Page 27 of At Your Service
“What bothered you about it afterward?” Why she wanted to know, she had no clue. If Major Gold, the reputed Fashion House Playboy had some hang-ups about sex in real life, that was none of her concern.
“I didn’t want to seem like I was taking advantage of the situation or mislead you in any way.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t expected that answer. Truthfully, she didn’t know what to expect from Major from one minute to the next, but this solemn, compassionate admission definitely wasn’t it.
“Despite what the press says, I never want any woman I’m with to have misconceptions about what our relationship is or what it isn’t. Even though our connection is more rooted in business, I feel obligated by the same standard.”
“That’s understandable. But so is being physically attracted to someone.”
“I agree.”
“So how did you manage to get this reputation that follows you around like a lost puppy, if you’re so careful about how the women you date perceive your relationship?”
“When people don’t have enough information, they make things up.”
“And you don’t care to give them more information,” she said, thinking back to the way he’d refused to speak at the press conference.
“They’re not entitled to know every aspect of my life. Nobody is unless I want it to be so. Just because my family is notable and our business is in the spotlight, doesn’t mean I have to personally be there, as well.”
She was quiet while she digested those words. Being in the spotlight had never been a problem for her, but she wondered if there was something to the thought that her family wasn’t entitled to every aspect of her life, either.
“But you did date three different women in three days. That’s gotta mean something.” She chuckled lightly after the statement because the pang in her chest as she’d thought about her relationship with her family was far more uncomfortable than ever before.
“One was a distribution rep that was in town from London and was having problems with her laptop. Another was a family friend and a favor to my mother. The other was a real date that I’d scheduled weeks before and didn’t feel comfortable backing out of at the last minute. Does that sound like the life of a playboy?”
It didn’t. It actually sounded kind of lonely, because at no point had he said he “wanted” to be on a date with any of those women. At least Nina made the choice when and who she dated and, for the most part, she was active in that date. Major sounded as if he were just along for the ride.
“Well, you’ve got yourself a fiancée now, Major Gold.” She reached out and grabbed his hand, lifting their arms up over their heads in a combined fist pump.
He laughed. It was the first time she’d heard the sound and she immediately liked it. She liked it a lot.
“Yeah, I guess I do. And she’s a pretty terrific fiancée if I must say so.”
“Oh, yes,” she said when she’d lowered their hands. “Definitely say so. Frequently.”
They both laughed then, and in that moment Nina realized she’d never felt as at ease with another man before. They weren’t thinking about having sex—or at least she wasn’t—and they weren’t discussing work. They were just talking, just being, and she just liked it. A lot.
CHAPTER NINE
THEDUPLEXONthe Upper East Side was bigger than two of her apartments back in York. The stripped-wood flooring and private rooftop terrace were amazing. Nina loved it and she’d told Major so when he’d brought her yesterday to stay here for the remaining month of their agreement.
Today was the first bridal dress fitting. Last week, she and Riley had gone to lunch and afterward sat in Riley’s office for the duration of the afternoon going through sketches of wedding gowns, fabric swatches and color wheels. By the time they were finished, six sketches had been selected for Nina, there were three color-scheme finalists and she’d discovered that when it was her turn, Riley didn’t want a big wedding.
“Something small, maybe on an island, with just our family and closest friends. That’s the perfect wedding for me,” Riley had said.
Nina had noted the light in her eyes when she’d spoken about her wedding ideas. A spark that Nina presumed was from being in love and actually believing that a wedding was on the horizon at some point. Nina didn’t have that type of imagination.
But she was ready for today. Sitting at the table next to the biggest set of windows with the best northern view of the city, she monitored the activity on her app in correlation to the sales directly from RGF. All the numbers were up. This trial run was going well so far. She clapped her hands together and reached for her mug, frowning when she sipped very cold coffee.
Minutes later she walked out of the gorgeous gray-and-white kitchen with a bottled water and a banana when she heard the doorbell ring.
Somebody was early.
Nina went to the door and smiled when she saw Riley looking fashionably chic in dark jeans, a tan blouse and heels that were way too high for a Saturday afternoon. After greeting Riley and stepping to the side so she could come in, Nina looked down at her weekend attire: gray sweatpants with a matching sweatshirt that was a couple sizes too big, so she looked like a sack of potatoes.
“Sorry I’m so early. I was just eager to get this started and Chaz is out of town until Wednesday. This place is great,” she said as she walked straight through the living room/dining room and into the kitchen.
Nina followed.
