
When the outfit was complete with the shoes and purse, Tara beamed at her, and Lauren smiled back, feeling like a princess, which wasn’t something she’d ever thought of herself, at least not before Chase.
“Ahhh, now there’s the Lauren I know and love,” Tara said, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. “The one with the vibrant sparkle in her eyes and the glow on her face, radiating happiness. Now go and get your man.”
She planned to.
The driver arrived, and while the elaborate flowers and the over-the-top designer dress were wonderful, none of those things mattered to Lauren. The only thing that was important to her was Chase truly opening himself up to the possibility of falling in love with her. It was all she wanted, and she hoped that tonight was just the beginning for them.