Page 88 of Then Came Love
Chapter Nineteen
JILLIAN’S DESIGN STUDIO was buzzing with excitement as bride-to-be Katrina Bailer and her ten bridesmaids giddily looked over the dress designs Jordan had come up with. Jordan stood off to the side with Jillian, trying not to let on that she was a nervous wreck, but her sketches were pinned up on a design board with all those keen eyes scrutinizing them. She’d been working like a fiend the last six weeks, sketching, tweaking, and meeting with Jillian and her sewing team to make sure she had everything perfectly called out, and now she felt like she was standing in front of those women naked instead of wearing one of her favorite original Jillian Braden dresses—a red figure-hugging shift with gathers under her breasts, a slim, deep V-neck, and capped sleeves. Jax called it her power dress, and she felt powerful in it. Jillian was also wearing one of her own designs—a burgundy tank dress, a shade lighter than her hair, with a gauzy cape and a sparkling silver belt.
Jordan took a deep breath, reminding herself that Jillian was thrilled with her designs. Jordan absolutely loved working with her. Jillian was a perfectionist, forthright, and unafraid to tell Jordan when something should be done differently. Jordan had always respected her as a designer, but her professionalism brought that respect to a whole new level. Especially since outside the design studio, Jillian was funny, quirky, and unfiltered, and she had become one of Jordan’s closest friends and a trusted confidant. Although she still kept the dirty details of her sexy times with Jax to herself, they talked about everything else in their lives.
Katrina and the girls all turned around at the same time. Eleven beaming faces had Jordan holding her breath. She touched her sunrise necklace, throwing a silent prayer out to the universe. Please don’t hate them.
“They’re exactly what we hoped for,” Katrina said, and her friends nodded eagerly. “But can we make a few small changes? We want to go a little shorter with all of them, and Tina wants hers to be sleeveless. Caroline really likes the cape you’re wearing, Jillian. Can we add that to her dress?”
Jillian turned to Jordan. “What do you think? Are you comfortable with those changes to your designs?”
Jordan hadn’t expected to be asked, but the answers came as easily and naturally as they did at her other job. “I don’t think the length is an issue for any of them, and going sleeveless will work.” Tina was petite and rail thin, and she needed a little extra something to create the illusion of curves. “But, Tina, how would you feel about changing the neckline? You have a beautiful figure, and I think if we go sleeveless, a sweetheart neckline might be more flattering. And since we’re going shorter, I think adding a little lift beneath your bust, like the dress I have on, would accentuate your waist and hips. Let me show you.” She went to the design table and quickly sketched the outline of two sleeveless dresses. One with a modified scoop neck and the other with a sweetheart neckline and lift beneath her bust.
“Wow. You’re right. Once you take away the sleeves, it would be kind of shapeless. The sweetheart neckline is so much better, and the lift is perfect. You guys have to see this.” Tina waved her friends over.
As they admired her sketches, Jillian whispered, “You’re good.”
It was thrilling to have the clients like her ideas, but Jillian’s compliment was like getting a gold star, and Jordan couldn’t wait to tell Jax. He’d been as supportive about her working with Jillian as he was about working with Reggie. They’d had an amazing visit with her aunt and uncle, and they’d already made plans for another visit.
Their lives were full of family and friends, barbecues, and low-key dates away from prying eyes, and she was loving it. Thankfully, the need for security had died down, and they were enjoying their privacy. They’d been running together a few days a week, catching sunrises, and sometimes they went out to the garden to watch the sunset with Coco. They hadn’t said those three important words yet, but they were always right there on the surface, ready to leap from her heart to his ears.
After Katrina and her friends left, Jillian turned to Jordan and clapped her hands together. “That was spectacular! Are you ready to take on another project?”
Happiness bubbled up inside her. “You want to keep working with me? But I thought since Johnny Bad put off his tour, it freed up your time and you wouldn’t need my help anymore.”
“He did, but the clients love you, and we work great together. I have more than enough work to keep us both busy, and you are insanely talented. What do you think? I know you were worried about having enough time for your full-time job and for you and Jax. Do you think you want to continue?”
“Are you kidding? Am I dreaming? Is this real? Of course I want to continue.”
“Yay!” Jillian cheered and hugged her.
“I love working with you, Jilly, and fitting it in has been relatively easy. I don’t feel any added pressure, and I think it’s because I’m having so much fun, it doesn’t feel like a job. The people at my other job keep telling me that they’ve never seen me happier than I’ve been these last few months.”
“As much as I’d like to take credit for that, I think it has more to do with my brother than working with me. He moons over you like my other brothers did when they fell for their wives.”
“That makes two of us. I’m crazy about him. Did I tell you that Jax came to have lunch with me one day last week, and now the Knotty Hookers call him Gentleman Jax, because he was so charming.”
“Jax told me all about those naughty old ladies. Did you know one of them asked him if he was a gentleman in the streets and a freak in the sheets?”
“Yes! That was Ruth. She’s so brazen. Did he tell you how he responded? He said Jordan comes to work every day with a smile, doesn’t she?”
“That’s my twin.” Jillian shook her head, laughing. “I want to meet those dirty-minded ladies.”
“You can meet them when you thank them for your present, which I almost forgot to give you.” She went to the design area Jillian had set up for her and fished Jillian’s gift out of her tote, handing her the gift-wrapped box.
“I love presents,” Jillian exclaimed. “Did they make you something, too?”
“Yes. It’s in my bag, but it would ruin the surprise if I showed it to you.”
Jillian tore open the box, and her brows knitted as she held up the tan crocheted tubelike object with DESIGNING DIVAS crocheted in black down the center and a small crocheted bag on either side. “Um. Jordan…?”
“Isn’t it great?” Jordan tried to keep a straight face. “It’s a pencil holder and two eraser bags.”
“I don’t think they thought through the design.” Jillian held it between her legs, and they both cracked up. “Unless you’ve got it wrong and they made us willy warmers.”
“I know. You should’ve seen me trying not to laugh when they gave it to me. I’d give mine to Jax, but it’d be too small.” Jordan doubled over with laughter.
“Maybe I should bring it when we go to Amber’s wedding and see how those Oak Falls boys measure up.” Jillian wiggled her hips, making the tube flop from side to side. “Line up, cowboys! Let’s see who’s packin’ more than this!”
They laughed hysterically.
