“Like in a cage? Nah, I don’t think so. But if we’re talking handcuffs, we’ll talk more later. Ah, wait. Scratch that. Those terms aren’t in our deal. And I promised to be a perfect gentleman.”
She chuckled. “Well, you didn’t exactly sign on the dotted line.”
“But I’m a man of my word. So enough talking to me. Go for a ride!”
“Thank you, babe,” she said, reminding herself to use the endearment in front of Mariel. “I’ll thank you, you know, properly when you get home.”
“Don’t forget your shopping appointment.”
“Like any woman can forget that!”
“Have fun. I can’t wait to see you in that car. I’d planned to be there when it was delivered, but I had to take a meeting.”
“I can’t thank you enough!”
“It’s my pleasure. Get used to being spoiled.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just go have fun.”
“I will. You’re the best boss, uh, boyfriend ever! I’m gonna take this baby out for a spin. Have a great day. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you later.”
“Bye,” she said sunnily and turned the key in the ignition.
Mariel whistled under her breath as Bella slid the sleek convertible into gear and drove away, “This car is incredible. Do you realize it is like seventy thousand dollars? I used to have posters up in my room of this car when I was a kid.”
“I would have to work for two years straight and never spend a dime just to afford the car and the tax, not even liability insurance or gas or anything else.”
“Which is why it’s good to have a rich boyfriend, right?”
“You know that’s not why I’m with him, right? I mean, yes it’s great that he’s generous and sweet like this, but I like him for himself. How funny he is and how smart and how kind.”
“Of course, you do. I was joking. Of all the people I’ve seen him with, all the girls who’ve come and gone out of here, you’re the first one I’ve seen that didn’t come with dollar signs in her eyes. It’s pretty obvious you felt damn lucky to have a job here. You didn’t come to Arizona to land a rich guy.”
“Thank you. I mean, I know that, but it bothers me if it looks like it was the other way around, like I came here to dig for gold.”
“Just drive and enjoy the view,” Mariel said. “The mountains and the desert and all this speed.”
She floored the gas and they drove at an ungodly speed as the wind blew through their hair.
“How does it feel?” her friend asked.
“Pretty amazing. This car practically drives itself. It’s so powerful and smooth.”
“Ooh, tell him that tonight,” Mariel teased, “guys love words like powerful!”
They drove through and got lattes and joked about not spilling in the new car, but both of them were really careful not to make a mess, all jokes aside. Both women knew how rare it was to have something so nice and so new, and neither wanted to mess it up at all. They only went back to the house because Mariel had stalls to clean out and Bella had to go shopping. She found herself in a department store dressing room with a patient, glamorous woman who had a tape measure.
When Greta showed up for moral support, Bella grinned. Greta helped her choose things she liked t
hat the shopper approved of. They giggled together over how hot Harvey was (“Even my boyfriend admits my boss is hot,” Greta told her). In no time, Bella was ready for her close-up. She had never shopped this way before, and she found out she loved being fussed over and flattered, and given pretty things to try on without worrying about the cost, as long as she had Greta to stick up for her when something crazy was in play—like the fringe vest the shopper tried to insist on. When Bella left, a hefty garment bag of tops, jeans and dresses were ready to be sent to the mansion for her as soon as the shopper found shoes and accessories to suit each pairing.
Dazzled, Bella drove back to the compound and took a bubble bath and shaved her legs. This was already so fun!
Chapter 12