Page 60

“Try it with these,” she suggested, standing to reach for one of the shoeboxes she’d staked on the bench across from the ottoman.

“Are those shoes or weapons?” Charlotte joked when she produced a pair of pointy heels with gold spikes sticking out around the border of the black suede trim.

“They’re the perfect mix of posh and punk,” she replied with a lopsided grin. “Try ‘em.”

Charlotte recognized the shoes’ red bottoms. She could guess just how expensive they were, but she grabbed them

and slipped them on before she could think about it any further.

The heels made the muscular cut up the center of her calves prominent. “They’re beautiful.”

“Beautiful?” Denise laughed. “Honey, you look stunning.

This look is a showstopper. The others don’t hold a candle to it.”

“You’re right,” Charlotte agreed after a beat. “But this is so expensive. I—”

“It’s the start of resort season,” Denise said with a mischievous smile. “That means my employee discount jumps to thirty three percent. It would knock o almost seven hundred bucks. Would that make this possible for you?”

Charlotte’s eyes widened. She was going to ask what the hell resort season was before the o er snatched the air from her lungs.

“Why would you do that?”

Denise smiled. “I don’t have kids. Who else can I help with some big job opportunity? Plus, it doesn’t cost me anything to help as long as it’s our secret.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Charlotte managed through the lump forming in her throat. The unexpected act of generosity was almost impossible to assimilate. “I can’t accept—”

“I can’t accept you not walking outta here in that outfit.”

She squeezed her arm. “Just come back to me if it works.”

With a tight chest, Charlotte nodded. “I promise.”

“I’ll go get a garment bag,” Denise said before disappearing out of the dressing room.

It took Charlotte a moment to gather herself. She hoped to better articulate her gratitude to Denise by the time she’d finished changing.

Charlotte gave herself a last look. Blending into Alex’s universe was going to be critical.

I hope spending almost two weeks of my paycheck is worth it .

CHAPTER 24

“THIS IS NOT A BOAT ,” Charlotte declared when they emerged from the valet station and onto the paved walkway being battered by the bay winds.

Alex bit back a smile as Charlotte’s eyes widened. The yacht was impressive enough on its own. But docked in a slip at the glittering edge of downtown Miami’s glassy high-rises with the full moon shining above them, it was really something to behold.

“Okay,” Alex agreed as they approached. “It’s a big boat.”

Charlotte glanced at her. Her eyes, fiery sapphires set o by smokey shadow, made it just a little harder for Alex to take a full breath.

“Welcome,” a man in a suit extended a hand and gestured toward the railed gangway leading from the dock and curling up the side of the ship where a dozen guests were already mingling.

Without hesitation, as if she’d done this a thousand times before, Charlotte greeted him and then turned to her. When she extended her hand to Alex, the waiting greeter tipped his head and took a step back.

Charlotte’s hand was warm as it took hers with unshakable confidence. She was steady as she stepped over the wood and aluminum bridge and intertwined their fingers instead of letting Alex go when they’d taken the first step up.

Connected in this way, Alex’s heart swelled.