Page 32 of Shy Girls Can’t Date Celebrities (Shy Girls Sweet Romances #6)

After wringing out my dress several times, and wrapping myself in a towel, I still drip water inside the apartment.

“Sorry, Hubert,” Wyatt says as we make our way into the living space. “We’re making more mess for you to clean up.”

“It’s not a problem,” Hubert says kindly. “I hope you had a lovely time in the pool.”

“We did,” I say, bundling the towel tighter around me.

“May I get you anything?” Hubert asks. “Some robes, perhaps?”

Wyatt slings his towel over his shoulder and steadies himself with his walking cane. “I’m gonna get in the shower. But, hey, is there anywhere close by where Josie can buy new clothes?”

“Yes, sir,” Hubert says, standing with beyond perfect posture. “ This hotel is on Royale Boulevard, surrounded by several boutiques.”

I grit my teeth and then sigh. “Royale Boulevard boutiques don’t exactly sound like they’re in my price range.”

Wyatt smirks. “Not exactly a mall, is it?”

Hubert clears his throat. “Many of the boutiques have chargeback facilities with the Gran Palacio Hotel. It won’t be a problem for Miss Bartlett to charge the items back to the penthouse.”

Wyatt’s eyes brighten. “Awesome. Let’s do that.”

I lift my hands in unease. “No way. I can’t do that.”

“Joze, let the management team pay for the clothes,” Wyatt says, careful to move slowly as he leaves a trail of water on the floor. “Besides, I’m the reason you’re staying longer than you intended.”

I grin. “Didn’t take much convincing.”

“Still, I don’t want you paying for designer threads. Erika can do that.”

“I don’t want to take advantage.”

Wyatt shrugs. “Your money’s no good here.”

“So, you actually wanna go clothes shopping with me?”

He grins. “Sure, why not? Wanna meet up after our showers and check them out?”

“It’s a date.”

After my shower, I slip my saturated dress into a laundry bag for another wash.

My curls are flat after washing the chlorine from my hair, and I make sure my makeup is on point.

Back home, the clerks at the boutiques can be ultra-snooty.

So I can only imagine it’s a level above on Royale Boulevard.

Even if I’m shopping with Wyatt, I want to look a smidge like I belong.

Wyatt attempts a whistle when we meet in the living area. “Dang, Joze. Looking good.”

My blush is lightning fast. “Thanks, Wyatt. You’re looking dreamy yourself. ”

He’s in a dark blue button-down, dark denim jeans, and navy trainers. His sandy hair is styled to the right, and something about it makes his hazel eyes pop.

He steps forward, leaning on his cane. His left arm bends into a wing. “Shall we?”

I hook arms with him and we move toward the elevator. Two security guards stand by the elevator, and they step inside with us as we descend to the ground floor. On the way down, I can’t help staring at the partial tattoo dipping below his shirt sleeve.

Wyatt chuckles. “What is it?”

I jolt, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It’s just seeing that tattoo in real life. Just reminds me of how much you’ve grown up.”

Wyatt’s eyebrow crooks, looking me up and down. “Could say the same thing about you, Joze. You’re a knockout.”

My blush intensifies.

Wyatt brushes a hand over the tattoo. “I think about the ink a lot. I really want to remember what it felt like.”

“I’m sure it’ll come back to you.”

“No, I’m legitimately thinking about getting another tattoo.”

I gawk at him. “What? Like, now?”

He smirks. “Soon.”

“Whoa.”

“And I know what I want.” Wyatt turns the inside of his arm up, and traces the space above his wrist. “I’m getting a J there.”

I jitter as his hand draws an invisible J over the space. “R-r-really?”

Wyatt lets out a nervous laugh. “I want something that reminds me of you, every second of the day.”

“But it’s so permanent.”

He plants a kiss on me. “That’s the point.”

I shiver as my heartbeat pounds in my ears. “Oh my gosh.”

The elevator doors ping open and security lets us enter the lobby first. We make our way past the front desk, and toward the front revolving doors.

“First things first.” Wyatt squeezes my hand and grins ear to ear. “I haven’t ventured out anywhere in so long. This place is supposed to be fancy, right?”

“Uber fancy,” I gush. “Only the best for Wyatt Hayes.”

The doorman tips his hat as we carefully descend the front steps of the Gran Palacio.

Wyatt cranes his neck, taking in the bustling traffic. “All this is happening so close to that epic beach.”

“Yeah, it’s so crowded. It’s hard to believe the ocean we were checking out upstairs is so close.”

Wyatt gestures across the pavement. “Shall we find you a new wardrobe?”

I giggle and curl my arm around his. “One new outfit will be more than enough.”

He winks. “Maybe three new outfits.” He then lobs his walking cane at one of his security guards. “Keep a hold of this for me. I don’t need it right now.”

I slip my fingers between his. “You sure?”

He kisses my cheek. “Positive.”

I giggle again, blushing hard. “Okay, let’s shop.”

We edge our way across the sidewalk, letting the heavy foot traffic side step us. With Wyatt ditching his walking aid, I don’t want him weaving between people and having a spill. I can already hear Erika’s lecture if anything happens to Wyatt on my watch.

Wyatt’s eyebrows wiggle as we approach a boutique. “This looks swanky. Wanna go in?”

“I feel out of place just standing in front of it.”

He nudges me. “We’re charging it to the room, remember? Let’s just look around. If you don’t feel comfortable, we’ll leave. ”

“Okay.” Heck, there’s no reason to feel uncomfortable with Wyatt by my side.

As we move toward the entrance, something catches the corner of my eye. I lift my gaze and spy two girls pointing and whispering with looks of surprised glee on their faces.

Oh boy.

“What are you looking at?” Wyatt asks, reaching for the boutique’s front door.

I motion behind me. “Those girls.”

“What about them?”

I smirk. “They’re checking you out.”

He points at his chest with surprise. “Me?”

I giggle. “We’ve been clocked by Wyatt Hayes fans.”

“Oh,” he mutters.

He checks over my shoulder and his smile grows. He waves at the girls, and then laughs at their excited squeals.

Wyatt takes my hand and tugs me into the store. “C’mon, let’s go in.”

“You good?”

He sweeps his hand over his sandy hair. “Absolutely.”

I watch Wyatt with curiosity as one of the security guards enters the store with us, and the other remains outside. The interior of the store takes my breath away. The display cases have gold accents, the walls are a rich cream, and the clothes hang like priceless pieces of art.

“Good morning,” a salesperson says, making her way over.

“Are you kids in the right...” Her tone suggests we’re in the wrong place, until she makes eye contact with Wyatt.

Her chin drops and she utters a few indistinguishable syllables.

“Excuse me,” she clears her throat. “Welcome to our store. My name is Sonja, and I’d be delighted to help you today. ”

Wyatt gently swings my hand. “Josie’s the one shopping today. ”

In reaction, my shoulders bunch up and heat streaks across my face.

“Certainly,” Sonja replies. “What are you looking for today?”

“ Ahhh ,” I stammer. “I need a new outfit, but I’m not really sure this is my style.”

Sonja smooths down her blazer and turns to a nearby rack. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that. You’re a well put together young lady. Perhaps something from the new Aisha Karen collection would compliment your features nicely.”

The new Aisha Karen? She was about to kick us out for being “kids” mere seconds ago. Now, she wants to dress me in something from one of the most famous designers ever?

“Allow me,” Sonja says, moving toward a rack of stylish items.

“Whoa,” breathes out of Wyatt.

I chase his line of sight to the back of the store, and my skin prickles with goosebumps. Holy heck! Rachael Roman is posing in a sheer, blush pink dress in front of a floor-length mirror.

“She’s that movie star, right?” Wyatt mutters out the side of his mouth.

“Mm-hmm,” I reply, pinching myself.

Distracting us from our ogling, Sonja returns with her selection. Draping it against herself by the hanger, she displays a cream scoop neck, maxi dress, and cinched around the waist with a braided, bronze belt.

Wyatt’s mouth falls open as he smiles. “Joze, you’d look amazing in that.”

Sonja’s gaze slides left, double checking Wyatt is real. No doubt she’s been keeping up online about him, just like everyone else. This is the first time anyone from the public would’ve seen him up and about.

On instinct, I look over my shoulder at the front windows for fans or paparazzi. I sigh and turn back to the clothing when the foot traffic continually moves along the sidewalk as it did before.

Okay, there is an award winning actress in the store. Maybe no one cares about a teen heartthrob entering the boutique.

“You okay?” Wyatt asks, rubbing my upper arm.

I shrug. “It’s a beautiful dress, but I don’t think it’s me.”

“No sweat,” Wyatt says, hugging his arm around my lower back. “I said we’d leave if you weren’t feeling it.”

Sonja’s chin drops. “But... but...”

Wyatt nods at Sonja. “Thanks for your time, but we’re gonna check out another place.”

Sonja’s face flushes as she gulps and nods in reply.

Security follows us out as Wyatt’s hand nestles on my back. Once we hit the sidewalk. Wyatt bursts into laughter.

I grab onto his arm, smiling. “What is it?”

“We, we...” He catches his breath as we move away from the storefront. “We bailed on a store that a real-deal celebrity was in. Seriously, what planet are we living on?”

“I know. It doesn’t seem real.”

“You were right. We didn’t exactly fit in back there.”

“Well, you did,” I clarify as security follows us along the busy sidewalk. “Didn’t you notice how Sonja kept eyeballing you?”

“Because I was some kid in her store.”

“No, because you were Wyatt Hayes in her store.”

“No way am I in the same league as Rach... Uh, what’s her name again?”

“Rachael Roman. Ah, seeing her gave me goosebumps.”