Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“No…” Harper didn’t want to leave any of these here for someone else. She didn’t even feel guilty about it.
“Want to choose your favorite and I’ll write down all the information about the others so you can come back to pick them up later if you change your mind? I can’t guarantee they’ll still be here, but the clerk on duty could help you find out more easily.”
Harper’s phone buzzed, and she looked down at the screen to see a message from Colt. He’d sent her at least one message every day since she’d called him in a panic. Nothing heavy—just random questions or details about his day. She loved hearing from him.
“Let me think about it for a few minutes while I answer this text,” Harper requested, waving her screen at Patsy.
“Of course. There’s no rush. Want me to check if the manager will give you a special deal if you take all three?”
“That would be amazing. Thank you,” Harper said, and felt her anxiety build once again. Financially, she shouldn’t buy the dresses, but she wanted them so bad.
She opened the message to read:
Hi, Little girl. I wanted you to know that I’m thinking about you and that there are 27 more days until I’m there. What color dress are you wearing to the fancy event? I’ll try to pick out something complementary.
What a coincidence! I’m standing here trying to figure out which of three beautiful dresses to buy. I never have luck shopping like this.
Buy them all, Little girl.
I’m not on a country star budget, Colt. Besides, I won’t ever wear all three. What’s your favorite color? Blue, green, or ivory?
She almost dropped her phone when it buzzed in her hand. Answering it quickly, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Not a thing. Hand your phone to the clerk. I’ll take care of this for you. You need all three. I plan to wine and dine you,” Colt’s amazing voice directed.
“I don’t need all three. We just need to pretend for a couple of nights and then you can disappear back to Nashville,” Harper reminded him.
“I’m not pretending, Harper. Hand your phone to the clerk.”
The steel in his voice made her walk to the cash register where the saleswoman waited.
“Did you decide on which one?”
“I’m supposed to hand you my phone,” Harper said, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Hello?” Patsy said into the phone. “Yes, sir. I’m glad to take care of this for you.”
Harper listened to one side of the conversation and tried to fill in what Colt said.
“Does she need anything else? Definitely some undergarments, and jewelry would help finish the look. You’ll take care of the jewelry? Yes, sir.”
Patsy handed Harper back her phone. “He knows you’re panicking. I’m supposed to let the two of you talk while I gather a few extra things for you.”
Accepting her phone, Harper stammered, “Colt, you can’t do this.”
“Of course I can. It will make me happy to spoil you a bit. I don’t think anyone does that for you, do they?”
“No. But I don’t need to be spoiled,” she answered quickly.
“Every Little girl needs to be spoiled,” he stated firmly. “I want to do this for you. It will make me happy. You want me to be happy, don’t you?”
“What a question, Colt! Of course I want you to be happy. But you can be elated without buying me things I won’t ever wear.”
“You’ll get to wear them, and I’ll get to see you in them. It’s a win-win. There’s no debate. If you don’t let me buy them for you now, I’ll call the shop and have everything shipped to your house.”
She knew when she’d been overruled. “Thank you, Colt. This is very generous of you.”
“Not generous. Totally selfish. I’ve wanted to take care of you for twenty years. It’s you who are doing me the favor.”
“Colt…”
“Pass the phone back to Patsy, Little girl.”
Without another word, she handed the phone back to the salesclerk. Patsy soon had everything rung up and charged to Colt’s credit card. A large shopping bag and three hanging bags waited for Harper.
As soon as she’d completed the transaction, Patsy said into the phone, “Thank you, Mr. Ziegler. Can I say how much I love your music?”
She soon disconnected the call and handed it back to Harper. “He said he’d call tonight. You just made my day. I got to talk to Colt Ziegler. His voice is amazing. Almost as phenomenal as you look in these dresses. I’m so glad you get to take all of them home.”
“I wasn’t expecting him to buy all this,” Harper commented, waving her hand over the bags.
“I did give him the discount the manager allowed me to ring up. We saved him a few bucks,” Patsy confided.
Their gazes met, and both women laughed. Like Colt Ziegler needed to save any money.