AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sitting back in the seat, silence once more fell over the two, each lost in their thoughts. Joy still felt the way her heart beat erratically, not sure what had just happened. Flicking a sideways look at the man beside her she chastised herself. He had only wanted to stop her crying... Well, he had succeeded. Now she knew why he was so successful.
Carig clutched the wheel of the car. Damn. What was this woman doing to him? She was a series of contradictions – tough on the outside, yet surprisingly soft on the inside. He wanted to be able to ignore her, drag her around as his ‘girlfriend’ for the allotted time before putting her back on a plane out of his life. The previous day he had been ready to throttle the small woman, yet today here he was kissing her – and what a kiss. He could not remember the last time a simple kiss affected him so much. Darting a fleeting look across, even the sight of her sat so still and silent sent a shock of heat through him. If she kissed like that, how would she feel in bed?
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, he tried to push such thoughts from his head. ‘Eye on the bigger picture Carig... Focus’, his mind chastised, even as she crossed one slender ankle over the other, his X-rated thoughts ramping up uncomfortably.
Reaching the outskirts of the town, he wound his way through the back streets, Joy remaining silent by his side. Finally reaching their destination, he pulled to the curb, quickly moving round to open her door. She raised an inquisitive brow as they stood outside a non-descript building in the better part of town. He smiled back, “While you were changing, I made a call to a good friend of mine. She is going to ensure that you have all the clothes you need... As we discussed”
Joy felt her insides shrivel, the pit of her stomach dropping as nerves rose like angry bees deep within. Nodding, not trusting herself to speak, she followed him, the door of the plain Victorian building opened by an older woman, her smile genuine as she greeted Carig, pulling him in for a hug. Her lilting voice expounded on how long it had been since last seeing him, telling him off for his having not kept in touch, Joy smiling at the way the women scolded the imposing billionaire.
Finally, she stepped back, her eyes moving to Joy, a smile on her lips. “And this is the young lady you told me about”, the woman moving closer, her eyes taking in every inch of her, before a warm smile spread across her lovely features. “I think that I can help”, a wicked twinkle warming her brown eyes. “Not as much of a project as you made out Carig... I think you were more than a little harsh” A wink left her as she took Joy’s hand in a firm shake, “No... You are quite lovely my dear” Joy’s eyes darted to him, glowering as he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry. I was a little irritated... I may have been a little cruel”
The small snort from the other woman was evidence of how cruel he had been, she hooking her arm into Joy’s, leading her towards the stairs. “Do not worry my dear. We will make him pay for his words”, her eyes playfully landing on Carig. “And I mean that in the ‘I may be going on holiday soon’ way”
Carig laughed, the deep rumble sending the strangest fluttering through Joy. “I will return for you in two hours”, he managed, the woman pausing, her look matronly. “Indeed you will not... Not unless you want to wait... And I know how you hate that. You will be back in four hours. I have organised for Sasha to fit Joy in for a session” As he made to argue, the older woman lifted her chin, looking down her nose at him, Carig making a grumbling ‘hmph’ sound as he conceded. “Fine... Four hours... We will have to eat on the plane”
For the next three hours, Joy was subjected to measuring, colour matching and a whole array of things she had never even heard of. She had thought shopping was a hit or miss thing, where you either found the right outfit or settled on the nearly right one. However, Valerie, she quickly finding the imposing woman to be called, made it look more like a scientific endeavour. Soon she was being shown outfits, each more beautiful than the last, the clothes chosen by the exacting specifications of the owner.
While Joy normally did not like clothes shopping, a gene her father had been more than happy about, she enjoyed herself. Trying on the wonderful clothes, she found herself relaxing, laughing even. When hours later they finished, even she not aware of all that had been purchased, the different clothes merging into each other as some were put to the side, others replaced, Valerie once more handing her the yellow dress she arrived in.
“Normally my dear, I would recommend wearing something new, but that is such a beautiful dress”, her eyes travelling over it. “Original?” Joy nodded, as Valerie’s eyes grew warm. “I used to have a similar one... loved it... And the colour is perfect for you”, a small nostalgic smile leaving the older woman before she grinned. “Now... Come, Sasha is waiting”
Frowning, Joy’s eyes were quizzical, “Who is Sasha?”, Valerie already walking towards another of the upscale stores in the prestigious building. “The finest hair dresser in the country my dear”, a twinkle in her eyes, “Or at least that is what he tells everybody”
As Joy sat draped in a large colourful cape, Sasha, an attractive Frenchman, circled her. Having combed out her long hair he was looking at it from all angles, Joy not sure if his thoughtful scowl should worry or annoy her. Finally he stood before her, a pensive look in his eyes. “You have beautiful hair. Thick, rich colour... But the cut is a train wreck dear girl... Do you trust me?”
Joy wanted to shake her head. How could she possibly trust a man she had only just met? However, behind him Valerie was nodding furiously her mouth wording ‘go with it’, so pulling a nervous smile to her lips, she nodded, “Sure... I... I trust you” Instantly the man beamed, lifting her hair. “Good. This cut is too... school girl. I want to sophisticate it up... Bring out the goddess in you... Make you sexy”
She wanted to laugh, ‘goddess’... ’sexy’... not words which would ever describe her... What a salesman, but instead she remained silent. “We will give you a fringe, teasing, edgy, will really show off your bone structure, and put in some layers to allow your natural bounce to come through. Joy felt her mouth gape. “Fringe?”, she managed, her eyes unsure, as Sasha waved away her concerned word, twisting her away from the mirror. “You will love it”, he insisted before she was pulled back and her hair washed.
For what seemed a lifetime, Sasha snipped, cut and teased her hair, his eyes focussed on his job, nobody talking. When her hair was finally dried, he used mainly his fingers to fan out the strands, refusing to let her see how she looked until he was finished. Finally he stood back, Valerie beside him nodding in approval, “You look stunning Joy” She smiled as Sasha finally turned her chair back to the mirror. Staring at her reflection, she could hardly believe it was her. The woman in the mirror looked stunning. “Wow”, was all she could manage, her hand gently patting the still-long hair, as her head shifted from side to side before looking at Sasha. “I look... I look... ”, her mind not able to finish the sentence as Sasha grinned. “Like a sexy goddess?”, he filled in for her, Joy laughing as she nodded, “Oh yes... I look like a sexy goddess”, all three laughing.
The young assistant moving into the salon saw Valerie look at Joy with humour clear in her eyes, “Perfect timing, Carig has arrived. That man is not going to know what hit him” Joy chuckled, rising as she hugged Sasha, thanking him. Together the two moved back to Valerie’s boutique, where Carig stood as they entered the small waiting room. As his eyes fell on her, she could see the shock in them, his look trailing down her. “You look... amazing”, he finally managed, Joy flicking a grin at the older woman before adopting a nonchalant air, “Well... hopefully Valerie did a good enough job on your ‘project’”, she sniped back, his mouth quirking as Valerie laughed. “Oh Carig... Nice to see you finally met your match”, before leaning over to give Joy a hug. “Take care my dear... We will have everything delivered to the plane”, before she passed an overnight bag to her. “Some things for your journey”, Joy giving a feeble smile, suddenly everything she had agreed to do seeming so real.
Soon the two were once more back in his car, Carig not able to stop himself staring at her, a slow sensual smile on his features. “Well Miss Reid... You scrub up really well... This might not be the worst thing that ever happened to me after all” With a contemptuous half-laugh, still smarting from his ‘project’ comment, she fixed him with a matronly look. “Like I said in your office Mr Calle, this is a business arrangement... nothing more, do not think that I am about to turn groupie on you” Carig chuckled, his lips twisting into a rueful smile, “Hmmm... I’m thinking I might come to regret saying that to you”, Joy not able to hold back the small laugh as the car pulled out into the traffic.
Having cleared customs, Joy’s eyes widened seeing the plane they moved onto. It was certainly not the small four to six seater she had expected. Instead, it contained several rooms, Carig moving into the main area, her eyes like saucers as she took in the expensive and plush furnishings. She was already in a state of excitement, having found out where they were going, Carig having to tell her as they passed through customs, she stunned to discover that he was needed back in New York, and that they were headed there.
