“You already have one in front with the seated mannequin. It looks like it flows very well.”
“Are you interested in trying it on?” Jenna asked. “I’ll admit it took a lot of adjustments to get that illusion panel with the beads to flow without getting wrinkled up.”
“Is it a prototype?” Carol’s palms itched to touch the dress, and she hoped Jenna would at least let her wear it, if not buy it.
“Yes, it’s the first one I made specifically for a wheelchair user.” Jeanna opened the door from the showroom to the lobby. “The beads are a big risk. If they’re not comfortable, they could stick to your back. I tried to position them where the curvature of the back takes them away from the chair back. I also moved them to the side as they run down past your hip to the slit.”
“I’m sure it’ll be perfect.” Carol rolled to a stop in front of the seated mannequin. “Once I have it on, I can push myself around and see if anything creeps or gets crinkled.”
“Great idea,” Jenna said. “My mannequins don’t move, so it’s easy to believe I have everything in the right place.”
“You do, in general. But another thing to keep in mind is that even though I’m not against flashing my leg, I don’t want anyone to see my underwear. If the material is flat and the slit long enough, a gust of wind could leave both of my legs exposed. I don’t wear a catheter and a leg bag, but many women in wheelchairs do, so we have to be careful the dress doesn’t flap around.”
“In that case, I think a multi-tiered skirt would do great for those with leg bags. Thanks for the suggestion.” Jenna took the silver-beaded gown down from the mannequin and placed it on Carol’s lap. “Okay, let’s get you to the changing room and see how your friends are doing. Hope they haven’t killed each other yet.”
Fifteen minutes later, Carol wheeled herself out of the changing room and clapped her hands. Her friends were preening at themselves in the gowns they picked out and they looked fabulous.
Jolie twirled around in her fantasy fairy-tale gown, while Leanna primped with her purple ruffles, and wow, Nikki was slinky all right, so dazzling that she’d be the catch of the day or night. Meanwhile, Marisa looked like she could have presided over a Roman senate. All she needed was an olive wreath crown to complete the look.
“Carol, that dress is perfect!” Nikki grabbed her camera and snapped pictures of her from all angles. “It shows a hint of your leg but not too much.”
“Wow, love the way your breasts are accented, but not jutting out there.” Leanna nodded approvingly. “With the way the beads are arranged, no one can look down your cleavage.”
“The one arm and shoulder design is perfect,” Jolie said. “If both of your shoulders were showing, you’d look like a linebacker. This is much more subdued and feminine.”
“Wow, Carol.” Marisa gave her a thumbs up. “It fits like a glove and looks comfortable too. The beads are the perfect touch. I’ve got just the earrings to match.”
“Looks like we have a winner,” Jenna said, pumping her fist in the air. “Carol, you must come back and show me how to adapt my other designs.”
“I will.” Carol reached down to pet the sweet little basset hound who followed Jenna around. She smiled at her friends and said, “I’ll buy all of these gowns. I won’t be able to surprise you since Jenna has agreed to make adjustments for each of these by Friday. But Jolie, Nikki, Leanna, Marisa, these are my Christmas presents for you. Terri and Sherelle will also get to choose one, so you all better bring them back. And please … try not to strangle each other next time?”
Everyone laughed and crowded around her, hugging her.
“You shouldn’t have.”
“Oh, Carol. I can’t believe it, but thanks.”
“You’re the best sister ever.”
“Wow. Carol, this is the best Christmas ever.”
Carol pressed her hand over the satiny cloth of her gown, loving the feel of it. “It’s the best Christmas ever because I have the best friends in the world.”
Nick’s heart thumped, and his palms were sweaty as he dragged a six-foot-tall Christmas tree through Carol’s doorway. She’d had dinner with her friends, and even though it would have been fun to pick the tree with her, that would have to wait for another year.
At least he would get his third date with her. She’d texted him asking him to bring a tree, and here he was.
“Can you get that thing through the door?” Carol exclaimed. “I’ve never had a real tree before.”
“There’s always a first time,” he said. “I’ll have you know I had to fight off a van full of senior citizens to get this tree.”
“Then you’re not a nice guy.” Carol laughed. “You should have let them have it.”
“Actually, I did. After I helped them strap the tree I picked to their van, I ended up with the one they left behind.” Nick set the tree in the tiny living room. “Let me go get the stand.”
When he returned, Marisa was laughing and giggling with Carol as they unrolled the Christmas lights. Strange. The last time she was with her sister, things had felt chilly. But then, it was good to know that Carol had spent the day with her friends and sister rather than with Jason.
Hopefully, Jason had also had his friends over. He’d heard that firemen were close-knit and they never let their brother down.
“Okay, ladies, let’s get this big stick up.” Nick hoisted the tree straight up as Marisa turned the screws on the tree holder to center it.
Carol put on Christmas music, served everyone a mug of hot apple cider, and set out a tray of peppermint bark.
“To Christmas.” She tapped her mug against Nick’s. “And to new beginnings.”
“To my lovely Christmas Carol.” Nick winked. “And to family and friends.”
“Let’s make this a yearly tradition,” Marisa said. “Even though I hate cleaning up after a live tree.”
“Ah, but you don’t get that outdoors scent with a fake tree.” Nick cut the netting and Carol wheeled around it, fluffing the branches.
“Wait, wait!” Marisa raised a hand. “Before you put on the lights and ornaments, let me get Jason. I’m sure he’d enjoy a tree trimming party.”
Carol darted Nick a questioning look. “Is it okay with you?”
“Why not? Yes, let’s get Jason. Shall I ride you over to get him loaded?” Nick’s stomach clenched, but he had to be a good sport. If Carol wanted to have a tree trimming party, then who was he to demand alone time with her?
“Actually, I can drive over,” Marisa said, taking her purse and keys. “I’ll leave my car there and drive him here in his van, and then take him back. Don’t worry about it.”
Nick was silent for a few seconds after Marisa left the apartment. The atmosphere had taken a decidedly chilly turn, and he wasn’t sure where he stood with Carol.
“You don’t seem happy with having Jason here,” Carol observed.
“If he’s your friend, then it’s fine with me.” He broke off a piece of peppermint bark and chewed on it. “It’s your place.”
“He is a friend. At least I hope to keep it that way,” Carol said. “He said some things that bothered me, though.”
Nick’s skin pricked at hearing that Jason had bothered Carol. “Is he disturbing you? What’s going on?”
“Actually, it’s about you,” Carol said.
Gulp. That didn’t sound good. Nick steeled himself. “Whatever it is, please let me know.”
“It might be jealousy, but he’s also concerned. He says there are guys who go out of their way to help a paralyzed woman because it gives them some sort of satisfaction.” She shuddered and swallowed. “It’s all kind of creepy, like maybe they feel in control with someone paralyzed or it’s a sort of fetish.”
“A fetish? That’s disgusting.” Nick knelt down next to Carol and looked up at her. No matter what he said, he was in trouble. If he said he didn’t care for her being paralyzed, it would hurt her, but if he said he didn’t mind her being paralyzed, it woul
d hurt also.
“I’m not saying that’s what motivates you,” Carol continued. “But you do like to help people. I noticed that about you. Like you offered to help Marisa get Jason. Earlier, you brought the tree over, even though I had promised to go and get it with you. I know you’re always helping your brother and sister-in-law. Those are all good qualities.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” Nick was puzzled. “How could being helpful turn into a fetish?”
“Nothing, except maybe you’re insecure.” Carol rubbed his forearm. “Like maybe you’re not sure people would like you or be with you unless you’re helping them. You go out of your way to please people.”
“That’s not true.” Nick recoiled at the suggestion he was insecure. “I don’t help just anyone.”
“But you do. I’ve seen you,” Carol insisted. “It’s like with me, you want to show me a good time. You want me to feel secure and desired despite being paralyzed. I can’t help wondering what’s in it for you.”
“For me? Why, that’s easy. I want to be with you, Carol. That’s all I’m in for.”
“Why?”
“Because I enjoy being with you.” He picked up her hand and kissed it. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be with than you.”
Her smile was warm and natural. “I like being with you, too. I guess Jason was just concerned, that’s all.”
“He can take his concern and shove it.” Nick made his voice gruff. Niggling in the back of his mind was the Brianna problem, but with Jason and Marisa returning at any moment, now was not a good time to bring it up.
Besides, what possible excuse could he give? Plead insecurity? The need to help women who were unable to have orgasms? Oh, how charitable he was. Yeah, right!
Thirty
Carol’s apartment felt cramped with two wheelchairs and three firemen crowding around the tree. She had been looking forward to a quiet evening with Nick, but Marisa was a party animal, and she introduced them to Joe, Matt, and Zach, three guys who took turns spending the night with Jason.
“Good to see you,” Jason said to Carol and Nick. “Guess I’ll direct, and you all can hang the ornaments.”
“Oh, no, you’re not getting away with doing nothing,” Marisa said. “You can dangle the tinsel.”
She fitted Jason’s gloves with a pair of forks and placed a bundle of tinsel in his lap.
“That’s right,” Carol agreed. “Everyone has to trim the tree or no hot chocolate and peppermint bark for you.”
Many hands made short work, and soon, the lights were strung, the ornaments hung, the tree was festooned with tinsel of every color, and it was time to put up the star.
“Carol. You do the honors,” Nick said, placing a glittering star in her hands.
Before she could protest, he bent down and swept her up in his arms, lifting her up. After a few tries, she was able to fit it to the top branch of the tree.
“You go, Carol!” Jason shouted and everyone clapped. “Now it’s time to light the tree.”
“You can do it,” Carol said.
Marisa picked up Jason’s hand and slipped the remote so that his thumb activated it. Everyone ohhed and ahhed at the colorful twinkles on the glittering tree.
Carol looped her arms around Nick’s neck as he held her. Their lips met with the sweetest kiss that soon turned into a long and luscious one. She drank him in, unable to believe how close she’d gotten to him in such a short period of time.
“Ahem,” Marisa said. “I have a feeling we should take this party elsewhere and leave the lovebirds alone with their fabulous tree.”
Carol broke the kiss and smiled at everyone. “Sorry, I got carried away. The tree is lovely, and I thank all of you for coming here tonight and helping me trim it. This year, I thought I was going to have a lonely Christmas. Marisa wanted to pull the old fake tree from storage, and I didn’t want to be reminded of past Christmases. I wanted to be a Grinch, because I thought there was nothing to celebrate. But now, I know I have plenty to celebrate, and I wish all of you a very, Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you!” the firefighters said.
“I felt the same way,” Jason said. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve a feeling we’re going to make it with the help of our friends.”
“To friendship,” Marisa said, raising a mug. She blew on it carefully and placed it where Jason could sip it.
“To love,” Nick whispered in Carol’s ear, making her tingle up and down her back.
“And to new beginnings.” She leaned her forehead against his before capturing his mouth, loving the warm feelings of finally belonging to someone.
So ironic, wasn’t it, that she had to lose her legs before she could sit still enough to let someone like Nick catch her.
“Alone at last!” Carol muttered to herself as she went to the bathroom. There was something off about the way Marisa injected Jason into her tree trimming gathering. Either she was clueless about how awkward it was for Jason to be around her and Nick, or she didn’t care.
Carol finished her bathroom routine in record time, washed her hands and touched up her makeup. Nick was waiting for her, and now that she’d cleared up the doubts Jason had put in her mind, she could go ahead and ask him to be her date to the Bumblebee’s Christmas Gala.
If only she had the nerve.
Nick whispering “to love” still reverberated in her ears, and she hoped like heck he hadn’t been teasing her. It seemed impossible that a guy like Nick could actually suggest something like that to her. Unless it was part of his role as an escort or entertainer. That, she could picture. She’d read his reviews on the Bad Boys for Hire private client site. Everyone raved about him. He went out of his way to please his clients, paying special attention to their likes and dislikes. He bought flowers. He was attentive on their dates. He gave massages. He cooked. He even cleaned and washed dishes. One client had him taking care of her paralyzed dog. The poor thing needed diaper changes and massages to move its bowels.
Nick was perfect, according to his clients. So, why did the website say he was unavailable the entire month of December except for children’s parties? Had someone reserved him for the entire month?
If so, why was he spending so much time with her?
She powdered her nose and dabbed her lips to mute the glossy lipstick. After checking her hair, she opened the bathroom door.
Nick was vacuuming the living room. She wheeled to the kitchen, and it was spotless. The dishwasher was running, and all the desserts had been put away.
Was this man a dream come true or what?
Carol perched herself at the entrance to the living room. Nick’s back was turned, and she drooled over the way his muscles worked while pushing and pulling the vacuum. He had easily been the hottest man in the room, despite the presence of firefighters.
The vacuum cleaner was switched off, and Nick turned, grinning. “How long have you been sitting there?”
“Long enough. You didn’t have to clean up.”
“Ah, but I wanted to.” He bent over and dotted her lips with a kiss. “So, Miss Cassidy, what do you suggest we do now that we have the place all to ourselves?”
“On our third date?” Carol winked. “I wonder what we could possibly get into?”
“You really have to ask?” Nick’s eyes twinkled as he swept Carol from her wheelchair and carried her into the bedroom.
“Whoa, Nelly,” she whispered. “That’s fast.”
“Maybe not.” He gently laid her down on her bed, then crouched over her. “We’re going to talk first.”
“Talking’s good.” Carol made herself comfortable. “Especially pillow talk.”
“Yes, the best kind.” He kissed her cheek. “Just so you know I’m not making any fast moves, let’s play twenty questions.”
“Why do I feel like we’re speed dating?” Frankly, she wouldn’t have minded if he skipped the questions and jumped to the kissing.
“Because we are.” He licked his wolfish li
ps. “Real speedy. You’ll see.”
“How so?” Carol’s gaze settled on his hot, kissable lips.
“If you can’t top my answer, you have to take off something.”
“Ah, ye olde stripping version of twenty questions. Who’s the judge?”
“We each get a vote.” His grin grew wider.
“Duh. We’re an even number.” Carol rolled her eyes. “What happens if we tie?”
“Then we both remove a piece of clothing.”
Carol punched him lightly. “Touché, is this what you do with women all the time?”
“Nope. Usually, they pay me to lose, but since you’re not a client … Game on.”
“Is this part of your strip act?” Her stomach soured at the fact that he’d done that, been there, and had whatever with so many clients.
Even more damning, they usually paid him, too.
“No, because you’re stripping, too, and this isn’t an act,” he answered glibly. “Go ahead, ask your first question.”
“Sure.” Carol wanted to get the game moving. After all, here she was with a hot guy in her bed, one who was used to partying with clients. Even if things didn’t turn out well, he would never let her know. The key was to get her confidence back and see how far he’d go with her. She cast in her mind for a zinger to see what he was all about. “Oh, got one. What’s the absolute craziest thing you’ve ever done?”
“Besides sending myself as your singing telegram?”
“Oh, come on, on the scale of crazy, that doesn’t even count. I want to hear daring, almost lose your life, idiotic. Unless you’re trying to lose your jeans or something.”
He propped his head with his hand over his elbow. “Guess it would be that time I jumped on a Hell’s Angel’s motorcycle naked.”
“I would give my right leg to have seen that.” She snickered. “What happened?”
“We were having a wild party. Bunch of bikers crashed it, so the girl I was with, guess she wanted to get me killed.”
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