After a while she grew bored of watching the people come and go and got up to leave.
She stopped by an all-night supermarket to get what she would need for Milo. The doorman was true to his word and let her back in even though it was well past midnight. He even called the lift for her as she had forgotten that as Dominic’s apartment was the penthouse she would need a key to move the lift.
The door was fortunately still open a crack as she had left it. Rather than going straight to bed where she was sure her thoughts would return, she fetched Milo and sat a while by the window, staring out over the city, petting his warm body as he purred against her.
As she sat she realised she knew what it was about those women in the coffee shop that annoyed her—the fact that they reminded her of herself. When was the last time she had even been out on a date? She couldn’t remember and tried not to think too hard on it. She didn’t want to become one of those women in ten years, cold and uncaring. She knew that her personality wouldn’t allow her to be as rude as they were, yet everything else rang a little too familiar. When she thought of the group of young clubbers that had come in briefly and flirted with the wait staff she knew that she would never be that kind of person either. She was herself through and through, yet so many of her life choices had been about others that she let her own life go forgotten. She wanted children; she wanted someone to love and care for, but she also wanted to be able to support herself and her family, to have something that she was passionate about, that drove her and challenged her.
Could she have all of those things still? Or had she left it too late? She heard the shower turned on in the bathroom that connected her room to Dominic’s. It broke her train of thought. Louisa sighed. She was growing tired and knew that she would now be able to sleep at least. Her only hope was that tomorrow would bring more answers and fewer questions.
****
“I’ll be gone for most of the day. Cole, look after my fiancée whilst I’m away,” Dominic called as he left the apartment.
Louisa blushed as he actually winked at her. She didn’t know what had put him in such a happy mood. He even shaved the beard he had been growing since her arrival. The doctor had been that morning and declared that Louisa had a mild concussion and badly bruised ribs. She hadn’t told him that she was especially tired today after over-exerting herself on her midnight walk last night. His instructions were to rest, but as she was healing well he saw no reason to take her for an X-ray. Cole had been only too happy to have her for the day, but she suspected he had something planned as he was twice as cheerful as Dominic.
“Here’s the remote and your tea,” Cole said as his eyes flicked to the door and back.
“Cole, you may be a brilliant businessman, but you are worse than a child when it comes to keeping secrets. What has you so excited?” She watched Milo stumble clumsily across the floor, his tail held high behind him, twitching to try to balance himself.
He smiled at her and went to make them both some breakfast. Louisa tried to settle in for the day, but she slept badly. The bed was incredibly comfortable and the room warm and comforting, yet her mind kept reminding her that Dominic was just one room away. She knew that he slept only in trousers and could picture his lightly furred chest bare on those dark sheets. The warmth of his body and the sound of his steady breathing would have been welcome to help her fall asleep. She remained where she was though, gripping the sheets at her side with one hand almost like an anchor.
This morning she heard him in the shower again and wished she was brave enough to go in there and join him. She wouldn’t do something like that though, not until she was sure her hunch about his feelings for her was true.
There was a knock at the door, and Cole practically bounded down the corridor, as much as a 6’3” thirty-three year old man could bound.
“Hi, Cole? I’m Amanda.”
“Amanda, hi, she’s right through here.”
Louisa could hear the conversation and waited for them to appear in the main room, already guessing what Cole had done.
“Louisa?” A small brunette woman walked quickly over to her and pulled her into a brief hug. “You must be so excited to get started.”
Louisa glared at Cole. Amanda saw the look and turned to him.
“She didn’t know that I was coming?”
“I thought it would be a nice surprise.” He had the decency to look sheepish around Amanda’s accusing glare.
“Oh, I’m sorry about that. But we will have a great day I promise. I’m Amanda, your wedding planner.”
Louisa’s fears had been confirmed. She had been around briefly whilst Cole planned his first wedding, and he acted much the same as today.
“I must be off. I have my own business to run as my dear brother seems to have forgotten.”
“You’re not staying?”
He shrugged and with a cheerful wave left the apartment.
Amanda was watching her tentatively, clutching a large bag to her side. Louisa was still getting used to the idea of getting married to a man who didn’t love her. She hadn’t even thought about the wedding, and certainly the idea of a large wedding was out of the question. She could imagine a simple ceremony at state hall. She had reckoned without Dominic’s family.
“Okay, let’s get this over with.” She couldn’t hurt the whole family by not even inviting them. She wouldn’t hurt others because of her decisions. They must all believe that this was a real wedding. And if it meant a white dress and reception she would have to learn to deal with it.
“Oh but this will be fun! Cole informed me of your accident, so I brought all of the brochures and samples with me so that you won’t have to tire yourself out.” She began piling heaps of bridal magazines onto the coffee table followed by fabric samples and even a container that Louisa suspected held cake samples. Milo wobbled over to sniff the bag expectantly.
She knew now why Dominic had been in such a playful mood as he left this morning. He would have known what Cole was up to.
An hour and too much cake later they settled on a chocolate cake with traditional lemon icing, three tiers and no fancy columns or ribbons. The colour scheme was to be white and pale yellow with roses and lily of the valley. She talked Amanda out of hiring a hall after Louisa put her foot down. It wasn’t a real wedding after all, and she wouldn’t allow the extra expense. The dress was proving a problem.
“But it’s so traditional, Louisa. You need some more flair and body to fill it out.” Amanda tickled Milo with a feather that had come from the centrepiece samples they had gone through.
“They look like meringues, and no white. I’m not pretending to be a virgin, and no one will believe I am either. Plus it would clash terribly with my skin.” Louisa knew that her olive skin couldn’t stand true white nor could her taste.
“What about this one?” Louisa asked, pointing to a simple cream, floor length dress with spaghetti straps. Amanda screwed her nose up, not even pretending to like the style. Louisa was a stubborn person as Cole knew well. He would have chosen Amanda purposely so that Louisa couldn’t bully her.
“That’s a bride’s-maid dress, Louisa. I know you’re meant to be resting, but I think we have to go and try some on. Pictures can only help so much.” She was on her feet before Louisa could protest.
Amanda and the women at the bridal shops must have gone to the same bridal school. The first dress she was shown was so big that Louisa couldn’t even sit without the skirt puffing up to her shoulder height. She wondered again if this was all really worth it. She thought of those who worked for her, who trusted her, and forced herself to try another dress. Milo watched from the safety of a puppy carry bag they had stopped off to buy for him, his furry little ginger face pressed to the mesh. Louisa had insisted on bringing him. She needed the laughs, and he was a good excuse to take regular breaks from the tedious shopping to feed him.
The women had gone to the back room to find her another dress. Louisa knew that she wouldn’t like it eith
er. She looked out of the window at the people passing and wondered if they had ever had to give up their dreams to make others happy. She thought of Dominic, his smile and the way he looked at her on the plane and wondered again if there wasn’t something there.
The window display across the street caught her eye. There was a dress that didn’t have frills and more importantly was not white. Louisa didn’t hesitate as she got up, scooping Milo’s bag onto her shoulder and hurried over.
The dress fit perfectly. It was cream and didn’t have any netting under the skirt. The bodice was lace and fitted with a free flowing skirt that hugged her hips with a small train. She bought it, giving the girl at the till a large tip. As she left Amanda was standing out the front of the bridal shop looking up and down the street for her. Louisa waved, and the other woman ran across the road to meet her looking worriedly at the antique shop bag in her hand.
“Louisa?” she asked.
“I’ll show you when we get home. Don’t worry. It’s cream and has lace.” The other woman did look a little less like she would stroke out by the news but kept looking nervously towards the other window displays in the antique store, which included a floral 60s dress and a pair of orange cord jeans.
It was only as they climbed back into the taxi that Louisa realised their mistake. They didn’t have a key to the apartment. Dominic hadn’t expected her to go out on her own, and she hadn’t thought to ask for a key. Surely Cole wouldn’t be home until later tonight, expecting that they had stayed in all day.
With reluctance she asked the driver to take them to Dominic’s office across town. She left the dress and Amanda in the lobby. This was at Amanda’s insistence not hers. She didn’t want Dominic to see the dress before the wedding. As Louisa climbed into the lift she could see Amanda open the bag and inspect the dress.
Dominic’s office was on the 42nd floor. She had been there only twice before, once when it was his father’s office. His secretary called him to check that he wasn’t busy then opened the door marked “D. McKillip, CEO” for her to enter.
****
Dominic hung up the phone and wondered why Louisa needed to see him. His brother left her alone, that was obvious, despite his making the man promise to stay with her through the torment of having to plan this wedding. He hadn’t wanted Cole to go over the top with the preparations but knew he wouldn’t be able to help himself. He couldn’t blame Louisa for leaving, but she had assured him she would rest.
“Mr. McKillip, Louisa Callum to see you.” His secretary closed the door behind her.
“Is everything okay?” he asked getting to his feet and gesturing for her to sit in one of the arm chairs on the other side of his desk. She hesitated for a moment before striding forward to sit. Dominic watched as she arranged her skirt so that it covered her knees, a quirk he always found alluring. It was a rare thing in today’s world that a woman still had a sense of modesty. Her washed clothes from the hired car had been delivered to the apartment the night they arrived. Sophie had ensured all of Louisa’s things were dry cleaned from the accident before she sent them over. Louisa looked more at ease in her own clothes, more herself. The dark green, close fitting sweater made her skin glow. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold weather, and her eyes held a sparkle that they never seemed to lose. The color suited her and somehow made her brunette hair seem so rich and soft. He wondered if it would feel as silky as it looked.
She smiled. “you didn’t give me a key to the apartment.”
He had actually thought of that this morning, but Cole had lost his own set a few months ago and took the spare with him.
“What are you doing out in the city? You were told to rest.” He hated sounding like a nagging mother. He leant back in his chair and tried not to stare at the patch of bare triangle of skin above her sweater which showed just a hint of the swell below it.
She looked at him from under her lashes, her hair falling forward on her face slightly.
“Are you feigning ignorance as to what your brother did?” she asked.
“Ah.” Dominic had been so eager to leave the apartment and get himself away from Louisa that he hadn’t stopped to ask exactly what his brother had planned, although he could guess. He had slept well last night with dreams of her sleeping just metres from him. When she came onto her balcony he almost felt his cock jerk in response to the rawness of her emotions. He had never seen her lose control like that. Something about it made desire swell within him, hardening his erection until he had to leave or tell her he was there.
He had stood at the connecting door for several minutes that morning as he let the shower water run trying to decide if he should go and wake her himself. In the end he decided she needed time to adjust to what was happening and left her to sleep. Thinking about it now he shifted in his seat as his pants grew tight again.
“I’m sorry about that,” he told her now. “Cole can be a child when it comes to party planning, as can my darling sister as I’m sure you remember.” He smiled at her and received one in return. “You know that my sister has another charity ball planned for next month?” he asked her.
“Of course, it’s the talk of the town. I believe the charity this year is street kids?” she asked.
Dominic nodded. He hadn’t had a pleasant conversation with Louisa like this since she arrived. He had forgotten the pleasing way her mouth formed the words when she was happy. Each word held a small smile that caused a dimple to form in her cheek. It was nice not to fight with her, for the words to come freely and for him to actually enjoy being in her company without any underlying agenda to their meeting.
“But back to the wedding, let me make it up to you. Have you eaten?” He didn’t know why he asked. She looked slightly taken aback for a moment before accepting his invitation.
“Oh, but Amanda’s still downstairs.” She rose from her chair.
“Amanda?”
“My—our wedding planner.”
Dominic felt a laugh build in his chest at the look on her face as she mentioned the other woman. He tried to smother it, but she must have guessed and elbowed him in the side playfully.
“Don’t laugh. She wants to take you suit shopping tomorrow.”
Dominic suddenly didn’t find the situation quite so funny.
“But I already have suits, and I have shopped for myself for years. I’ll go without her.”
“Not a chance, you don’t know this woman. She won’t take no for an answer. Don’t worry. I’ll go with you if you like.”
She smiled at him, and his heart lifted at the idea of spending more time with her. He placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her to the lift, stopping at reception to gather Milo, which his secretary had offered to babysit. His secretary beamed at them as they left, her mobile phone held tight to her ear. He didn’t need to guess who was on the other end. Sophie was the town’s biggest gossip and always made friends with his secretary just so that she could keep tabs on him.
They sent Amanda to Cole’s work to drop off the dress. She assured them she would be back bright and early the next morning to take them shopping again. Dominic barely suppressed a shudder.
The restaurant he chose overlooked central park. It was a nice little place tucked into the corner of an old Victorian building. There were old chairs arranged in corners around game boards and book shelves. A fire crackled in its grate in the side wall. A waiter showed them to two winged back chairs by the fire and even assured them that Milo was welcome so long as he stayed in his bag.
“What is this place?” Louisa asked.
“It’s the canteen for the offices above us. The owner is a little eccentric. Technically we shouldn’t be allowed in here, but I know the owner. I thought you might like it better than Starbucks.”
He looked thoughtfully at her as she spotted a chessboard on a neighbouring table.
“How about we play a game while we wait for our drinks?” he asked retrieving the set and placing it between them.
Loui
sa smiled and shifted forward on her chair, her skirt hitching up to reveal a small triangle of white fabric between her legs. She realised before he could more than glimpse the prize and shuffled her skirt back down.
He cleared his throat and crossed his legs to stave off thoughts of what lay beneath that flash of white lace. “How do you like New York? I don’t think you have been here much have you?” he asked.
“No, I came once on a business trip but only stayed a few days.”
****
She watched as he leant forward to take his turn. It was so nice to be able to see him relaxed. She had forgotten what he was really like outside the office. This place was working to put her ill thoughts at ease. A log cracked in the fireplace making Dominic turn to watch the flames, casting his face into the warm glow.
He moved his pawn forward to block her bishop. “I was thinking that we should plan the wedding for Saturday.”
She looked at him and watched his face as he studied the board. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Her own mood shifted at the mention of their arrangement, yet she found it hard to be worried about it when they were so comfortable here together.
The Millionaire's Convenient Bride Page 6
