Chapter Eight
Eating breakfast was a different experience while sitting in front of the big windows of Leo’s apartment overlooking the city. It was just after seven in the morning, but New York City was already alive. After all, it was called the city that never sleeps for a reason.
There was constant activity, with so much to do-entertainment, food and stores that stayed open twenty-four hours a day.
There was no other place like it on Earth.
She’d never lived anywhere else, and she had no desire to.
The energy of the city was a comfort to her, seeing so many people living and working together.
The city had a pulse to it that made her feel as if she were part of something larger than herself.
Considering she lived a somewhat lonely existence, the thought helped.
She had friends, of course, and her work brought her face-to-face with tons of people, but it wasn’t the same as having family or a partner.
If she wasn’t a naturally positive person, it would be easy to get down about her life.
Instead, she sipped her coffee and ate her bagel while thinking about how lucky she was to live in a bustling place like New York City.
Footsteps behind her drew her attention away from the window.
Leo approached in a navy suit with the smoky smell of his aftershave wafting toward her. He’d been in the kitchen with her earlier, pointing out where she could find cereal, bagels, fresh fruit, and coffee. Then, he left her so he could take a shower and get ready for work.
“Did you find everything you needed?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, but aren’t you going to have anything? I can make you a bagel or cereal. Maybe some yogurt or fruit?” His kitchen had everything anyone could want.
“Thanks, but not today. I’m running late. For some reason, I couldn’t drag myself out of bed at the usual time this morning.” He winked at her and she giggled, aware he’d snoozed his alarm twice because he’d been too comfortable in bed with her to get up.
“Sorry about that,” she forced herself to say. They both knew she wasn’t the least bit apologetic.
“Don’t be,’ he said, kissing her lips before walking to the kitchen, where she watched him make his coffee. “I’ll gladly skip breakfast anytime you’re here.”
Warmth rushed through her at the suggestion they would have more nights together along with a sense of relief. She hadn’t been sure how he felt about their night together. Had it been a one-time thing or had it meant something to him, like it had to her?
Sleeping with Leo wrapped around her had confirmed what she’d already suspected.
This had never been just a business arrangement for her.
Sure, she was excited about an interview at his sister’s company, and she sensed it could change her entire life.
But she also knew that regardless of his offer, he would have talked her into being his fake date for the party.
She’d liked him from the beginning, and the time they’d spent together just solidified her feelings.
She enjoyed learning about him and feeling him change from a Christmas Grinch to the man who supported charities for those in need and kids who wanted to dance. Leo was a mass of intriguing contradictions, and she liked everything she’d learned about him so far.
Finishing the last bite of her bagel and the rest of her coffee, she rose to her feet, ready to leave when he did.
He drove her home and walked her to her apartment door, though she suspected being a gentleman would make him even later for work. He didn’t seem concerned, especially as he cupped her cheek and kissed her thoroughly before she let herself inside.
For the rest of the morning, she walked around in a daze, happy and content in a way that had everything to do with the time she’d spent with Leo.
Normally, she slept alone. Last night, she’d fallen asleep in his arms, exhausted from their deliciously rough sex, as she melted into the comfortable mattress on Leo’s bed.
Today was her day off, so she decided to go dress shopping for the party a few days away. She intended to find something that would make Leo proud to have her on his arm.
Taking his credit card, she started at the boutique he’d mentioned. Urban Trend was near Madison Avenue, with a high-end beauty salon on one side and a bridal shop on the other. The window displayed mannequins in trendy women’s clothing and gorgeous gowns, similar to what Cammie needed to buy.
When she stepped inside, the scent of orange blossoms and vanilla tickled her nose. Five women were in the store, and based on the gold-plated nametags, three were obviously employees, the other two, customers.
The customers seemed to be together, shopping for shoes, and only one employee was helping them. That left two to assist Cammie, but neither approached her.
Stepping to the left, she saw gowns that would be good for a black-tie event.
The options were overwhelming, but when she glanced at the two unoccupied employees, they were chatting with each other as if there wasn’t a customer in the store in need of assistance.
She focused on her personal taste. She tended to like brighter colors, so she gravitated toward the pink and red dresses, not letting herself look at the price tags.
Without a doubt, everything in the store was outrageously expensive.
She didn’t have much experience choosing dresses that would complement her body, but she needed something that would look good with a bra.
Her chest was too large to go without one.
That meant no strapless gowns, thin straps or one shoulder choices.
Given it was winter, long-sleeved would be nice, but she didn’t want to look too conservative.
All these thoughts ran through her head as she looked through the dresses until she gave up. She’d just have to ask the women whose job it was to know the inventory inside and out for help.
Glancing over again, she noted that one of them was taking a phone call while the other was straightening a table of cashmere sweaters that were already perfectly neat.
She walked to the salesperson and gave her a friendly smile. “Excuse me, I was wondering if I could get some help choosing an evening gown?”
The woman, wearing a black dress and what appeared to be a diamond necklace, gave Cammie the once-over without bothering to hide her disdain.
She might be wearing her normal, everyday outfit of jeans and a cozy sweater, but she didn’t deserve to be looked at like she was a bug on the bottom of this woman’s thousand-dollar shoe.
“Are you sure that you want a gown? Do you have a reason to wear one?” the salesperson asked in a patronizing tone.
Cammie straightened her shoulders. “Of course, I do. I have a Christmas party to attend.”
The woman’s smile was slow and vicious as she turned up her red lips. “Oh, honey. You probably need an ugly Christmas sweater or something. Isn’t that what people like you usually wear to Christmas parties?”
By that, Cammie assumed she meant poor people. Cammie didn’t consider herself poor, but she definitely lived paycheck to paycheck, and she couldn’t afford this store in a million years if Leo wasn’t paying for it. But that didn’t mean that this woman could treat her so badly.
Cammie glanced at her nametag. “Rest assured, Patricia, I know what I need. Now, can you assist me?”
“The gowns are over there,” she said with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “Just make sure your hands are clean before you touch them. I don’t want anything transferred onto that expensive fabric.”
Cammie’s mouth opened wide and she was so shocked, she was unable to form a response. She’d worked at the coffee shop for a few years, and had dealt with many rude people but she’d never had someone be so blatantly hateful or dismissive like this.
“I-I want to speak to your boss,” she stammered, not wanting to allow this bitch to steamroll her.
“You’re speaking to her,” Patricia said, voice full of pride. “I own this boutique.”
This woman was the owner? What kind of businessperson treated a customer this way?
The door of the boutique opened, and another woman walked in. One look and she obviously had money. Everything she wore appeared luxurious and designer. Dress, bag, sunglasses.
Patricia turned away from Cammie and a genuine smile stretched across her face as she hurried to greet the new customer.
As Cammie watched the boutique owner, who had just been so hateful to her, fawn over the new customer and lead her over to a dressing room with promises of making sure she got everything she needed, including the VIP treatment, her stomach churned.
Without another word, Cammie left the boutique.
She’d never felt smaller, and by the time she walked into her apartment shame washed over her for letting that woman treat her like dirt. She’d been so caught off-guard by Patricia’s rudeness that she hadn’t stood up for herself.
Worse, she was supposed to see Leo later tonight. But hours later, she was still mortified and couldn’t face him. He already knew she’d planned to go dress shopping, and she couldn’t stand the idea of him asking how her day went and having to admit she’d been treated like trash.
Her feelings were mixed. A part of her didn’t like pointing out that someone thought she wasn’t good enough to shop where he’d sent her.
He obviously knew she was a barista, and he’d seen where she lived, but the difference in their socio-economic status hadn’t been an issue so far.
There was a part of her that feared this vast gap would eventually drive him away.
Feeling guilty, she texted him, cancelling their plans.
Though he was still at the office, he responded right away, asking why she wasn’t coming over as planned.
Not wanting to admit the truth, yet not wanting to lie, she simply told him that she wasn’t in the mood. It was a vague, but honest answer, one that made her mood even worse.
Leo didn’t push for more information, and she was relieved. She was midway through contemplating heating up some leftovers for dinner when a knock sounded on her door.
Cammie looked through the peephole, surprised to see Leo standing in the hall. A glance at the microwave clock told her it was six p.m. so he must have come straight from work.
Opening the door, she frowned when she realized he hadn’t buzzed so she could let him in. “How did you get in the building?” she asked.
“I told you this place isn’t the safest. One of your neighbors just held the door open for me when I walked up behind her.” He brushed against her as he strode into her apartment. “Now, what’s going on? Why did you cancel?”
Before she could answer, his gaze landed on her Christmas tree sitting in front of her living room window. Not that she had much of a view anyway, and she liked the idea of the tree being visible from the street.
His mouth opened wide as he took in the evergreen that was almost as tall as her ceiling. A colorful ornament hung from every branch. Multi-colored lights illuminated the entire living room, and a track circled the base with a battery-powered train.
His gaze continued around the room and she looked at her apartment from his point of view. On the coffee table, she’d set up a glass Christmas village and red ribbons decorated the front of her kitchen cabinets.
“This is… exactly what I expected,” Leo said, before looking back at her with soft eyes. “Full of Christmas cheer, just like you.”
She heard the compliment, saw the warm way his gaze settled on her face. But she wasn’t feeling the moment the way she should.
Closing her apartment door, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other while twisting her fingers together nervously. “Why are you here, Leo?”
His expression turned serious, and he moved closer. “I want to know what’s going on with you. Why did you cancel our date?”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “I just… didn’t feel like getting together.”
His gaze narrowed. “Did I do something to upset you?”
She shook her head. “No. Not at all.”
He took one of her hands and ran his thumb over her knuckles while staring into her eyes. “But something or someone did,” he said, surprising her with his ability to see what she was trying to hide. “What was it, sweetheart? Who stole your smile?”
She wasn’t sure about telling him what happened, as if revealing the truth would make her humiliation worse but the concern in his eyes convinced her. Before she knew it, she’d admitted the whole story about the way the boutique owner had treated her.
She’d never seen Leo angry before but as she spoke, his facial features transformed until a muscle ticked in his jaw and his eyes were narrowed slits.
“I can’t believe they treated you that way,” he snarled. “It’s completely unacceptable.”
She nodded. “I agree, but I didn’t exactly stand up for myself, either. I was just so shocked.” She bit down on her lower lip, a mixture of embarrassment and anger rushing through her. At the woman, at herself. All of it.
“That’s not your fault,” he said, as he brushed his knuckle down her cheek. “The owner was dead wrong, and she needs to pay for that.”
Cammie hated the idea of a confrontation. “I don’t know… it’s probably not worth the fight. Maybe we should just forget about it.”
Leo shook his head. “Absolutely not. She’s going to learn that actions have consequences. But don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll take care of everything.”
Cammie wasn’t the type to seek revenge or hold a grudge, but she had to admit it felt good to know he cared enough to fix things for her.
“As for the dress, we’ll go somewhere tomorrow to buy you a gown.”
She didn’t want to bother him with dress shopping. “You don’t have to go with me. I’m sure I can—”
“I’m coming,” he insisted. “I want to make sure you’re treated well.”
Her lips lifted in a smile. It had been a long time since someone had taken care of her. It was before her mom had gotten sick and Cammie had forgotten how good it felt. “Okay,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
After they wrapped up that conversation, Leo spent the rest of the evening at her apartment.
He ordered pizza and sat on her living room couch while they ate the pie and watched Christmas movies.
He didn’t hold back his criticisms, calling It’s a Wonderful Life a depressing movie and claiming that the Grinch was justified in his actions because the townspeople were annoying as hell, causing her to laugh in good-natured fun.
She figured he’d become bored with her choices in Christmas movies, yet he didn’t seem to mind when she started the third one. A Christmas Carol was one of her favorites.
Leo leaned back on the couch and Cammie tucked herself into his side. She lay her head on his shoulder, and he pulled a knitted blanket off the back of the sofa and covered them both.
Feeling cozy and happier than she could remember, Cammie fell asleep before she even realized she was tired.