for four days. We have three dinners to attend, four breakfasts, and a cocktail party when we arrive tonight. You look lovely.”
“Thank you.” She released her hair. “You want me to wear it down.”
“If you wouldn’t mind indulging my request.” He gazed at her locks. “It’s very beautiful. I like the way it curls at the ends.”
“You’re the boss, so whatever you want.”
“Part of the deal is that you convince people we’re a couple.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the dressing room. “You probably don’t want to refer to me as your boss. They may get the wrong impression.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. The sooner we start pretending the easier it will be.”
“Kendal really thinks I’m your girlfriend?” Coda nodded in the direction of the approaching boutique owner.
“Why else would I send you here to buy a wardrobe?”
“She probably thinks I’m really good in bed.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and pulled him closer to him.
“What?” he whispered, clearly shocked by her statement.
“Kiss me.” Her heart pounded hard against her chest when she brushed her lips against his. “Right now.”
Spencer wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to hers just as Kendal made her presence known.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “All of the bags are loaded into the car.”
Spencer grinned at Coda before acknowledging Kendal. “Thank you for all you’ve done to help Dakota.”
“It was my pleasure. Just wait until you see what we’ve come up with.” Kendal winked at Coda. “You two have fun this weekend. I hope you’ll come back soon.”
“Thanks for your help. You did a great job with picking everything out.” Coda took Spencer’s hand. “Are you ready to go?”
Spencer said goodbye to Kendal before leading Coda out to the car waiting for them.
“Convincing enough?” she asked as she put on her sunglasses.
“Very.”
A large man, no more than thirty, dressed in a black suit came around and opened the door to a black car.
“Coda, this is Andrew, my driver.”
“Hello, Ms. Vercelli.” He smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Coda slipped into the backseat of the sleek vehicle that smelled of new leather and watched as Spencer spoke to Andrew. After a minute, Spencer joined her.
“Do you need to make any stops before we head to New Haven? The hotel is a converted old mansion on a sprawling estate. They have a small gift shop and will accommodate us with whatever you need, but if there is something specific you want, it would be easier for us to get it before we leave the city.”
“I’m fine.” She waved her hands. “This is going to take some getting used to. The last time I was in a car like this was for my senior prom. Do you always travel this way?”
“Usually,” he said as he hit the button that raised the glass divider. “I live in the city, so it’s just easier to have a driver. My schedule fills with meetings and I’m in the car a lot. I can utilize the travel time if I’m not driving.”
“So, you’re the CEO? That makes you the one in charge?”
“Something like that.” He laughed. “I still have to go through my grandfather and his partner for most decisions.”
“You don’t like that?”
“Not really, but they’ve trusted me enough to get the job done. I can’t complain.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“That’s impressive to be so young and in charge of one of the biggest advertising agencies in New York City.”
“You know about Cannon and Carrington?”
“Just because I’m your cleaning woman doesn’t mean I can’t know who I clean for.”
“I didn’t say that. I guess we need to take this car ride to learn about one another. How long have you been waitressing at the diner?”
“Five years. I started my freshman year of college.”
“Where did you go to school?”
“NYU. How about