“Budget?” he repeated.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “How much should I spend? I don’t want to max it out.”
Julian’s lips pressed into a thin line, and it took me a second to realize he was trying not to laugh.
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “It won’t run out.”
“Julian, I don’t know…”
“I’ve spent nearly a millennium padding my bank accounts,” he said firmly. “Besides, the card is in your name.”
“What?” I nearly dropped it. Turning it over, I found my name listed above his. “Wait. How did you get this so quickly?” We’d only discussed shopping yesterday.
“Banks tend to respond quickly to my requests.” He pressed his index finger to my chin and tipped my face up. “Stop worrying about money.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I muttered.
“Just give it to Jacqueline and tell her I said to use it wisely,” he said, sounding annoyed.
“Wisely?” I narrowed my eyes, staring into his sparkling blue ones. Why was it so hard to think when he looked at me like that? “So there is a budget!”
“Jacqueline’s interpretations of wisely will be more in line with mine, pet,” he said with a slight chuckle. He kissed the tip of my nose. “Trust her. I do. You can tell her anything, and she will look after you. Now go before you wind up attending all the events naked.”
“Why do I have a feeling that wouldn’t be frowned on?” I asked as I unfastened my seat belt.
“I would frown on it.” His voice was raspy as if the thought had thickened the words on his tongue. “I don’t think I would be able to control my blood-lust.”
“Oh.” He had a point. “I’ll find something to wear.” My door opened, Phillipe on the other side. But I couldn’t resist the urge to lean back in. “I’m sure they have a sale rack.”
“Jacqueline won’t let you near it.”
As if summoned, Jacqueline appeared at my side, turning heads all around us in her ivory sheath dress and scarlet-red overcoat. Her blonde hair fell in thick waves around her shoulders, and her face was completely bare, except for her lips, which were painted the same vivid hue as her jacket. She poked her head inside the Bentley. “She’s safe with me, Jules.”
“Just keep your hands to yourself,” he told his old friend, shaking his head, “and don’t let her see any price tags.”
“Done!” She straightened, offering me a blinding smile. “Shall we?”
I followed her inside the large department store, feeling more out of place than ever. Brands I recognized only from movies and magazines had little shops all along the perimeter. As soon as we were through the doors, a security guard moved toward us.
I nervously slipped the credit card Julian had given me into my old thrift store purse as the man approached us. Was it that obvious that I didn’t belong here? I’d chosen the most sophisticated outfit I’d packed–a pair of cropped black leggings and a wispy white blouse I’d borrowed from Olivia. I didn’t think I looked that out of place, and there appeared to be several tourists wearing jeans shopping nearby. Then the guard bypassed me entirely and went straight to my companion. Jacqueline greeted him with a kiss on each cheek.
“Jean-Pierre, you’re looking very handsome.” She dusted something off his shoulder, and the older man turned a candy-apple red shade. “I’ve brought a new friend. I believe Sophie is expecting us.”
“Oui,” he said, glancing over me. Confusion flashed across his face, but to his credit he recovered quickly. He gestured for us to follow him. The crowd parted for us. I wasn’t sure if that was because we had an armed escort or if Jacqueline simply had that effect.
Everywhere I looked, I found some new beautiful object waiting: silk scarves in every color and pattern I could imagine, delicate bottles of perfume displayed like pieces of art, and shoes, and purses. It was a bit overwhelming.
“I arranged to have my private stylist work with us,” Jacquline explained when we reached a door marked privée. “But if you prefer to shop the floors, we can.”
I quickly shook my head. I wouldn’t know where to start.
“I gave Sophie your measurements, so we should have somewhere to start.” Jacqueline’s mouth twisted as she studied my bag. “But I think you will need some handbags as well.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t need a new one.”
“Don’t confuse need with want while shopping,” she said with a soft laugh. “It takes all the fun out of it.”
“I…I don’t really shop,” I admitted to her as we were shown into another room.
“Because you don’t need to?” She guessed, her eyebrow rose. Her voice was warm as she spoke. There was none of the judgment I’d felt in the presence of Sabine or, to some extent, Celia. It seemed impossible, but I was beginning to believe Jacqueline was not only friendly, but kind. “Julian mentioned you are a student. I imagine that doesn’t allow for many luxuries.”
“Unless food is a luxury, then no, it doesn’t.”
“Then allow Julian to spoil you a little,” she advised. “Besides, Julian’s consort will be expected to dress well.”
I thought of the green velvet gown I’d worn a few nights ago. It had felt ridiculously over the top when I put it on, but in the company of vampires, I’d blended right in. I nodded, but there was one thing I found a bit odd. “Consort?”
“Girlfriend,” she corrected herself. “Lover. I can be a bit old-fashioned.”
Lover. If she only knew. I thought of what Julian told me–that I could trust Jacqueline. I wondered if that extended to really personal matters like my vampire boyfriend not having sex with me.
An older woman approached us before I could summon the courage to bring it up. Her hair was knotted at the back of her neck into a perfect chignon, and she wore a stern expression. She greeted Jacqueline and then began speaking rapidly in French. A few minutes later, they were both laughing.
“Come. Sophie has pulled some choices for you.” Jacqueline guided me toward the many racks of clothing waiting in the room. “It will take you a while to try this all on.”
“Wait.” I stared at the racks, which had to contain a hundred different pieces, at least. “All of this?”
“It’s a start,” she said, pursing her lips. She riffled through the hangers and then plucked a striking black dress off one. She held it up. “Try this.”
