Christmas in the Cop Car (Sweet Home Alabama Book 4) by Laura Trentham

Author:Laura Trentham [Trentham, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

He woke up the next morning with a clear mission—buy Kayla a present. The only problem was the last time he’d bought anyone anything he’d been in elementary school. He was thinking Kayla would appreciate something a little more upscale than a candy ring.

He crossed the river, parked on the Mississippi side of Cottonbloom, and headed toward Abagail’s Boutique. A handwritten sign on the door read Closing at Noon. Have a Merry Xmas! A tinkling bell announced his entrance, and a rich, spicy scent made his nose twitch. Damn, the place even smelled expensive.

Racks of clothing stretched to the walls, a few well-placed mannequins highlighting fancy party dresses. Intimidated, he fingered the fabric of the shirt hanging closest to him. He stared at the price tag for a long moment sure that his brain was transposing numbers.

“Hi! Can I help you?”

He dropped the tag and stuck his hands into this back pockets feeling like his touch would somehow sully the expensive clothes. A pretty woman with ashy-blond hair smiled a couple of racks over.

“I think I made a mistake.” He took a step backward.

“Nonsense. Are you looking for a Christmas present for someone?”

“Maybe.” Why was he being evasive? Shopping wasn’t a crime. “Yes. I need to get my… girlfriend something.” Putting a label on their relationship felt oddly right.

“How sweet. What size is she?” The woman weaved to him. She looked like a walking advertisement for the boutique, wearing heels, a flowy skirt, and the same shirt with the astronomical price tag.

“I have no clue. Normal?”

“Normal is a relative term.” The woman’s laugh was throaty and wild in contrast with her Southern-belle appearance. “I’m Sutton, by the way.”

He nodded, not sure if their introduction merited a handshake. She decided for them, sticking her hand out. Her grip was firm.

“We’ve only been going out a few weeks. I’m not even sure what’s appropriate.”

She made a knowing sound and nodded. “Come back here.”

He followed her through the racks to a display table in the back. It was covered in little tree-like structures with jewelry hanging from some branches and scarves from others. He poked at the curtain of necklaces, overwhelmed by the magnitude of choices. Sutton circled the case so they were standing across from each other.

“What’s your girlfriend like?” she asked.

He stared at a paisley-printed scarf until the pattern blurred and he pictured her in his bed, her arms open and a smile on her face. “Amazing. Forgiving. Beautiful,” he whispered, each word coming a little quieter.

The jangle of a lock brought him back to the moment. Sutton was squatting and sorting through items inside the case. She came up with two boxes. One small white box displayed a simple silver chain bracelet. The other was filled with mini figurines.

“How about a charm bracelet? Affordable, yet meaningful.”

“How does it work?”

“I would suggest you buy the bracelet and one charm today. Then, as the years pass, you add to the bracelet. Holidays, life events… You know, marriage, children, whatever.”

The mention of marriage

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