Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
LOUISE
W ith my eye mask shoved up, I rolled over in bed as the sun rays danced through my lace curtains ruffled by the air conditioner running on full blast already. With a stretch, I smiled. I’d finally slept like the dead.
And I knew why.
Eve.
Eve Dawson had me sleeping like a champ.
I’d already told Spencer about her, and he’d agreed to a date. Of course, I’d set him up on that pretty easily. He thought he was being so smart with his long list of attributes for my future partner, but he’d walked right into my sweetly spun web.
He couldn’t refuse after I agreed. And agree I did. I didn’t care what ridiculous dates I’d be going on. I’d play along until Spencer fell madly in love with Eve, and then I’d tell them the truth. I’d had my someone special already, but we’d announce that when the time was right.
With a satisfied grin, I reached for my phone and toggled into my messaging app, finding Eve’s message thread. There was something exhilarating about orchestrating happiness, like a conductor leading an orchestra to a crescendo. Good morning, sugar. You wouldn’t happen to have some time to spare for little ol’ me, would you?
I pressed the phone to my chest as I waited for a response. It didn’t take long.
Hi Lou. What did you have in mind?
With a squeal, I sent a text detailing a shopping trip before I tossed my silk duvet back and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, sliding into my high-heeled slippers before I tugged on my silk robe.
Before I could leave my bed behind, Eve answered. Oh, it sounds like a lot of fun, but I’m not much of a shopper.
I arched an eyebrow at the message. “Well, you are now, darlin’.”
I tapped the call button next to her name and pressed the phone to my ear as the line trilled. She picked up after a few rings. “Hi Louise, I–”
“Now, sugar, it’s not a problem if you’re not a shopper because I’m a good teacher.”
“Oh,” she said with a chuckle. “I just meant…I’m really not…really a going-out person.”
She couldn’t be more perfect for Spencer. “Maybe not, but you can’t sit in the house all day. The sun is shining. We’ll hit a few shops, have lunch, and you can go home and draw your blinds. I promise.”
“You’re a very persuasive person, Lou,” she answered.
“Of course, I am,” I answered. “Now, please say yes, or you’ll give me a complex.”
“All right,” she answered. “I’ll meet you at the cafe?”
“Of course. I’ve got to have my latte. See you in an hour?”
“Perfect. I’ll just finish up some work and meet you there.”
My nose crinkled as we ended the call. Work? At this hour? Yes, she definitely was perfect for Spencer.
I rose and headed for my en-suite. Before long, I was zipping up my sundress, tossing my sunglasses in my purse, and slicking on my lip gloss.
I pranced my way downstairs, finding Spencer staring out over the view of the water with a coffee cup in hand.
“Work break, darlin’?” I asked.
“Yes. I managed to slam through a good amount already and was rewarding myself with another cup of coffee.”
“That’s hardly a reward. How about a real reward?”
He glanced down at my ensemble. “If you mean a shopping trip, pass. Going to try again and see if today’s better?”
“I am. And I know it will be. Hey, put on something sharp this afternoon, okay?”
Spencer’s lips curled as his nose wrinkled. “Why?”
“Just…may have a friend dropping by.” I offered him a fleeting smile before I crossed the living room, heading for the front door.
“A friend?”
“Uh-huh,” I called nonchalantly as I stopped to do one final check in the mirror before I gave a final approval and grabbed my keys.
“Wait, what friend?” Spencer hurried toward me as I pulled the door open. “Not…the friend. Not the girl… for you…you know…me.”
“Uh-huh,” I answered with a grin and a nod.
His eyes went wide, and he swallowed hard, fear flashing across those icy baby blues. “Lou…” The shaking of his head told me exactly what he thought of the idea.
I gave him a dismissive wave. “Oh, Spence, it’s just a little meet and greet. Nothing crazy. Just an icebreaker so that first date isn’t so awkward. By the way,” I said as I poked the corner of my purse at him, “we’ve got to talk about that and make a plan.”
“Louise–”
“Gotta run, darlin’.” I darted out the door, calling, “Remember, something nice!”
I didn’t bother to look back, knowing he probably stood with a shocked and worried expression on his features. Poor Spencer. But it was for his own good.
Behind the wheel of my sleek sports car, I let the top down and aimed for the shopping district, enjoying the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin.
I slid into a parking space near the bakery and left my car behind as I sauntered down the sidewalk, following the delicious scent of cinnamon.
Eve waited, shifting her weight from foot to foot, outside the door, scanning the sidewalk. The little darlin’ was early…of course.
I grinned at her as I approached. “Hi, sugar.”
“Hi,” she said, her smile seeming genuine. “I was a little early.”
“I see that.”
We ducked into the bakery to place our orders for a morning iced coffee for the road.
“Now,” I said as we hit the sidewalk again, “did I hear you right? You were working at the ungodly hour when I called you?”
She chuckled. “Louise, it was after eight.”
“I know, that’s why I’m asking.” I laughed as I shot her a glance that demanded an explanation.
“I usually start working around seven,” she answered.
“Oh, honey, you have got to learn the art of sleeping in. I promise you, it’s to die for—as is that handbag, come on.” I dragged her into the purse shop to eye the red bag calling my name.
Five minutes later, we left the store behind, me with a new purse in hand.
“So, what is it that you do that requires you to be working so early?”
“Uh, it’s not that it’s required, I just…like to get work done early. And I’m a translator.”
“I see,” I answered with a nod, “so, you work early, so you can play all afternoon.”
“Uh,” she said with a chuckle. “I usually do a bit more work.”
I furrowed my brow as I sipped my coffee. “Play all evening?”
“Sure,” she said with a coy grin.
“What do you do all evening?”
“I may or may not sneak a few more translations in while I watch television.”
“Eve!” I shouted. “You must be joking. You don’t have any fun?”
“That’s not true,” she shot back. “I…watch TV, I told you.”
“Oh, my. All work and no play makes Eve a dull girl.” Yes, this dull girl was just the woman for Spencer.
“I’m not dull. I’m just…not very interesting.”
“That’s not true,” I said as we ducked into the dress shop.
I browsed a few of the new arrivals as the assistant greeted me. My eyes slid sideways, noticing that Eve only half-heartedly eyed a few things here and there. I, on the other hand, wasn’t just browsing for myself. I’d already mentally cataloged a half-dozen things that would look great on Eve at all the various dates I already imagined Spencer taking her on.
“See anything you like?” I asked.
She glanced at me, her cheeks a little pink as she smiled. “Oh, I don’t really need anything.”
“Darlin’, if you saw my closet you’d know I am not in need of anything, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try this lovely little white sundress. What do you think?”
“That would look great on you.”
“Well, come on, pick yours to try on. I’m not going alone.”
“Oh, I’ll just wait for you here.” She offered me a dismissive wave of her hand.
I cocked a hip, arching an eyebrow. “Now, I am not going to do this alone. We’re supposed to be shopping together. So, either I’m going to leave behind this lovely little dress that I just adore, or you’re going to try on this cute pink sundress with me.”
The sweet little sleeveless number would be perfect for that beach picnic I had in mind for Eve and Spencer’s second date.
She stared at the dress, her forehead creasing. “Uhhh…”
“Don’t you like it? I’ll bet it’ll look just darling on you. And I’m pretty certain I guessed your size right.”
She plastered a grin across her face that suggested she was humoring me, but I didn’t mind because she reached for the dress. “Okay. It won’t hurt to try it.”
“That’s the spirit, sugar.”
In a cloud of giggles, we disappeared into the dressing rooms. I shimmied out of my clothes and tugged up the silky white fabric around me, zipping it up. I didn’t care what it looked like; I’d buy it if I had to just to ensure she got the dress I’d picked out for her.
“How’s it going, Eve?”
“Oh, umm, well…”
“Come out,” I insisted, pulling open the curtain on my dressing room and stepping out.
“Oh, no, that’s okay. How does yours look?”
“If you don’t come out, I’ll come in,” I threatened.
Her curtain pulled back slightly, and she stuck her head out before she slipped out of the small space, her hands clutched behind her. “It’s...”
“Beautiful! Look at how nicely it fits your figure. And that color on you.” I twisted her back toward the mirror. “It’s perfect.”
She chuckled at my enthusiasm. “It’s…cute. And yours looks great, too. It’s very Marilyn Monroe.”
“Well, I’ll keep mine if you keep yours.”
With another giggle, she shook her head. “I really have very little need for a pink sundress, Lou.”
“Now, you never know. What about if your dream man asks you to go to a seaside picnic.”
She laughed even harder, her shoulders shaking. “Now, I really know I have no need for it if that’s the occasion.”
I giggled along with her. She had no idea that I was about to set her up with a wonderful man. She’d need this dress. “You need to think positive. Now, come on, what do you say? Are we in this together?”
“I really don’t think I should.” She tugged at the tag, her eyes going wide. “Now, I know I shouldn’t.”
I twisted the price toward me, flicking my eyebrows up. “Why, that’s a steal for this. I wonder if they have another color?”
“Louise!” she exclaimed as she twisted to face me, her voice a hushed whisper. “This is five-hundred-and-fifty dollars.”
“I know. I can’t believe it’s that low. Well, you’re right…you don’t need two. You need a few other pieces for all those dates.”
“I don’t go on dates. I don’t need a five-hundred-dollar dress.” She shook her head as she stepped back into the dressing room and pulled the curtain closed.
With the money Spencer and I both had, that was a drop in the bucket. Once she was married to him, she wouldn’t think twice about a dress like that. But they weren’t married yet. And they wouldn’t be if she kept foiling my plans.
The floral blouse she wore paired with those leggings was cute enough, but I needed perfection. I pressed my lips together, my nostrils flaring as I tried to think of a plan.
The curtain whipped open a moment later, and I twisted my concentration face into a smile. “Just let me change.”
I ducked into my dressing room and swapped the white stunner for my day dress. She was already handing that sweet little sundress off to the assistant as I stepped out.
I snatched it back and stuck it with mine before I thrust them both out toward the salesclerk. “We’ll take both.”
Any trace of pleasantness slid off her face in exchange for shock. “Louise, no,” she said in a low voice as the woman delivered the dresses to the counter.
“Now, I am not taking no for an answer,” I said with a shake of my head.
“I can’t accept this.”
“Of course, you can. And you’ll accept a pair of shoes to go with it, too,” I answered as I grabbed her hand with both of mine. “My treat. You simply don’t know what it means to me that you came shopping with me today.”
“Louise…I don’t need a dress as pay back for spending time with you. Friends are supposed to do that for free.”
Her words melted my features and tears stung my eyes. “Aww, darlin’, now I’m going to get you two dresses. I’m just pleased as punch that you consider me your friend.”
She tilted her head, her features showing disappointment in my words. She’d get over it.
“Come on, darlin’, we’ve got shopping to do.”
I asked the attendant to give us two separate bags, and we left the store behind each with a purchase dangling from our fingertips.
“Now, Louise, I’m drawing the line at this. I shouldn’t have even let you buy this one, but I didn’t want to have an argument in the store.”
“Good,” I said as I pranced down the sidewalk. “You’re learning. If you want to avoid another argument, you’ll let me buy you shoes and another dress. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure we pick shoes you can wear at least twice.”
She was growing frustrated with me. I would be interested to see how she dealt with it since Spencer could sometimes be frustrating, too.
She huffed out a sigh as her shorter legs worked hard to keep up with my long strides. I stopped walking, spinning to face her. “Sugar, I have more money than I will ever need. And I like spoiling my friends. Now, that’s just part of being friends with Louise Montgomery-Whitaker. It comes with the package. And it’s all-or-nothing.”
I set my hand on my hip and lifted my chin.
She gave me what looked like a pout, but it was so innocent, I could have pinched her cheeks. “Oh, Louise…”
I grinned at her and looped my arm through hers, tugging her along to the next shop. We spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon picking out a cute little dress and a pair of shoes. Eve tried to be choosy, but she ended up picking exactly what I wanted for her.
I insisted she wear the second dress out of the store to our first lunch together.
She objected when I ordered cocktails, but I insisted. Day-drinking was another thing rich folks loved to do, and I wanted her prepared for it.
We had a ball over our lunch, talking about our rather difficult families–though mine took the cake over hers–future hopes, dream dates and more.” I gathered some intel on what I’d suggest to Spencer based off of what she shared.
As the bill arrived, the little sneak tried to toss her credit card on it, but I was too fast for her. I snatched the bill away and handed it off to the cute waiter with my own card.
“Now, that was a very naughty thing to do, Eve.” I wagged my finger at her.
“Let me at least pay my share,” she said with slumped shoulders.
“Uh-uh, this was my treat. And don’t you even think about telling me you’ll stop lunching with me because of this,” I warned.
After the waiter returned with my card, I repacked my purse. “Did you drive?”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “I walked. I don’t live too far.”
“Well, let me drive you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Actually, I have an ulterior motive. I have got the most darling pair of earrings that I never wear, and they would go perfectly with your new dress. We’ll swing by my place and take a look at them.”
“I assume this is another non-negotiable part of the friendship?” Eve asked as we stood.
“You catch on quick, darlin’,” I said with a grin.
We made the short walk to my car, slid in, and soon were pulling up to Spencer’s beachside home.
“What do you think?” I asked as I dragged her to the door.
“Right on the beach. That’s nice.”
I grinned. If everything went right, she’d be living here. We pushed inside, and I took her to the living room.
“Wow, what a view.”
“Uh-huh. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll grab the earrings.” I disappeared from the room in search of Spencer. I found him hovering in the hall, peering into the living room. Good. He was interested .
“There you are. Go say hello.”
He wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. “No.”
“Spencer, be nice. She’s a sweet girl. Go, go.” I gave him a swat to encourage him as I hurried down the hall.
A glance over my shoulder showed Spencer peering into the living room again. I raced up the stairs and hurried to the railing overlooking the downstairs.
Voices floated up to me, and I clapped a hand over my mouth to cover a giggle at Spencer’s fake surprise.
“Oh, hi. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”
“Hi, sorry…I’m Eve, a friend of Louise’s.”
“Spencer,” he answered.
“Oh, I’ve got the earrings right here!” I shouted over the railing, not wanting him to ruin this by saying anything more.
I overheard Eve explaining the earring situation as I raced for my bedroom, grabbed a pair of pink gems, and made my way downstairs.
“Oh,” I said, feigning surprise as I stepped into the living room, “you two have met. That’s perfect.”
And they did look perfect together—a handsome couple, if I did say so myself.
Spencer offered me a nervous grin as I sauntered closer, handing over the pink gem earrings to Eve. “Here you go, darlin’. These should complete your ensemble.”
Eve accepted them with a shy smile, her eyes flicking between the earrings and Spencer. “Thank you, Lou. They’re beautiful.”
I grinned. “Like you two. You look so adorable together.”
Eve’s delicate features crinkled, her confusion obvious.
“Just as I suspected,” I said, leaning back to eye them up.
“I’m not sure I follow,” Eve said, her smile faltering.
I gave her a teasing laugh. “Oh, Eve, don’t be so modest. Seeing you two together just confirms what I knew in my heart. You’re just perfect for each other.”
Eve glanced at Spencer, who eyed me with a silent plea to stop. I ignored him, of course. Her expression mixed surprise with discomfort as she shifted her gaze back to me.
“And since you’re both here and getting along so famously, may I suggest something a little bold?”
“What?” Eve asked.
I leaned closer, my voice lowering to conspiratorial whisper. “I want you to be with my husband.”