Page 12 of Love Redesigned
I hastily replaced the lid on the flower box and shifted it to the back of my desk. “Of course. Sorry about that.”
“Did you take care of the navy dress?”
I nodded. “Everything’s all set.”
“And you checked on my appointment for tomorrow morning? If I’m not out of here by noon, it will ruin the entire weekend.”
“Everything is confirmed,” I said. “The writer fromElitewill be here at nine. And I’ve arranged for the samples from the spring line to be brought to your office by five today so they’re ready for her preview in the morning.”
“Perfect. That’s what I wanted to hear.” She pulled her handbag onto her shoulder and slipped a pair of sunglasses onto her face. “If that’s all taken care of, I’m going to head out early.”
“One quick reminder,” I said before she’d gotten passed me. “I have the day off tomorrow.”
She paused and lifted her sunglasses, her lips pursed into a frown. “Did I know about this?”
“You did. For my best friend’s bridal shower.”
Her face fell. “Oh. Right. I suppose I do remember. Well, enjoy your weekend.”
She paused as she passed by, her finger tracing the edge of the sketchbook I’d inadvertently left on the desk when Chase had bombarded me with flower news. “What’s this?”
I quickly pulled the sketchbook away and closed it. “It’s nothing. Just some doodling.”
She gave me a curious look. “It looked like a wedding gown.”
I shrugged and held the sketchbook tightly against my chest. “Oh, you know how it is. Single girls always dreaming of their weddings.”
“Sure,” she said, her brow furrowed. “Well, all right then. I guess I’ll see you Monday.”
I watched her walk down the hallway until she turned the corner toward the elevator and disappeared out of sight. I took a deep breath and opened the sketchbook to the page Sasha had seen.
I would design dresses for Sasha all day. Dresses, pants, jackets, whatever she wanted for LeFranc, I’d do it. But this? This was mine.
It wasn’t the first wedding dress I’d designed, but it was by far the prettiest. It was the prettiest thing I’d ever designed, period. And that’s what my roommate, Paige, deserved. She’d been my best friend since elementary school and had more than earned her right to a custom dress. Paige had spent hours as a human dress form while I pinned and tucked and draped fabric over her body, then graciously performed runway shows for my parents, she the only model, and I, the glowing designer taking the stage at the end of the show. A wedding dress was theleastI could do. My fingers started to itch just looking at the sketch. It was already half-sewn back at my apartment, and I couldn’t wait to finish it.
Thoughts of working on Paige’s dress only half-distracted me from the flower box perched on the edge of my desk. The flowers, and all that they stood for.
Alex worked with Isaac.
Alex would be at dinner.
Alex.
Alex.
Alex.
Chapter Four
Alex
I stood in front of the restaurant, nervously looking up and down the street. It was still fifteen minutes before Dani was supposed to arrive, but fifteen minutes didn’t feel like enough cushion. The last thing I wanted was for her to show up while I was standing out front talking to Alicio.
Well, probably not Alicio. I doubted he’d show up himself. He’d said he had something to give me, but Alicio rarely did anything he could have someone else do for him.
A sleek, black car pulled up in front of the restaurant, slowing to a stop. I took a step forward, anxiety gripping my gut with an unyielding fist. I hadn’t seen anyone from my stepfamily in almost a year.
Gabriel climbed out of the car and the tension in my shoulders eased.
