Back to December (Ward Sisters Book 1) (25 page)

He turned to look at her. “You mean when we go back to the hotel?”

“Yes.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Are you asking me about staying all the time? As in moving your things into my suite?”

She took a breath. “Yes.”

“Would you
want
to stay with me?”

Emily sighed. “Yes. But...”

“But you're still worried about what people will think?”

“Yes.” She bit her lip.

“If that wasn't an issue, would you want to stay with me?”

“Yes. I think I would. Even though it sort of feels like we'd be living together.”

He laughed softly. “I suppose it does. What if I ask the hotel to keep your room open and to put it on my bill when it's time for you to leave? That way, you can still have the room if you need it or want it, even if it's just for appearances, but you can stay in the penthouse without having to go back and forth. And if you want, you can put everything in your room there, just like if you were staying with a friend.”

“Can I still sleep with you at night?”

He kissed her forehead. “I'd be disappointed if you didn't.”

“I think that can work. Rick and Liam both said I should just do it, but I wasn't sure...”

“That I would want it?”

“That I was ready for it
and
that you would want it.”

“What changed your mind?”

She took a deep breath and sighed. “They both made good points about it being practical. But really, it was talking to my sisters today that made the difference. I realized that I've been living the life of someone else, some person my mother wanted me to be. After talking to Annie and then Charlie, I decided that my hesitation was about my mother. She's the one who thinks that the kind of love in romance novels is a myth. I was always more romantic, passionate and creative than that as a girl. I let her turn me into someone I'm not, and I can't keep living my life that way anymore.”

Rob gave her a small smile. She continued, “I don't know what's going to happen after these two weeks are through. Not with me, not with us, not with my job. But I know that I want to spend as much time as possible with you while I'm here. And it makes no sense to be wasting that time going back and forth to my hotel room when it's just a place to store my things.”

“I don't want to push you, Em. I will be more than happy to have you stay with me there or here or wherever you want to be. As long as it's what
you
want. Don't do it because you think it's what
I
want.”

“No. I want it, too. I do. It should feel like we're rushing things, but it doesn't. I don't know why. I can't explain it. But it doesn't feel wrong. It feels right.”

“I think so, too. I should be up front with you, though, and tell you that I wasn't planning to stay at the hotel after New Year's. All my business in town will be done after the gala. I was going to come back here. If you want to stay there, still, we can.”

“No! No, my schedule calms down significantly after the gala. I have a ton of interviews this week and only one or two next week. Mostly, I'm just going to be checking into the museum with the curators, dealing with the photographer and then writing the articles. I don't even have to be there every day. I'd love to come back here with you for that last week. It's been heavenly staying here, having privacy and feeling like a normal couple.”

“If that's what you want, then we'll plan to come back here after the gala, okay? We'll keep the suite for that night in case we change our minds and so we have a place nearby to get everyone ready. You let me know what you want to do when the time comes, but I'll plan to be back here on New Year's Day. Does that sound good?”

“It sounds perfect. Let's get some sleep. We have an early morning, and I've got a long week ahead.” She kissed him and he used the house remote to shut everything down for the night. As she drifted off to sleep, he told her he loved her again. She was beginning to look forward to hearing it. And she had hopes that, one day soon, she'd have the courage to tell him when he was awake.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, two days after Christmas...

The next morning flew. Before Emily knew it, she was in the limo, headed back to the hotel with Liam to meet Christopher for her fitting. When they got to the penthouse, Liam stayed outside the door. “Aren't you going to come inside and eat lunch?”

“Do you
want
me to see you naked? Because he'll strip you down to your panties.”

“Oh. Right. I hadn't thought about that. What are you going to do for lunch?”

“I'll head downstairs once he's up here. I have to go back down and get him. Eat your lunch while you can. I'll be back to take you over to the museum in an hour. If you're done before then and you want to head over, send me a text.” She agreed and Liam went back down the elevator while she went in to eat lunch.

A few minutes later, Em had just eaten her sandwich and Christopher burst through the door with an entourage.

“Emily! So good to see you again!” He air-kissed her and then directed his minions where to set up everything. Emily ate as fast as she could, just in case. Within ten minutes, the living room looked more like a bridal fitting room than a hotel penthouse. All but one of the minions was directed to wait in the kitchen until they were called.

“Okay, you hot thing, let's get this show on the road, shall we?” Christopher motioned for Em to come over to the podium he had set up with mirrors in front.

“Now, I've got three dresses for you to see. The first one is what I expected to put you in the other night. If you love it and it looks as good as I know it will, we won't bother with the other two. I'll let you see them, just in case you think you'd like to try, but I know you're going to love this one. So, go behind that curtain,” he gestured to the little makeshift dressing area, “and strip down to your panties. You have the bra Rob got you?” Em nodded. “Good. Put that on, put on the robe that's hanging on the screen and then come out here to the podium.”

Emily did as instructed. A couple minutes later, she was standing on the podium in the robe, when the minion carried the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen over to where she was standing. Em knew her jaw must be hitting the floor.

“That's for me?” she said in awe.

Christopher laughed. “Oh, honey, you're adorable. I'm thinking there won't be a question that you'll love it.” He spoke to his minion without making eye contact. “Get the shoes. Don't come back in until I say.” The minion left the room and Christopher said, “Take off the robe and then I'll hold the dress so you can step into it. Ever done a wedding gown fitting?”

Emily laughed as she took off the robe. “Nope. Never been married. Or engaged. Or even had a proposal.”

“Seriously? A sexy girl like you? I don't believe it. Rob is obviously head over heels. Surely he's not the first.” He held out the gown as she stepped into it.

“I had a really serious boyfriend before I came here. My mom said he was planning to propose on Christmas.”

He gave a little gasp. “What happened?” he asked as he zipped the dress and began adjusting her breasts until they sat perfectly in the bust.

How it could be that a huge man like Christopher seemed like he was a girlfriend, Em couldn't explain, but he did. It wasn't as weird having him touch her boobs this time around.

“I broke up with him. And then I met Rob.”

“Ah. Yes, Rob has stolen many hearts, including mine,” he lamented as he began adjusting the dress in other ways. “Shoes.” The minion was suddenly at his side with a pair of black stiletto sandals. When he handed them to Christopher, he scurried out of the room as her stylist slipped the shoes on her feet.

“He said he didn't date much.”

“Oh, he doesn't, hon. That's what I meant. Everyone loves him, he's just not very free with the love in return, if you know what I mean.”

“So, he really hasn't had a lot of girlfriends?”

“No, sweetie. You're one of a select few. I've only been with him since just after the whole thing with Lola happened, but you hear things. He didn't date much before and I haven't dressed a single girl other than Amy, Kelly and my Anja until just now. He obviously likes you quite a bit.” Christopher stepped back to look at her before he began more adjusting, now that she had the shoes on her feet.

“How can you say that? I hardly saw you. And we hadn't been seeing each other for more than a day or so.”

He stopped and looked her in the eye. “Honey, the man called me the morning after he met you and told me to do for you what I do for Amy. The only reason he didn't say Anja is because she's less fussy. When a man like Rob buys a woman Louboutins before he's even known her for 12 hours, he's got it bad.”

Em gave him a half-smile. She bit her lip. “He...he told me he loves me.”

Christopher's eyes grew wide. “Reeeally?” She nodded. “In the middle of...?”

“No.”

“Oh, my. And did you return the sentiment?”

“Not with words.”

“But you do?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, honey. He's one lucky man. Don't let him forget it. Now, what do you think?” He stepped out of her way so she could see herself in the mirror. Emily couldn't believe her eyes.

The dress looked even better on her than it did when she saw it before. It was the same shade of cranberry red as the lingerie Rob had bought her. It was strapless, which she usually didn't wear because her boobs always felt like they were falling out. But this had structure, a straight neckline, rouched across the bust with boning at the ribs, which was hidden by a wavy pattern of  rhinestones the same shade as the dress. The stones had a shimmery coating that made them look like they were moving as she moved her body. The overlay fabric was organza and it came in just a little at the waist, then fell in a cascade to the floor. There were stones scattered in the same wavy pattern all over the dress. The left leg had a slit that went up to her mid thigh, just enough so that when she turned you could see her whole leg. Rob was right –  in stilettos, her legs went on for miles.

And the shoes! Oh, the shoes were beautiful. Strappy, black works of art on her feet. They made her feel sexy.

“What do you think?”

“Oh, Christopher, it's gorgeous. You're a genius. Truly.”

“I am. Now, let's talk hair and makeup. Got any preferences? Don't worry, I won't make you look like a whore. I think that's
so
tacky and I don't do tacky.”

“Can you leave my hair curly? Rob likes it curly and I had forgotten that I do, too.”

He fingered her curls. “Mmm. Amy said you had fabulous curls. I'm glad to see you left it curly today. It looks good straight, but these curls are to die for. Do you know how much women pay to have your hair?”

“You don't think it's frizzy?”

“Nothing the right product can't fix. Do you want to wear it up or down? The dress lends itself either way. Personally, I think down says young and sexy, but I know you're going to be working, right?” She nodded. “So, maybe we should tone down the sexy. Keep it down but bring it away from your face just a little so it's not so sultry?”

“That's probably a good idea. If it was just a party, I'd go for the sexy, but I'm the face of the magazine at this thing. I don't think my boss would appreciate me looking too vavavoomy.”

“Okay, and then makeup. You don't wear too much, mostly natural. Will you freak if I go for the drama and give you a smokey look and red lips?”

Emily grinned in disbelief. “You think I can pull that off?”

“Definitely. You've got the strong features and those gorgeous blue eyes. We'll make them pop and give you a sophisticated look. Be prepared. Your picture is going to be all over the internet on New Year's Day. Wait until you see Rob in Armani.”

Oh, God. Rob in black tie. How was she going to concentrate on her job?

Christopher was laughing. “You're adorable. So, jewelry. Rob said he got you studs and you'll have a matching tennis bracelet. We'll skip the necklace so we don't draw attention to your cleavage. We've got a black, rhinestone crusted clutch. That's it. Now, stand still and tall and we'll be done the alterations before you know it. It fits you like a glove, but there are a few places I think could be better and we need to take care of the hem. Pins!” When he shouted the order, the rest of the minions appeared and got to work handing him pins as he nipped here and there at the bodice. Two of them worked on the hem at the same time, somehow managing to stay out of Christopher's way. Em thought he was a genius, but like all similar personalities, he would be a horror for a boss.

Less than ten minutes later, they were done and the minions were being dismissed while Christopher helped her out of the shoes and dress. He put the robe back on her and shouted “Dress!” and the minion who brought the shoes came to get the dress as Emily went behind the curtain to change back into her work clothes.

When she came back around, Christopher said, “See, I knew those pants just needed some good tailoring. You look fabulous.” He air kissed her again and said, “I'll see you on New Year's Eve, then! Tear down!” he shouted as he walked out the door, and the crew dismantled and moved everything out of the living room, returning it to the previous state within five minutes.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed and a little giddy, she wanted to call Charlie as soon as she could. She sent a quick text to Liam to tell him she was ready any time. Then she texted Charlie to make sure she was available. Charlie called back instantly.

“Emma Bean! Did you see your dress? What did you get for shoes? What kind of bling are you getting?”

Emily laughed. “Calm down. Yes, I just saw it. Oh! I should have had him take a picture with my phone. Crap. Oh well, you'll see it eventually, right?”

“Well, don't keep me in suspense!”

“It's gorgeous, Charlie. I can't even describe it accurately. It's cranberry red, but it's got all these stones on it that make it look like it's moving or something”

“Strapless?”

“Yes. And the leg is slit to my thigh. Holy crap, between that and the heels, my legs look ridiculously long.”

“So, shoes...”

“You were right. I'm not sure if they're the same ones Amy had before, but they might be. They're strappy and have a little buckle around the ankle.”

“Oh, my God, I'm so jealous! Bling?”

“He said a tennis bracelet and my earrings. That's it. I think he was going to do a necklace, but that would draw attention to my cleavage. We're trying to tone down the sexy a little and he wanted to leave my hair down and curly.”

“Feeling vindicated?”

Emily laughed. “I guess so.”

“Are you excited?”

She took a deep breath. “Yes. And a little terrified. And also worried that I won't be able to concentrate on my job. He said Rob is wearing Armani.”

“Oh, my. He looks good in Armani. Okay, I'm fanning myself here. Don't tell me what he did to you this morning or else I won't be able to concentrate on
my
job the rest of the day and I've got a deadline.”

“Charlie! Someone might hear you!”

“I'm in my office with the door shut. Look, I should go. You better send me pictures. Good ones. Try to take one of him naked for me, okay?”

“Charlie!”

“Just kidding. Sort of. I'll talk to you soon. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Liam walked in the door then. “All set, Em?”

“Yep. Let's go.”

When the got on the elevator, Liam asked, “You survived?”

“He's not that bad. He's better on the second dose. Either that or he likes me.”

“You know he's gay, right?”

She laughed. “I meant he likes me as a person, not that he's hot for me.”

“Oh, because Rob said he told you I thought you were hot, so I didn't know if you suddenly thought all guys think you're hot...” She smacked his arm. “Ow! Just kidding. And just because I think you're hot doesn't mean I'm going to hit on you.”

“Good. Because if you did, I'd kick you in the balls.”

“Hey! No need to get violent!”

“Keep your hands to yourself and I won't have to get violent.”

“He'd kick my ass, anyway, even if you wouldn't. I think I'm more worried about you, though. A man has to protect his sensitive parts. Besides, you're hot in the way my sister is hot. As in, I feel like I need to protect you from scumballs.”