The morning air in New York City was crisp and busy, with the city's hustle already in full swing. Billie adjusted her oversized sunglasses as she waited outside the lobby of her penthouse, her arms crossed in defiance. Cedric stood nearby, towering and quiet, his usual balaclava in place and arms crossed over his chest.

"So let me get this straight," Cedric began, his British accent sharp and slightly exasperated. "You've scheduled an entire day of hopping from shop to shop. In New York. On a weekend."

"Yes," Billie replied simply, her tone unapologetic. "It's my last day here before we go back to LA, and I want to hit all the spots."

Cedric looked down at her, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "And you're dragging me along because?"

"Because you're my bodyguard, duh," she said, rolling her eyes. "Plus, I need someone to carry my bags."

"You have assistants for that," he pointed out.

"They're busy," Billie lied, a sly grin tugging at her lips.

Cedric sighed, his posture stiffening as if bracing himself for battle. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when we attract a crowd."

"Relax, Balaclava Daddy," Billie teased, patting his arm. "I've got you to scare them off."

Their first stop was a small thrift store tucked away in the East Village. The shop was cramped and chaotic, with racks of clothes packed tightly together and shelves overflowing with knick-knacks. Billie was in her element, flipping through hangers with practiced ease.

Cedric, on the other hand, looked entirely out of place. His broad shoulders barely fit between the narrow aisles, and he stood stiffly by the entrance, his arms crossed.

"You're not just gonna stand there the whole time, are you?" Billie called over her shoulder, holding up a vintage band tee.

"That was the plan," Cedric replied dryly.

Billie rolled her eyes. "Come on, loosen up! Shopping's fun."

"For you, maybe," he muttered.

She walked over to him, holding up the band tee. "What do you think? Cool or too much?"

Cedric glanced at the shirt. "It's fine."

"Fine?" Billie repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You're no help."

"I'm here to protect you, not critique your fashion choices," he said.

Billie smirked. "Well, you're doing both today, so deal with it."

She handed him the shirt and continued browsing, leaving Cedric to awkwardly hold the growing pile of items she picked out.

By the time they left the first store, Cedric was carrying two large bags filled with clothes and accessories.

"Do you shop like this everywhere you go?" he asked as they stepped onto the sidewalk.

"Pretty much," Billie said, adjusting her sunglasses. "I love finding unique stuff. It's like a treasure hunt."

"Treasure hunt," Cedric repeated, shaking his head.

She grinned up at him. "Don't knock it 'til you try it. Who knows? Maybe I'll find something for you."

"I'm good," he said quickly.

"Suit yourself," she said, skipping ahead toward their next destination.

The second shop was a vintage boutique in SoHo, its interior sleek and curated with racks of high-end pieces. Billie immediately gravitated toward a rack of jackets, running her fingers over the fabrics.

"This place is more your vibe," she said, glancing at Cedric.

He raised an eyebrow. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You know, classy, expensive-looking," she teased. "Like you belong in a James Bond movie."

Cedric snorted. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."

"Definitely a compliment," she said, holding up a leather jacket. "You'd look good in this."

"I'm not buying anything," he said firmly.

"Who said anything about buying? Try it on," she insisted, shoving the jacket toward him.

Cedric hesitated, glancing around the store as if hoping for an escape. "Billie-"

"Just do it!" she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

With a resigned sigh, Cedric slipped off his coat and pulled on the jacket. It fit perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean frame.

"Damn," Billie said, stepping back to admire him. "I hate to boost your ego, but you look hot."

Cedric rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched in amusement. "Are we done here?"

"Not even close," Billie said, grabbing another jacket.

By midday, they had visited four stores, and Cedric's arms were loaded with bags.

"I think we're done," he said as they stepped out of yet another boutique.

Billie shook her head. "We still have one more stop."

Cedric groaned. "You're trying to kill me, aren't you?"

She laughed, linking her arm through his. "Come on, big guy. One more, and then I'll buy you lunch."

Their final stop was a sprawling thrift store in Brooklyn, its aisles packed with everything from vintage furniture to records. Billie was in heaven, darting from section to section while Cedric trailed behind her like a reluctant shadow.

As she rummaged through a bin of old graphic tees, she glanced over at Cedric. He was standing by a shelf of books, his eyes scanning the titles.

"Find something you like?" she called.

"Maybe," he said, picking up a worn copy of a classic novel.

Billie walked over, peering at the book in his hand. "Pride and Prejudice? Seriously?"

"It's a good book," he said defensively.

She laughed. "Didn't peg you for a Jane Austen fan."

"There's a lot you don't know about me," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Billie's gaze lingered on him for a moment, her teasing expression softening. "Fair enough," she said.

As they left the store, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city. Billie looked over at Cedric, who was still carrying most of the bags.

"You've been a good sport today," she said, smiling.

"I didn't have much of a choice," he replied, though there was no real annoyance in his tone.

"Admit it," she said. "You had fun."

Cedric glanced at her, his green eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "Maybe a little."

Billie grinned. "See? Shopping's not so bad."

"I wouldn't go that far," he said, but his tone was light.

As they loaded the bags into the car and headed back to the penthouse, Billie couldn't help but feel a little closer to Cedric.