Page 13 of Secret Admirer
Maybe he was. His pants were designed by his brother and not due for the runway for another year. Tempted to call the date off, he turned toward Rebecca, who gave him another of her dazzling smiles as she stepped out into the afternoon sun. A second stain appeared on her shoulder.
No one would ever believe Bart was serious as she walked beside him toward the limo. “Yeah. I’m excited to see your brother’s house.”
Right. This wasn’t a big deal. Clothes mattered to his family and him or he’d have never noticed Rebecca’s lack of… style. Clothes were easily fixed though, if she was willing. Rebecca struck something inside him that he wasn’t sure how to label, but he told the driver to stop at the House of Morgan store and then held the door open for her as he said, “We need to make a stop first.”
“Where?” She ducked inside the limo.
With the right clothes, no one would dare insult her or treat her like she didn’t belong next to him. He scooted in beside her and the driver closed the door for him as he nodded at Rebecca and said, “To my sister’s store. I want to ensure you have the right armor for battle.”
“Is your family gathering a battlefield?”
“Hopefully not, but there is always press nearby, snapping photos of the more famous Morgans. And you’ll need a better dress to fit in.”
She tugged the fabric and said, “I know it’s stained but if someone takes our picture my father might see that I didn’t wear the dress he bought for me.”
“It’s up to you.” He pointed to the two spots. His brother already thought he’d risked his fashion empire once with Nadia. He wouldn't embarrass Gio with Rebecca. This was an easy fix, if she didn't let her pride get in the way, then he could relax and get to know more about Rebecca.
Her face turned bright red and she closed her eyes as she asked, “You saw those? I'd hoped washing took them out. So yeah, let’s pick up a new dress.”
He offered her champagne from the refrigerator. He took out the bottle as he glanced at her sleeve and handed her a glass to hold as he popped the cork. “It’s right there, but I promise no one will doubt you belong with me if you have the right clothes.”
Thepopsounded loud and she held out the glasses as he poured. “Look, I’ll pay for the dress.”
That wasn’t necessary. Rebecca was different but maybe that was good. He put the bottle back. Once she handed him a glass he said, “Don’t bother. My sister and brother own a clothing line. I’ve never been charged for clothes.”
She clinked glasses with him. “I don’t have any brothers or sisters.”
Siblings popped out at him all the time. While he'd met everyone once at his brother’s wedding, that night was a blur, and then again at the fashion show. Tonight would be a more relaxed gathering. They sipped their champagne. “I have plenty. I don’t really know half of them, but tonight will be a good chance to talk.”
Another bright beam of a smile that shined like a beacon of light from inside her mesmerized him. “Well, I’m glad to join you then and be your backup in case you need to escape a conversation or two.”
The earnestness about her kept him off balance. They drove toward Miracle Mile which wasn’t far from where she lived, but the street became trendier and people strolled beneath tree-shaded streets as they neared the headquarters of his siblings.
Rebecca glanced around like everything was new and exciting. He took her flute from her to put on the counter for later as he said, “You don’t know much about me, do you?”
"No." The limo stopped. “After meeting you, I refused to look you up online. I hoped that you'd call, but I don't want you to think I'm a stalker--even though I chased you down.”
He briefly pressed his hand on her back to nudge her to the open passenger door. She stepped out first, and he followed her onto the white gleaming sidewalk where no one batted an eye at the limo, or them. She accepted his offered arm while he said, “You seem calmer today.”
He walked her toward the boutique's silver door and she patted his arm. “You called. It means you like me, at least a little, so I wasn’t a completely reckless idiot.”
Bart didn't think of her as an idiot, or reckless, but courageous. The moment he'd met her was burned into his mind--her telling him that his tires were wrong on his brother's Maserati. Rebecca's ponytail, cherry red mixed with her natural blonde, swung to her shoulders and something inside his heart shifted. He held the door for her as he said, “No woman has ever literally thrown herself in my path before.”
She laughed but not out loud--her blue eyes gleamed as he directed her into the shop. Rebecca said, “I find that hard to believe.”
"Well, perhaps one or two, but no one was ever as bold as you.”
“I was more aiming for "don’t lose my chance with fate" but you can call that bold if you like.”
The attendants glanced at him in confusion. He looked enough like Gio and his siblings--they all had the same profile, almost, for them to wonder who he was. Bart led her toward a rack. “Here we are. Let’s get you a dress. Start shopping. I’ll be back--I need to introduce myself so they know who I am.”
She nodded and started going through clothes.
Bart backed up and four women all dressed the same came out of nowhere and started taking Rebecca's measurements. He saw the look of surprise on Rebecca’s face, but she rolled with what was happening.
He cleared it with the front desk that he had the family discount, and that he'd appreciate assistance with his friend, for more than just a black dress.
The cashier relayed that to the team. Bart brought out his card. The attendants led Rebecca toward a dressing room and offered her various styles.
