Devoted to Her (Dream Date Book 2) (19 page)

“Busy?” a voice asked behind Rebecca. She fought hard
not to flinch. Rebecca turned and saw Amanda’s bodyguard, Kellan.

Shit. I should have been more careful.

“Yeah. I got lots of studying to do,” Rebecca said in
a nonchalant voice. Kellan smiled.

“I can give you a hand if you want.”

“No, thanks. I was just…” Rebecca glanced toward
Amanda, and then back at Kellan. “I was looking to get her autograph, but she
looks busy. Maybe another day.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I was having a hard time plucking the courage,
anyway. She’s…something.”

“Ha. I know.”

“Okay. I need to go.”

Rebecca walked back to the entrance and left the
library. She tried to look calm. Kellan could
not
suspect her.
Fortunately, Rebecca was a pretty good actress.

I know just what to do to ruin Valentine’s Day for
Amanda and Nathan.

In her backpack, Rebecca had a dangerous weapon. She
didn’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary. It was rather cliché.

The big day was just around the corner. Nathan woke up
early on Wednesday. As it was Valentine’s week, Nathan had started leaving
gifts outside Amanda’s door. Last Monday, he’d left her a handwritten love
letter. To someone so techy, it would be refreshing. The previous day, Nathan
had sent her a box of assorted Ferrero Rocher chocolates. This time, he was
going to give Amanda something that she wouldn’t help but like.

Nathan went to his closet and grabbed a box he’d been
keeping in the section for shoes. The small gift box, which had a bow on top,
contained a cutting-edge USB 3.0 flash drive. Ashton had helped him select one
of the fastest models available.

I can’t wait for it to be Friday.

When Amanda saw what the flash drive contained, she
would be ecstatic. Nathan was going to make her the happiest girl in the world
that week.

Almost an hour later, Nathan was ready for classes. He
grabbed his backpack and left the apartment. Nathan checked the time on his
phone. Amanda should already be at the school by now.

Nathan walked to Amanda’s apartment. When he got
there, he saw Caldwell casually standing guard outside the door. He was trying
not to be conspicuous.

“Hey, Caldwell,” Nathan greeted. “Is Amanda in?”

“No. She left ten minutes ago.”

“Oh. Could you put this on her coffee table for me?
It’s another gift.”

“Sure,” Caldwell said, actually smiling. He was so
intimidating that it was almost odd to see him with a friendly face.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, Mr. Ferland.”

Caldwell opened
Amanda’s door and walked inside. Nathan turned to head to the campus. He only
had two gifts left to deliver. The last one would be the best.

Amanda used her lunch break to go to Starbucks. She
wanted to use her computer to search for a gift for Nathan. He’d already left a
handful of gifts to her, and she hadn’t given him one yet.

What do I give him?

Nathan often told Amanda that he had everything just
by her being at her side. It was romantic.

Then Amanda had an idea. She went to an online store
to search for interior decorations. Maybe a pair of stylish bookends, or a
chess set, since he was intellectual.

Those sound more like birthday gifts. Maybe I should
postpone them and think about something more romantic.

“Kellan, give me some help here,” Amanda called.
Kellan had seated a couple of tables from her. He stood up and sat opposite
Amanda in the table.

“How can I help you?”

Amanda drank some of her coffee, thinking.

“I want to give Nathan a Valentine’s Day gift, but I
can’t think of anything.”

Kellan nodded. He picked up his own cup of coffee.

“What does he like?”

“Nathan’s kind of intellectual. A bit nerdy, you know?
I want his gift to be memorable, something that’s romantic but not corny.”

Kellan thought for a moment, while Amanda browsed the
Internet for ideas.

“Would you consider Nathan your biggest fan?”

Amanda thought about that.

“Yes. He’ll always cheer and root for me.”

“Okay. So, what would Amanda Tilley’s biggest fan want
the most?”

“I’m not following.”

“Right. Let me put it this way. What if this random
guy was a big fan of his celeb crush? What would he want from her the most?”

Amanda thought the question was easy.

“The chance to see her in person?”

“Good. Another one?”

“Um…a date with her?”

“That one too. Can you think of anything else?”

Amanda thought about her own fans. They liked it when
she posted new photos and videos, and loved to have her interact with them.
Amanda replied to comments on Twitter and Instagram every once in a while. And lately,
her calendar had sold hundreds of copies.

“A memento?”

Kellan smiled.

“Right! If this random guy told his friends he met,
say, Taylor Swift, they wouldn’t believe him. Not unless Taylor gave him
something to remember her by.”

“So, you’re saying I should give Nathan an object to
remember me by? But we’re not parting ways.”

“I know, but some guys like to have an object from
their love. A thoughtful gift, preferably something small and durable.”

“To be a talisman?” Amanda asked.

“Yes. Or it can be a reminder. Everyone has their bad
days now and then. This tangible reminder of their significant other can be a
source of comfort.”

Amanda considered Kellan’s suggestion, thinking of a
small token she could give Nathan. Her first idea was a necklace or something.
Amanda knew that Nathan didn’t wear jewelry, so she wondered what he would
like.

“Do you have any other ideas?”

Kellan nodded. He grinned when the idea crossed his
mind.

“Wash his car.”

Amanda’s eyes widened.

“What?” she asked, laughing. “I can’t believe you just
suggested that.”

“I’m serious. You’re a smoldering woman, Amanda. Guys
absolutely
love
to see a bombshell wash their car. Find me a guy who
hasn’t fantasized about that and I’ll give you ten grand.”

“That’s quite racy for me, Kellan.”

“You’ve done racy photo shoots before.”

Amanda sighed, feeling nervous.

“We’re in the middle of winter, anyway. I’ll freeze
outside if I try to wash a car.”

Kellan frowned.

“I hadn’t thought of that. Well, you can always save
it for his birthday.”

Amanda had to admit the idea intrigued her.

“I know!” Kellan said, clicking his fingers. “No guy
would refuse this gift.”

“Which one?”

“Let him give you a massage. It’s win-win.”

Amanda shook her head.

“I should have asked Emmy for help on this.”

Kellan laughed.

“You wanted romantic gift suggestions for a guy, so
who better to ask than a guy?”

“I guess you’re right.”

When Amanda returned to the apartment building, she lingered
outside for a bit. The weather was pleasant enough that she wouldn’t freeze.

Amanda sat under a tree. She pulled out her phone from
inside her purse, as well as some earbuds. Amanda put them on and played some
music.

Time passed. Amanda thought about the best gift for
Valentine’s that she could give Nathan. She was considering another photo
shoot, but more romantic. The memento idea was also good.

Sitting there, Amanda didn’t hear the footsteps that
approached. When a pair of feet came into her view, Amanda looked up. It was
Emmy.

“Hi, friend,” Amanda said, removing her earbuds.

“I wondered where you’d gone to.”

“I was just here, relaxing. What’s up?”

“You haven’t been up to our apartment, have you?”

“No.”

Is it about what I’m thinking?
Amanda thought.

“There’s something waiting for you again. I think you
should check it out.”

“Yeah.”

Amanda followed Emmy upstairs. Then they entered their
apartment. Amanda looked around. Emmy pointed to the coffee table. There was a
box on top of it.

“What will it be today?” Emmy asked. Amanda had
already showed her the previous gifts. Emmy refused to eat any of the
chocolates. She claimed that they were just for Amanda.

Amanda tore the wrapping. Then she opened the box. It
contained a USB flash drive.

“He knows what you like.”

Amanda went to her bedroom to retrieve her tablet
computer. She returned to the living room with Emmy. They both sat on the sofa.
When the computer was ready, Amanda inserted the drive.

“They’re photos,” she said, double-clicking on one.
The image appeared on the screen. It showed Amanda at the ice skating rink.

“You guys went skating?” Emmy asked.

“Yes. It was during our winter break.”

Amanda looked at the other photos. They all seemed to
be memories of her and Nathan, things that they had done together.

“For a couple who have only been dating for a few
months, you sure are photogenic.”

Amanda laughed. There were over a hundred photos in
the flash drive. Several of them were of the little shoot that Amanda had done
for Nathan. When she had looked at all the photos, she closed the image viewer.

“There’s also a note,” said Emmy. Amanda looked at a
text document. Inside was a note from Nathan.

“This is so that you always remember every moment that
we spent together. Let’s share a lot more. I love you forever, Nathan,” Amanda
read out loud. She sighed, almost starting to cry with emotion.

“You’ve got a keeper, friend. I can’t wait to see what
other gifts Nathan has for you.”

“Me too.”

“Amanda, you must let me take you shopping,” said
Emmy. “I’ve been trying to convince you all week. Let’s go tomorrow, okay?”

“What for?”

“Clothes! You need to look gorgeous for Nathan.”

“I already have a lot of stuff to wear.”

“Yes, but you need something special.”

“Why don’t you just look through my wardrobe? You can
help me pick a nice dress.”

“That’s a good idea, too. Let’s go.”

Emmy walked toward
Amanda’s room. The latter laughed to herself. She unplugged the flash drive and
put it in her pocket. Amanda knew just how she was going to care for it.

On Valentine’s Day, Nathan stopped by Amanda’s
apartment. They still had classes, so they would only have half of the day for
themselves.

Nathan knocked on the door. Amanda answered.

“Are you ready to go?” Nathan asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ll take you in my car. Kellan and Caldwell will follow
behind us.”

Amanda and Nathan left the apartment. They met her
bodyguards outside. The four of them walked to the parking lot.

When they got to Cornell, Nathan saw that he and
Amanda weren’t the only couples celebrating. They were walking hand in hand.
Other couples were doing the same. A guy walked alone, holding a heart-shaped
box of chocolates. Amanda also saw a large teddy bear with a red heart inside
someone’s SUV.

“We’ll see a lot more of this during lunch,” Nathan
told Amanda.

“I hope you’re one of them.”

“You do? Then I’ll run and get you the biggest teddy
bear I can find.”

“No, please!” Amanda said, mocking alarm. “I don’t
want to have to call a tow service.”

Nathan laughed.

“We have a reservation today at eight.” Nathan told
Amanda the name of the restaurant. “You’ll have plenty of time to get there.”

“Eight. Got it.”

Nathan took Amanda’s hand, caressing her fingers.

“I’ll make this the best day you’ve ever had.”

Amanda closed the distance between them. She gave
Nathan a short kiss.

“All the best days of my life have been the ones I’ve
spent with you.”

Nathan ran a finger across Amanda’s lips.

“I would hope not. Just the good days, my love.”

Amanda’s brow furrowed. She then chuckled.

“You’ve got a point.”

At that moment, Amanda remembered what she had in her
purse. She stopped, opening it. Nathan looked back, waiting for Amanda.

“I have a gift for you,” she said. Nathan walked
toward her. Amanda pulled out a small box from her purse. It was wrapped in
paper.

“Thanks,” Nathan said. He weighed the box.

“Open it.”

Nathan tore the paper. He saw that the box inside was
akin to those that jewelry came in. Nathan lifted the lid. He saw a gold charm
inside. It was a rounded rectangle, almost one-fourth the size of a business
card. A short chain linked it to a keychain ring.