Page 49 of Winter With You

‘Hey,’ he replied. ‘So, first of all, tell me, while no one else is here, how is your injury?’

‘It’s OK,’ Gabriella said. ‘You don’t need to worry about it. I told you that.’

‘I know but⁠—’

‘But more importantly, how is Errol?’

Luca sighed. ‘He’s OK. I stayed over there last night. He was concussed, a bit shaken up, but, you know, fine.’

‘And you don’t know what happened? He doesn’t know what happened?’

Luca shook his head. ‘Something random, the police say.’

‘So, no one has a grudge against him. No one would have put a piece of metal into a look he had made for any reason.’

Again, Luca shook his head. ‘I am absolutely certain that the two things are not connected. I can’t account for the metal, but I am also 100 per cent certain it will not happen again. I promise.’

She nodded. ‘OK.’ And then she looked at the clothes on the mannequins. Different to the last options he had produced for her before they had shifted to the emporium. They were more casual than the look she had worn last night but this was an event for readers, it wasn’t show business and razzamatazz. ‘These are what you have in mind?’

‘You don’t like them?’ Luca asked.

‘They don’t know me yet. We’re just meeting,’ she answered, going to the first outfit. ‘Tell me about them.’

‘So, this one,’ he said, stepping up to her, ‘is all about the fabric and the cut. The dress is simple but it’s going to look classic, professional. We can see how it is when you have it on. Maybe we will add a belt.’

‘O-K. And this one?’ She moved in front of a green dress. It shimmered but not in glitzy chorus-line way, more of an Ariel from The Little Mermaid kind of way.

‘This plays with your colouring,’ he answered.

‘Plays with it?’

‘Yes,’ he said confidently. ‘You have red tones in your dark hair, this brings them out.’

‘Not that one then,’ Gabriella said confidently, moving away from that mannequin.

‘Why not?’

‘My mother has red hair.’

‘Well, I guessed it came from one of your parents so⁠—’

‘So not that one,’ she stated. ‘And the first look. I think it would make me look too short.’

‘Not in the heels I’ve picked out. Perhaps if you try the dress on with the heels then you can get to know each other.’

She smiled. ‘And now you’re using my words against me.’

‘Oh no,’ he said. ‘You’re my client. I’m only going to work with you. I promise.’

‘Wow, that’s two promises in as many minutes. I do hope you can deliver.’ She turned to face him, ready to let her trademark defiance talk for her. Except she met his eyes and it stalled her. Intense. Perhaps a little intimidating. But the most disconcerting feeling was… knowing. Could he see her?

‘I never say anything I can’t commit to,’ he answered, those eyes matching hers. ‘And it’s my secret weapon, remember?’

She swallowed, a wave of feeling she hadn’t experienced in so long rolling over her. She needed that to stop…

‘I will take your professional advice,’ she said fast. ‘I’ll try it on. And let’s see how they all make me feel.’

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