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His eyes flickered towards her and he gave a start as he realised the lift doors had opened. ‘I’m busy,’ he hissed into the phone, jamming it back in his pocket.
Lara couldn’t even think straight. Her head was still full of every item of clothing that she’d need to replace with unknown funds so by the time he’d steered her in and out of the lift she didn’t have a clue where she was.
An elegant young woman in a dark suit with a jaunty scarf at her neck greeted them. ‘Mr Tyler?’ she asked. ‘I’m Bree, your personal shopper.’
Reuben nodded, his hand firmly in the small of Lara’s back. ‘This is my friend, Lara Callaway,’ he said swiftly. ‘She’s had a mishap with her summer wardrobe and needs some replacements.’ He glanced around the dazzling array of clothes. ‘Things that will be suitable for a summer cruise she’ll be enjoying in a couple of weeks.’
This time Lara did blink. She was trying to suck in a breath between her tightly clenched lips.
The dark-haired, red-lipped woman nodded attentively. She was so neat. So tidy. So professional that Lara felt entirely dowdy. But Bree nodded as if she were the most important person on the planet and steered her towards a room. ‘What kind of things would you like? Dresses? Skirts? Or trousers? Is there a particular colour you prefer? And would you like daywear as well as nightwear?’
Lara felt herself nod along and murmur, ‘Pink, or blue, or green. Any summer colours really.’ How come she already knew that Bree had that ruthless efficiency edge to her personality type?
Her hands pressed self-consciously against her stomach. ‘Do you need to know my size?’
Bree shook her head, her eyes running up and down her body. ‘No problem. I’ve got your size,’ she said confidently. She ushered Lara behind a set of velvet curtains. ‘Get undressed and I’ll be back in a few minutes.’
Reuben hadn’t even lifted his head from his phone. He was answering some text or email as he sat down in the velvet-covered chair in the corner of the room.
Another assistant appeared with some glasses and a bottle of champagne. She poured them without a word and set one glass down on the table next to Reuben and the other in the dressing room next to Lara. ‘Would you like some chocolates?’
Lara shook her head wordlessly. If she couldn’t afford a cup of tea in here, she certainly couldn’t afford any clothes.
She stood behind the curtains and stared out at Reuben for a few seconds. He looked furious. She was almost scared to speak.
She grabbed hold of the edge of one of the purple velvet curtains. ‘Reuben,’ she hissed.
He didn’t even acknowledge that she’d spoken.
She tried again. ‘Reuben!’ This time she was louder. He looked up.
‘What?’
She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fill her eyes again. ‘Why did you bring me here? I can’t afford any of this stuff.’ Her stomach clenched. ‘You should have told me. You should have told me about my clothes this morning. Then I might have had a chance to get something sorted instead of wasting time over coffee and cakes!’
He frowned. ‘What are you worrying about? I’ll cover the cost of your clothes.’ He waved his hand and went back to his email.
Her mouth fell open. ‘What? No.’ She couldn’t believe it. Why would someone she barely knew offer to restock her wardrobe for her?
He gave a little shrug as he kept bashing away at his phone.
She opened her mouth to speak but Bree swept back into the private changing room with half the contents of the store held effortlessly over her arm.
She stood behind the curtains with Lara and systematically hung things up. ‘You’re not ready yet?’ she asked as everything was slotted into place. ‘Summer dresses, skirts and matching tops, Capri pants and a variety of matching items. You get started and I’ll find some eveningwear for you and some shoes.’ She regarded the rainbow of clothes hanging in front of her nose. ‘I’ve brought the colours I thought would suit you best, but we can change that if there’s anything you don’t particularly like.’
She swept back out without another word and Lara gulped. She wasn’t sure she’d have the heart to tell Bree she didn’t like anything she’d chosen.
She stared down at her skinny jeans, brown boots and simple top. Talk about being out of place.
She picked up the glass of champagne and stared at it for a second before taking a nervous gulp. Bree wasn’t making her uncomfortable. She’d been nothing but efficient. Lara was making herself uncomfortable.
She fingered one of the pale pink summer dresses hanging in front of her. It was gorgeous and would suit her pale complexion and blonde hair perfectly. But there was no way she was even looking at the price tag.
Where was the harm in trying on a few nice things? There was no way she’d let Reuben buy them for her, but on an ordinary day she would never dare to come in here and try on all these clothes. It was a bit like being a child in a sweetie shop, surrounded by a million fabulous sweeties crammed in jars all around her.
She kicked off her boots and jeans, leaving them in a rumpled heap on the floor, tossing her T-shirt on top. It took only a few seconds to slip the dress over her shoulders and slide the zip into place. She stood back a little to get a look in the mirror.
That was what a dress that probably cost more than her monthly salary looked like.
Nice. More than nice. She ran the palms over the fabric. Gorgeous.
The curtain moved behind her and Bree appeared at her elbow. ‘Oh...very nice,’ she said, as she deposited some glittering eveningwear on the hooks on the wall. ‘Step outside and get a proper look. The light is better there.’
Bree swept back the curtain before Lara had a chance to object. The noise attracted Reuben’s attention and he looked up. There was a slight rise of his eyebrows. ‘Very Monte Carlo,’ he quipped.
She wasn’t used to having a guy around while she tried on clothes. Parts of her favourite movie were springing to mind. On one hand it brought a smile to her face, and on the other she was feeling slightly uncomfortable.
She stepped in front of one of the other mirrors. It was a gorgeous dress. Perfect for sitting in the café opposite the Casino in Monte Carlo. Oh, she already had her whole visit planned out.
Bree held up another summer dress. This one was pale yellow dotted with tiny flowers—not dissimilar to a top she owned. ‘Try this one too,’ she urged. ‘I think it will look just as nice and be a good contrast for you.’ She gave a wave of her hand. ‘I’ll get you some sandals.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Will you be doing any walking?’
Lara nodded. ‘I expect to be doing lots of walking.’
Bree nodded. ‘I’ll get you some wedges, then.’ She disappeared again and Lara stared over at Reuben. She might as well not exist right now. He was talking on the phone again. Someone was getting the benefit of his full attention—but she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted that to change.
She took a few steps back and her hands settled at the edge of the velvet curtains—it was almost as if she was peeking around at him.
From here she was beginning to get the whole ‘bad boy’ experience. Trouble was, it was making her blood rush quicker around her body. The skin at the back of her neck prickled as he started full-on ranting at the person at the end of the phone. He’d taken off his jacket and laid it across another chair, giving her a bird’s-eye view of the muscles rippling underneath the thin fabric of his T-shirt.
There was a hint of stubble along his jaw line and even from here—at the other side of the room—she could see his dark brown eyes blazing. She ducked back behind the curtain and wriggled her way out of the pink dress, taking the yellow one off the hanger. It really was cute, she liked it, she could imagine herself standing in front of the Leaning Tower in this dress and taking a photo. Right now she would be standing i
n front of the Leaning Tower in her underwear. She shook her head and took another little gulp of her drink. Too quick, and this time the bubbles shot up her nose, making her cough and splutter.
A head appeared around the curtain followed by a warm hand that thudded her back.
‘Reuben!’ she gasped as she held the dress up in front of herself.
It was no use. He had a rear view anyway and from his amused expression he was taking full advantage.
‘What?’ Even though the word was innocent, with his Irish accent it sounded like pure cheek.
‘Get out!’ she hissed.
He disappeared back behind the curtain and she pulled on the dress as quickly as she could, yanking back the curtains, ready to tell him exactly what she thought.
Bree breezed back into the room with two pairs of wedges in each hand. Her footsteps faltered and she looked from one to the other.
Lara was mad but Reuben was sitting with his arms folded, one leg slung over the other with a look of pure amusement on his face.
