Chapter 30
Gabriella stopped outside the doors to the main room of La Facon. ‘Phoebe, the dog can’t come in here. I don’t even know why it’s following us. We should call the dog pound or something. Isn’t that what they do in America?’
‘No! Because on TV shows, the dogs get taken to the pound and then they’re put down!’ Phoebe gripped the dog’s fur like it was a beloved family member already about to be torn from their midst.
‘That can’t be true,’ Gabriella said. ‘I mean, there’s nothing wrong with him. And the way he ate those dog biscuits was not saying “frail”.’
‘He will be good. Won’t you, Mr Darcy,’ Phoebe said, stroking the dog’s ears.
He had a name! That was attachment already and called after a literary hero…
‘And after here, Phoebe? When Cheyenne has finished being distracted by signage issues at the library event? When we have to go back to the hotel?’
Phoebe didn’t answer, just continued to stroke the dog’s fur and whisper words of affirmation in his slightly grubby-looking ears.
‘Goodness! What do we have here?’
A French accent echoed around the corridor and Gabriella looked at the immaculately dressed little woman who was now standing before her.
‘Hello,’ Gabriella said. ‘I’m Gabriella Felix. I have an appointment with Luca.’
The woman smiled. ‘I know you do, my darling. But, please, introduce me to this furry person.’ The woman stepped towards Phoebe and the dog, hand already out to pet.
‘This is Mr Darcy,’ Phoebe introduced. ‘And I’m Phoebe Felix.’
‘I am Sybille. This is my place. And I am honoured to meet you, Phoebe and Mr Darcy.’ She stroked the dog before turning back around. ‘And it is very good to meet you too, Gabriella.’
‘Sorry about the dog,’ Gabriella said. ‘It’s not ours. We just—’
‘It is no problem. Look at him. So cute,’ Sybille stated. ‘Phoebe, shall we go and see what I have for him in the kitchen? Luca is ready for you.’ Sybille indicated the doors while she, Phoebe and Mr Darcy walked in the other direction.
Gabriella pushed at the doors and then stepped into the room. And there was Luca, dressed impeccably as usual, black trousers, black shirt, those curls…
‘Hello,’ she greeted.
‘Hey,’ he replied. ‘So, first of all, tell me, while no one else is here, how is your injury?’
‘It’s OK,’ Gabriella said. ‘You don’t need to worry about it. I told you that.’
‘I know but—’
‘But more importantly, how is Errol?’
Luca sighed. ‘He’s OK. I stayed over there last night. He was concussed, a bit shaken up, but, you know, fine.’
‘And you don’t know what happened? He doesn’t know what happened?’
Luca shook his head. ‘Something random, the police say.’
‘So, no one has a grudge against him. No one would have put a piece of metal into a look he had made for any reason.’
Again, Luca shook his head. ‘I am absolutely certain that the two things are not connected. I can’t account for the metal, but I am also 100 per cent certain it will not happen again. I promise.’
She nodded. ‘OK.’ And then she looked at the clothes on the mannequins.
Different to the last options he had produced for her before they had shifted to the emporium.
They were more casual than the look she had worn last night but this was an event for readers, it wasn’t show business and razzamatazz. ‘These are what you have in mind?’
‘You don’t like them?’ Luca asked.
‘They don’t know me yet. We’re just meeting,’ she answered, going to the first outfit. ‘Tell me about them.’
‘So, this one,’ he said, stepping up to her, ‘is all about the fabric and the cut. The dress is simple but it’s going to look classic, professional. We can see how it is when you have it on. Maybe we will add a belt.’
‘O-K. And this one?’ She moved in front of a green dress. It shimmered but not in glitzy chorus-line way, more of an Ariel from The Little Mermaid kind of way.
‘This plays with your colouring,’ he answered.
‘Plays with it?’
‘Yes,’ he said confidently. ‘You have red tones in your dark hair, this brings them out.’
‘Not that one then,’ Gabriella said confidently, moving away from that mannequin.
‘Why not?’
‘My mother has red hair.’
‘Well, I guessed it came from one of your parents so—’
‘So not that one,’ she stated. ‘And the first look. I think it would make me look too short.’
‘Not in the heels I’ve picked out. Perhaps if you try the dress on with the heels then you can get to know each other.’
She smiled. ‘And now you’re using my words against me.’
‘Oh no,’ he said. ‘You’re my client. I’m only going to work with you. I promise.’
‘Wow, that’s two promises in as many minutes. I do hope you can deliver.’ She turned to face him, ready to let her trademark defiance talk for her. Except she met his eyes and it stalled her. Intense. Perhaps a little intimidating. But the most disconcerting feeling was… knowing. Could he see her?
‘I never say anything I can’t commit to,’ he answered, those eyes matching hers. ‘And it’s my secret weapon, remember?’
She swallowed, a wave of feeling she hadn’t experienced in so long rolling over her. She needed that to stop…
‘I will take your professional advice,’ she said fast. ‘I’ll try it on. And let’s see how they all make me feel.’