Page 46 of Serving the Couturier

“Alice Sargent is one of our financial backers,” he said. “She’s been flirting with me, and I’ve had to be polite when turning her down. There’s nothing between her and me.”

Relief rushed through me. “I’m sorry I ignored your texts and calls. I was overwhelmed in England and should have talked to you about it.”

That wasn’t the whole truth, but this didn’t feel like the right time or place to discuss my feelings about his family.

“I should have realized it was too soon to have you meet my family.” He caught my hand and kissed my knuckles. “I’m sorry too.”

“Are we okay?” I thought we were, but I needed to ask to be sure. Assumptions had given us both problems recently.

“We are.” He put his hands on either side of my face, his fingers brushing my hairline. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” I admitted.

He rested his forehead against mine for a moment before speaking again. “I don’t know about you, but I think I’d prefer somewhere a little less crowded.”

I smiled. “I’d like that. Let’s go to my hotel.”

“No. Tonight, I’m taking you to my place.”

TWENTY-FOUR

SPENCER

London surprisedme when she said she wanted us to go to her apartment.

We slipped out without anyone noticing and quickly found a taxi. After giving the driver her address, London pulled out her phone.

“I’m just letting Mercedes know I left,” she explained. “Don’t want her to worry.”

Realizing that I should probably have let Darrel know I was leaving, I busied myself on my phone until London finished.

As the taxi moved, London put away her phone and looked over at me. I could tell she was nervous by the way she was twisting her hands in her lap, and I wondered if this was a good idea after all.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to break the silence.

London gave me a small smile and nodded. “Yeah, I just want you to know that I don’t do this very often.”

“Do what?”

“Invite a guy to my place.”

I could feel my heart beating a little faster. This was a big step, and it honored me that she trusted me enough to do this. After everything.

“I understand,” I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

London’s smile grew a little wider, and she leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder, and let out a soft sigh. “I trust you,” she said, and I felt a warmth spread through me.

Before I knew it, the taxi was pulling up to a nice apartment building on the Upper West Side. As we got out, London took my hand, and I couldn’t help but smile. It felt like something special.

As we walked inside her apartment, I noticed everything here reflected London’s personality.

“Want to see the bedroom?” London grinned at me. “It’s nicer than all this. Definitely more comfortable.”

I chuckled and followed her down a short hall and into a pale yellow bedroom dominated by a queen-sized bed with a floral bedspread. I was in awe as I looked around London’s room. The walls were covered in all things Broadway, with posters, tickets, and programs ranging from “Waitress” to “Wicked.” I saw autographs from Caroline Bowman, Adam Pascal, and a handful of other theater greats.

“Wow, you sure are a big fan of Broadway, huh?” I commented out loud, admiring the collection.

“That stuff would distract only a true theater nerd fromthis.”

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