by Evie Monroe
“I guess you’ll find out.” He winked with his long, fake lash brushing his cheek. Then he got up and crossed the small area toward the door. “Come along. I’ll show you the wardrobe. You can help me choose accessories since you’re a master of scarves.”
“Awesome, I can’t wait to get started. I need your help just finding my way back.” I giggled.
He threw his arm around my shoulders and led me inside. “I like your style, and I like being needed. The two of us are going to get along wonderfully.”
He led me down the hallway and to a big black door to a large room which was filled with rack after rack of clothes. The walls were lined with shelves of shoes and cases of accessories. It was amazing how he kept it all organized to perfection.
It was a dream closet for a designer, and there were even machines lined up on one end, and the other had a few stage props and signs from their last event.
“Here’s where the magic happens. I take the designs and coordinate everything so we can show them off. I think if you see Johnny’s final vision, which is what I try to achieve for him, then you’ll have a better grasp of what will work. Putting you with me was just to get you familiar with everything. Not to brag, but I’m the glue that holds this place together. Nate will want you to think it’s him, but he’s always been a bit of a pain in my ass.”
“I think he’s nice. I haven’t met anyone I didn’t like.” But that was my nature for the most part. My father had always said I’d never met a stranger.
“Then you haven’t been here long enough.” He chuckled and pulled out a large tub and opened it up, next to a dress that was already lying on the table. We spent the next several hours accessorizing and talking about the stage. He knew everything; from which outfits which models should wear for their skin tones to how many steps they’d take down the runway.
I was lost in work and getting the hang of things when footsteps brought my head up. “How’s it going in here?” Johnny folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the counter. Weed crossed the room from where he was holding hats against a dress, but I continued sorting the bin of socks we’d knocked over while going for the bin of pocket squares.
“It’s going perfectly. If you don’t like her over in your department, she’s always welcome over here in mine. She really has an eye and not just for design; she’d be great at organizing. She’s helped me so much; I’m damned close to being ready for the shoot this weekend.”
My cheeks burned as I listened to the two of them discuss me.
“Amazing, but that doesn’t mean you can take the end of the week off.” Weed stuck his tongue out at Johnny for that remark earning a chuckle. “How about you, Liss? Is he keeping you on your toes?” He stepped around the counter and faced the area I was working. Weed stood behind him gesturing that I should put down what I was doing and come over to join them. I dropped the socks and did just that.
“I love it here. This is a great place, and I’m learning a lot already.” He reached out and brushed a feather off my shoulder from when I’d dug into the boa bin. Him being in such a close proximity had my heart pounding, and I hoped that he couldn’t sense my nervousness.
“Well, that’s good to hear. I’m headed out for the day, so I thought I’d take you home and get you settled in.”
I looked to Weed who was doing his best but failing miserably at holding back a smile. His lips were pulled into a tight line so straight it looked like someone had swiped a line across his face with a magic marker.
“I’m still not sure that’s a good idea.” I had a sinking feeling in my gut. Not only had I promised my dad I’d focus on business while I was here, but I didn’t want to be seen as Johnny’s pet. His houseguest and possible bedmate who was hired on a whim and brought in to save the day. I didn’t need that kind of press any more than he did.
“Nonsense, and again, I’m not asking. I’d like to get to know you. And are you so repelled by me that you aren’t willing to see if it’s a good idea or not?” His brows raised, and his eyes fixed on mine.
I glanced to Weed again who gave me a look as if I should accept and I had the feeling that Johnny would think me ungrateful. “Not at all. If you’re sure, I won’t be any trouble?”
“None at all. Now let’s go before my driver leaves without us. He’s a bit impatient.” He gave Weed a wink as the man came around the counter and pulled me into his arms.
“You did well today, love. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned and eyed Johnny. “Take care of her, now. She’s special, that one.”
Johnny eyed me and the two men clasped hands like they tangled while giving a high-five. “I’ll behave, for now.” The comment had me a little unnerved, but at the same time, I liked the attention he was giving me. It’d been much too long since I’d had anyone flirt or even make innuendos in my presence.
Johnny led me back down the long hall and to his back office where I fetched my luggage, and he locked things up. We went out the nearest door which opened into an alleyway where a car waited at the other end. It was black with tinted windows and a big man stood waiting for us to approach. I thought he was a bodyguard until after he opened our door and then he walked around the car and got inside. Judging by his size and bulging muscles that made him look inflated, maybe he was both.
“Do you live very far?” I wondered how long it would take before I could get cleaned up and comfortable. I’d worked up a sweat digging through bins with Weed, and some of the tubs from the top of the shelf had been a little dusty.
“We’re about fifteen minutes out, which will take us twenty on a day like today.” He hadn’t taken his eyes off of me and the almost-smile that barely touched the corners of his mouth, made me wonder if he enjoyed making me feel uneasy.
I figured it’d be best to make small talk to fill the awkward silence. “Have you lived in Los Angeles your entire life?”
“No, I grew up in Texas. In a small town, outside of Houston. My parents were in the oil business, and I was their oddball son who liked to party and play the role of the black sheep. After they died, my father from cancer, and my mother from grief two years later, I inherited everything. I shocked everyone when I decided to go into fashion.”
“Was it a decision, or did it just seem like the natural path?”
He turned his eyes to meet mine. “Now that you mention it, it was more like a natural path. I’d always been an artist and had always loved clothes and seeing women use clothing to enhance their sex appeal. I’ve always been more attracted to a woman and their forms and I look at clothing as a tool for seduction. I suppose I want to seduce my audience.”
“I was definitely seduced. You’re one of my favorite designers.” I tried to keep the stars out of my eyes, but it was hard to do with him. He was so handsome it almost hurt to look at him and the devil may care twinkle he kept in his eyes and the sly grin like he could devour me in a second if he wanted to, gave me tingles in all the right places.
“That’s some powerful ammunition you’ve given me.” He chuckled.
“Why? Was that your plan?” I lifted my chin and gave him a challenging look. I didn’t want him to think I was easy, and if he did, then he’d met his match.
“I haven’t decided yet.” The words pierced me and crawled under my skin earning a huff, and he chuckled. “Did you expect me to be so eager? I am a man that usually gets what he wants.”
“Are you?”
“You’re on your way to my house and not a hotel room. I’d say so.” He gave me a smug look.
I looked him square in the eyes. “I’m not there yet.” I lifted my brow as a challenge.
“You’re going to be a tough nut to crack, aren’t you? That’s okay, Liss. I’m not completely spoiled, and I’m the type that actually works for what he has, despite my windfall. So, you should know that I’m up for the challenge. If and when I decide I want you, I’ll have you.”
I lifted my chin as the slow smile spread over my lips. Game on.
Johnny
When we got to my house, I saw the wonder in her eyes much more than I had when she first walked into my office to meet me. She had no poker face, and the star-struck appearance made her look much younger than she was.
I thought of Nate’s scolding and for a moment I wondered if I should be so quick to lure her into my web like I’d done so many. Not many were as free-thinking as Mandy, content to keep things fun and tether-free. With her having a boyfriend I was certain she’d gone back to the guy, and the two had mad passionate love to the drown of their jealousy.
Jack, the butler, greeted us at the door. “Welcome home, sir.” He took my jacket from across my arm as the driver brought in Liss’s bags.
“Take those upstairs to the landing. We’ll take them from there.” Jack gave a nod. He shut the door and gave Liss a smile and a nod.
“This is Liss. She’ll be a guest for the next few weeks. Please make her feel at home and get her anything she needs.” The old man’s eyes widened a bit, and I wondered if her age was what had his peepers bugging. When she gave him a warm smile, he recovered well and then went about his business.
“This is your house? It looks even bigger on the inside.” She stared down at the floor, her mouth gaping. “It’s like a life-size chess board.” She gestured to the black and white tile that spanned from the entrance all through the bottom floor.
“When I had the place built, I almost went with red and white, but the black and white seemed so much more dramatic.”
“It’s so amazing. I love your choice of colors.” She ran her hand across the back of the large red chair as we stepped down into the front room.
“Your designs are a great mix of color, too. When I first saw the pictures Nathan sent me, I couldn’t help but notice how similar your clothes were to my home interior.”
“I hope that’s a compliment. I’d much rather grace the covers of Vogue than Better Homes.” We shared a laugh, and she nodded.
“It’s very much a compliment. Not many people can make a strong collection with such a bold palette. They overdo it. You’ve got the right touch. I’ll have to agree with Weed; I think you’re special.” I meant every word, but she turned and glanced at me as if I’d just told her the biggest fib.
“Thanks.” She kept her comments to herself and spun around to take in the stairs and the banister that wrapped the upper level. “Are there rooms all around?”
“Yes, and I’ll even let you choose your own. You can even pick one across the house from me and I promise I won’t be offended.” I took her arm, and she stared down at my hand a moment before allowing me to lead her upstairs. “Come on; I won’t bite.”
“Has it ever occurred to you that I might? You don’t know me. I could be a homicidal maniac.” With that, she shrugged as we climbed the stairs.
“Well, if you decide to do me in, make it quick and painless, and promise me you’ll keep it clean and leave a pretty corpse. I have a reputation, you know.”
“Fine, but if I do, I’m stealing the gold tooth.” She gave me a wink, and I ran my tongue over my crown, smiling wide for her to see.
“I could pop off that crown if you like. Most people don’t know it’s all for show.” There were many things the public thought they knew that had been carefully put in place to fit my persona.
We stopped on the top landing and gathered the bags that Jack had left moments earlier. “You mean it’s not real?” She narrowed her eyes. I realized it had been a while since I shared any of my secrets with anyone.
“You’ll see that much of what you know is a persona.” I gauged her reaction, and her eyes went straight up to my hair.
“No, that’s very much real.” I leaned down a tad as if bowing before her. “Go on, give it a tug. Run your fingers through those luscious locks, but don’t tell Weed. He’ll be heartbroken.”
“Did you and him?” She gave me a narrowed look as she reached out and ran her fingers through my hair.
“Did we?” I realized what she meant. “No. I’m totally straight. But that doesn’t stop my friend from having hair envy. He’s always trying to run his fingers through it.”
“You are good friends, aren’t you? Have you known him a long time?” I guessed that she and he hadn’t talked about me like I’d expected them to. Weed was famous for telling our college stories, and giving his testimony about coming out to his male friends.
“We have known each other since college. We were roommates with five other guys. You’d think we were frat mates, but no organization would have tolerated any of us. We were a rowdy bunch and in trouble every other day.”
“You went to school here in California?” she asked as I led her down the hall, passed all the doors.
“No. Texas; and it was something, let me tell you. Weed came out and moved on, and after my parents died and I moved over here, we reconnected through fashion. Once I decided what I wanted to do, I brought my best friend Nate in to help keep me on my toes, and then I made it big with my designs, and the rest is history.”
“Was there one piece that did it for you?”
“I started with sportswear. Once everyone was wearing my joggers; I moved on to jeans. Weed helped me meet a few people. The right people.”
“That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I mean, I am kind of a homebody. My father keeps me from dreaming too big, though. With my mother gone, I’m all he has. As much as I dream of having my own line and my own shows, I don’t think I’d ever let it happen. This trip is once in a lifetime for me. I never let myself want anything more than a hometown shop.” She stopped at the door on the end of the hall before the first corner. “This one.” She rapped on the door.
I smiled. “That’s an excellent choice. Best view and bed in the house, as long as you don’t mind sharing.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks reddened. “I should’ve known I’d pick your room. I hope we don’t think so much alike that I’m no help to you.”
I walked down to the next door. “It’ll be fine. Might I suggest this one?” I turned the knob and pushed the door open. “It’s a queen suite. I chose the red theme for the whole room, and next to mine, the bed is the most comfortable.”
“It’s beautiful. It might help that I’ll be just next door. That way I won’t get lost here the way I did down at your office.” She let loose a deep breath and folded her arms nervously across her middle. “I should get cleaned up and change.”
“That door leads to the private bath. Dinner should be in another hour or so, but I’ll come back to check on you.”
“Thank you, Johnny. You have a lovely home. I appreciate you making me feel so welcome in it.” She was the first long-term guest I’d had in ages, and that reminded me, I had to talk to Jack about Victoria before she showed up and made herself at home.
I left Liss to the queen suite and went next door to my own, leaving the door open behind me. I wanted to call Jack before I forgot, so I rang the downstairs phone.
“Yes, Mr. Hatter?” Jack’s voice was as slow as molasses.
“Jack, I wanted to remind you that I didn’t want you to let Victoria into the house, especially with my guest here. I don’t need any problems.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll make sure to keep my lips sealed about your guest. I’m sure she won’t want to know she’s here.”
“No, she wouldn’t, and she’s so unpredictable, that I’m not sure she wouldn’t blow her top.” She would, and I knew it. She’d not only come through this house like a hurricane, but she’d do her best to tear Liss apart and leave nothing in her wake of destruction.
“Johnny?”
I lifted my head to see Liss standing in a robe in my doorway. She looked like a goddess with her long robe pooling at her feet and her hair swept up in a loose bun. “Is everything all right?” I hung up the phone but had the sneaking suspicion she’d heard everything.
“There weren’t any towels in that bathroom. I didn’t know if I should call downstai
rs or what.” The grim look on her face was more telling now, and she wouldn’t look me in the eyes.
“Here.” I walked across my room and into my bathroom where I took a couple of towels from the rack and several washcloths and brought them out to her. “Here are these. There’s more in there if you need them. There’s only me and Jack, so if you can’t find me, you dial nine for Jack. He’ll get you anything you need.”
She nodded and took the towels, gathering them up in her arms and holding them close as if they might protect her. She turned to leave, but then stopped and spun around on her heel letting out a deep breath.
“It’s probably none of my business, but I couldn’t help overhearing the call. Do you have a girlfriend? Is that who you don’t want to come around while I’m here?” She shook her head. “I don’t want to cause any problems.”
I didn’t want to explain the complication that was Victoria. “No, I’m not seeing anyone, and that call had little to do with you being here. There’s a person from my past who thinks she’s still welcome to pop in, and I just wanted to make sure that if she did, Jack wouldn’t fall for her excuses and let her into my house when I’m not home.”
“Got it. Good to know.” She turned and walked out, and I had to smile knowing that she was worried about me having a girlfriend. The look on her face had said that the very idea of it bothered her.
An hour later, she joined me downstairs in my formal dining room where she seemed impressed once more by the length of my table.
The ornate black marble table spanned the room and seated twenty-four comfortably. “I never thought these tables existed outside of fairy tales. How do you ask anyone to pass the salt?”
“I’d assume I’d ask the servant at my side to do that, but I’ve never had to. I am usually here alone, and when I have guests, we crowd at the one end.” I walked her to the end and nearest to the door that leads into the kitchen and pulled out a chair next to mine which I plopped down into.
“I feel like royalty. This is insane.” She lowered herself on the chair, and my phone rang as she placed her napkin in her lap.
