Page 23 of Then Came Love
Chapter Five
JAX WAS AS nervous as he’d been the first time he’d shown his gowns at a fashion show. He wanted everything to be perfect for Jordan, and he’d had to pull a few favors to make it happen, but she was worth it. He walked out of the conference room and headed up front just as Jordan walked through the door, and damn. She looked like she’d walked off a runway. Her hair hung like spun gold over the shoulders of a double-breasted burnt-sienna blazer with cream buttons, which she wore over a cream blouse with dark buttons, and had paired with tan tweed slacks. She carried a small white box with a red bow around it in her hands and a large red leather tote that matched her heels over one shoulder, bringing back to him the subtle reminder of all she’d lost painted on her pretty red toenails.
Her eyes found his, a flicker of heat rising to the surface, but just as quickly, he noticed a hint of trepidation, cutting him to his core. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll keep my feelings in check and focus on making you the gown of your dreams.
She blushed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m sorry. I was just admiring your outfit. You look incredible.”
“Thank you.” She looked down at her clothes. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“I can see why. You have a great eye for fashion.”
There was that sweet, appreciative expression again, making him want to tell her how beautiful she was apart from the clothes, so he could learn each and every one of her expressions, of which he was sure there were many. He’d tell her that her skin was as smooth as mulberry silk and her cornflower-blue eyes made him want to know her thoughts and feel everything she felt. He’d tell her that she resonated the strength of wool and the softness of cervelt and that he wanted to wrap her in his arms when she talked about her family and hold her hand on however many paths it took to find the answers she sought. But as her eyes swept appreciatively over him, he kept his promise and said, “I thought we’d have dinner and talk in the conference room. Would you like to get started?”
“Sure. I brought dessert.” She handed him the box. “It’s chocolate cake. A resident made it for me.”
“Most clients try to get on my good side by lavishing me with praise. I’ll take a client who shares her sugar with me any day.” He winked, earning another beautiful smile. His hand was drawn to her back, but he forced himself to lower it. “Did you have a nice day?”
“Yes. How about you?”
He held her gaze as he opened the conference room door. “My job rarely feels like work, so most days are good.”
“You’re luck—” Her voice fell away as she stepped into the conference room, her gaze trailing over the platters of enormous handmade pretzels with homemade honey-mustard dipping sauce, pigs in blankets, and lime gelatin salad. “Jax,” she said just above a whisper, full of disbelief.
He set the box on the table and held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t do this to flirt.” He lowered his hands and his voice. “I did it because usually when I meet with a bride, a member of her family or someone who’s as close as family comes with her. Since your family can’t be here, I thought it would be comforting to have something familiar in the room, so they didn’t feel so far away.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She walked out of the room.
He went after her. She was halfway down the hall, digging a tissue out of her tote, her back to him. “I’m sorry, Jordan. I obviously overstepped.”
She shook her head, wiping her eyes as she turned to face him. “It’s not that. It’s just…You keep making my feelings a priority, and I’m not used to that.”
His relief was tempered by what her confession meant, and it was hell keeping his thoughts about that to himself, but he managed to hold it in. “Jordan, your wedding is going to be one of the most momentous occasions in your life. Your feelings should be a priority every step of the way. I probably should have asked your permission instead of surprising you.”
“You shouldn’t have. This is the best surprise I’ve ever been given, which is why I’m tearing up.” She wiped her eyes. “I must seem like a ridiculous mess to you.”
“No, you seem perfect to me.”
She lowered her eyes. “I’m far from perfect.”
“I don’t mean perfect as in free from faults, and for the record, if you were that type of perfect, you wouldn’t have lingered on my mind for eight months. What I meant was that you’re real, and that’s a rarity these days. Everyone wants to look and act the way they think others want them to. It’s hard to know who or what to trust, which is one of the reasons I live in this area instead of one of the fashion hubs of the world. But with you, it’s easy, because you cry when you’re sad and laugh when you’re happy. You blush and you try to scowl, although I haven’t seen you accomplish that yet, and you set up expectations based on what you need to be comfortable. That’s real, Jordan, and I hope you believe me when I say that I had that dinner made for you without any ulterior motive.”
“I do believe you, because I knew I could trust you the first time we met, too.” She breathed deeply.
He was dying to explore that further, but once again, he kept that to himself. “Well then, I think we should take our real, trustworthy selves into the conference room and enjoy dinner while we talk about your gown.” He heard Jonathan and Emiko coming downstairs from the studio. “But before we do, I’d like to introduce you to two of my dressmakers. The others have already gone for the day.”
“I was going to ask if you design and make the gowns yourself,” Jordan said.
“I wish I were that talented, but I’m afraid I fall short in the sewing and handwork departments.”
She held his gaze, a small smile playing on her lips. “I have a feeling you don’t fall short in any department.”
He was this close to making a comment he shouldn’t when Jonathan and Emiko came around the corner. Jonathan’s sharp features, flawless skin, and impeccably tailored suit gave him a modelesque vibe, while Emiko’s always-a-little-tousled short black hair, skin mapped with deep grooves that made her look older than her fifty-six years, and loose linen dress gave her an understated, motherly appearance.
“I thought I heard voices other than the nagging ones in my head,” Jonathan said loudly.
“Jonathan, Emiko, this is Jordan Lawler, the bride-to-be I mentioned to you this morning.”
Emiko offered her hand. “Congratulations on your wedding.”
“Thank you.” Jordan shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
“You must be frantic, working on such a short timeline. But don’t you worry—you’re in the best of hands.” Jonathan ran an assessing eye over Jordan. “You have beautiful bone structure. Are you considering a strapless gown?”
“Possibly,” Jordan answered.
“How are you wearing your hair?” Jonathan asked. “Up? Down?”
Jordan looked amused. “I haven’t thought about that yet.”
“Honey, the summer will pass like this.” Jonathan snapped his fingers three times. “And before you know it, you’ll be walking down that aisle. It’s decision time.” He leaned closer. “I’d go with an updo and show off your long, swanlike neck. You’ll make all the ladies jealous.”
