Page 91 of Of Pucking Course

“Wait, I thought her boutique wasn’t opening until the fall,” I say.

“It’s not. But my agent is her cousin, and she agreed to open the store today for a private shopping session for you.”

My jaw plummets to the ground. “Sam, oh my god! Wait, how did you know I like her clothes?”

He rubs a hand on the back of his neck, a shy smile pulling at his lips. “I overheard you and Ingrid talkingabout how much you like her dresses at Spanky’s awhile ago.”

Tingles and warmth race all over my body. I grab his face and kiss him.

“This is the most amazing, thoughtful surprise. Thank you.”

I’m giddy as I grab my purse and start to open the car door, but then stop myself. Kara Salonga’s designs aren’t cheap. They’re not thousands of dollars like other designers, but one of her dresses can run for at least five hundred dollars. I won’t be able to buy more than one piece of clothing probably, and even then that would be pretty hard on my teacher salary budget.

I clear my throat, feeling embarrassed. “Sam, I don’t know if I can do this. I love my job as a kindergarten teacher, but I don’t make enough money to have a shopping spree here.”

He tilts his head at me, his smile knowing. “You think you’re paying for anything today?”

“Sam, this is too much.”

He leans closer, gently gripping my chin in his hand. “It’s not too much. It’s exactly what you deserve, Dakota. To be spoiled for your birthday.”

I bite back a giddy smile. “You’re sure?”

“Positive. Let’s go shopping.”

When we walk into the store, I glance around, in awe of how spacious it is. Since the store hasn’t opened yet, there’s no decor on the walls. Just racks of clothing that pop out against the soft pink walls. There’s also a section on the far wall with jewelry, shoes, and purses from other designers. Kara Salonga is known for carrying select accessories from other brands in her boutiques.

A second later, she walks out from the back. She’s small,a few inches shorter than me, but she’s wearing wedges and a flowy Grecian-style dress. Her black hair is cut in a pixie, and she’s wearing chunky gold earrings. Her Wikipedia bio says she’s forty-seven, but she must have killer genes or an amazing skincare regimen because she looks like she’s in her thirties.

She smiles at me. “You must be Dakota.”

She pulls me into a hug and air kisses my cheeks. “It’s so nice to meet you,” I say. “I’m a huge fan of your designs. I spent my first paycheck as a teacher on one of your dresses. It’s my go-to dress whenever I have to get dolled up for a nice event.”

I let out a nervous laugh, self-conscious that I sound like a rambling fangirl. But to my relief, Kara flashes the widest grin.

“Oh my gosh, really?” she asks. “That’s honestly the best compliment, to know that you’d want to wear anything I design that many times.”

She turns to greet Sam.

“Thank you for opening your shop for us today,” he says.

“It’s my pleasure. When my cousin Gabriel said his favorite client wanted a private shopping spree, I just had to say yes.”

Sam chuckles. “Do you have that item I messaged you about?”

Kara grins. “I do. Let me grab it for you.”

She walks over to the accessory wall and grabs a massive box sitting on the floor. “Here you go.”

She hands it to me and I open it. When I see a pair of black Hunter boots, I gasp and turn to Sam.

“You didn’t.”

He grins. “Oh, but I did.”

“You got me the Hunter boots I wanted!” I let out a soft squeal as I look at the shiny black rubber material.

When I look up at him, his eyes are bright. Like he’s happy because I’m happy. Those tingles are back. I feel them all over my body.

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