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Rhona nodded. ‘He’s right.’
‘Yes, I know he is. What am I going to wear, though?’ Rhona had been through the contents of Alex’s wardrobe often enough. Some summer dresses, a few smart separates and a suit; the rest was all casual wear. None of that was going to do.
‘Looks as if you’ll be hitting the shops. Or Mum can run something up for you, if you like.’ Rhona’s mother had been a seamstress and still made most of her own and her daughter’s clothes. Rhona would bring a bolt of fabric into the office, and a couple of days later would appear in something that was entirely unique and usually stupendous.
‘Thanks. I don’t want to put her to any trouble.’
‘You know it’s no trouble. Why don’t you go and have a look around at what’s in the shops now, and if there’s something you like that’s fine. If not, you’ve got some clue about what you would like.’
What Alex really would like was to look effortlessly glamorous, the way Evie did. Have Leo gasp and compliment her dress. ‘I think I’ll settle for just not looking out of place.’
‘Whatever. Just go. Once you’ve got a few ideas you’ll feel better.’
* * *
Alex didn’t feel any better. She’d been into three or four of the big stores in Oxford Street and picked up a whole string of black dresses, putting most of them back down again. The ones she’d tried on all had something wrong with them—too fussy, too revealing. And black just didn’t seem to suit her.
She flopped down on one of the comfortable sofas next to the entrance of the changing room. This was all a disaster. She was going to be scouring the shops for the next three days, then she’d panic and get just anything. Then feel even worse because Leo would undoubtedly look immaculate and good enough to eat.
Alex looked at her watch. An hour b
efore closing time. She could either look at everything again, to make sure there was nothing she’d missed, or give up and go to the in-store café. Maybe if she came back tomorrow evening, after work...
Then she saw it. Alex got up wearily, walking over to the mannequin and looking at the price ticket. That wasn’t too much. If it fitted...
She caught up the dress and walked to the changing room. It wasn’t going to fit. The neck wouldn’t look right. There was going to be something the matter with it, the way that there was something the matter with all the others.
But it did fit. It was simple, plain and, when Alex left her cubicle to try walking up and down a little, the skirts were wide enough and didn’t cling around her legs. She stopped in front of a long mirror by the entrance to the changing room and one of the sales assistants looked up from the desk.
‘That looks nice...’
‘I’m...not sure.’ Alex stared at herself in the mirror.
‘No, it’s lovely.’ A woman on her way into the changing room stopped, laying an armful of clothes on the counter. ‘It really suits you. Understated but it looks classy.’
Classy was just what she wanted. Alex nodded her thanks and went back to the cubicle, pulling out her phone.
‘Rhona... I need your help...’
* * *
Leo couldn’t deny that he was looking forward to Saturday evening. By the time he’d showered and dressed, he could almost taste his excitement. He took one look in the mirror and gave himself a nod of approval. He’d do. Neat and unremarkable, his attire designed to allow the woman on his arm all the attention.
Not that Alex needed him for that; she dazzled all by herself. She looked great in anything because it was her smile that everyone noticed. Alex was one of those women who outshone anything that she could possibly be wearing.
He picked up the keys for his SUV, parked next to his saloon car in the garage downstairs. The past few days had been wet, drizzle alternating with snow, and the track which led to his house in Surrey was likely to be muddy. Patting his pockets, checking that he had everything, he let himself out of the flat and called the lift.
He found Alex’s name on the console by the main entrance to her block of flats and pressed her buzzer. It was oddly gratifying that she answered almost immediately, buzzing him inside. He walked up the stairs and found her door. He’d been fantasising about what she might wear all the way here, and had decided that Alex would go for the understated. Black probably, figure-hugging without being showily tight, and classy. Definitely classy.
She opened the front door wide and he felt his mouth suddenly too dry to utter the compliment that he’d had waiting. His feet were rooted to the spot and only his eyes seemed to have any power of movement.
‘You look...’ Completely and utterly dumbfounding.
She flushed pink, a trace of awkwardness on her face. ‘Too much...?’
Far too much. How on earth did she think that he was going to wrench his gaze away from her and talk coherently to anyone else tonight?
‘You look stupendous.’ He took one step towards her, almost afraid to go any nearer.
