Billionaire Romance Boxed Set (9 Book Bundle) (54 page)

The
playfulness from before suddenly became mischievous. Without missing a beat,
Will unbuttoned his slacks and unzipped as I sat back on my heels waiting to
see how far this would go and excited to see it. I couldn’t wait to see how
daring my Mr. Sexy was.

I
caught a glimpse of light grey cotton boxer briefs. Then his hand reached under
the waistband. I held my breath in anticipation.

“Deborah!”
Sara called from the cash register. “Did you take the measuring tape? I
always keep one here for emergencies.”

I
turned towards her voice, annoyed even more at her presence but hoping she
wouldn’t come back into the fitting area.

“Never
mind! I found it,” she yelled before I could answer her.

“Now
where were we?” I said as I turned back to Will but he was gone.
“Dammit! Where’d he go?”

I
ran into the dressing rooms but they were empty. Entering the suit department I
looked for his tall figure, but saw nothing except Sara.

“Hey
Sara, did you see that customer from earlier? The one who asked for me?”

“Oh
you mean the one you stole from me? No, not since you whisked him away.
Why?”

“No
reason. Just asking.”

I
wasn’t about to tell her what happened. Quickly making my way through the
department I kept an eye out for his dark hair and muscular body, but didn’t
see anything. I could have called security since he was wearing a very
expensive suit, but I didn’t want him to come back because he had to. I wanted
him to come back because he wanted to, like he did earlier. I’d just have to
wait for that happen again. If it happened again.

Chapter Six

Deborah

A
week had passed since Mr. Sexy left me anxious to see his unwrapped package.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I fantasized about what might have happened next
if there was no one in the store at all except for the two of us. Each day
dragged by as I waited for him to return, my measuring tape close at hand.

“Why
so glum?” Dianna asked as I arrived at work that morning.

“Just
missing Mr. Sexy.”

“He
still a no-show?”

“Yeah,
not since he tried on that suit,” I said intentionally leaving out
anything else that happened between us. “I doubt he’ll be back. Its such a
shame too, he was so hot!”

She
giggled then pat my back as she gave me a mock-sympathetic look. “Well at
least you’ll be busy. Today’s your interview for the design contest,
right?”

“Yes,
at 11. Do I look ok? They’ll be judging what I’m wearing as much as my
portfolio.”

“Relax,
you always look great.”

Knowing
it was an important day, I wore one of my favorite designs—a long, plum silk
jersey halter dress with a keyhole opening to show off my cleavage. I designed
the dress so whoever wore it could show as little or as much as they wanted
without the keyhole being obvious when closed.

Below
the keyhole, I hand ruched a thick waist band which gave me the appearance of
an hourglass silhouette. One of the nice things about designing my own clothes
was nothing ever fit me right in stores. I was always too short, too round, too
everything. So making my own designs gave me the ability to custom fit clothes
to my body.

As
I waited for my interview time to arrive, I noticed every man who walked past
the suit department. Sometimes my breath would catch when I saw a man I thought
was Will, but it never was.

Maybe
I took things too far. I began to scold myself for acting so slutty, but I
really didn’t regret it. Those minutes with my Mr. Sexy were the most exciting
thing to happen to me in a long time.

Riding
the elevator to the corporate floor, I resigned myself to give up. He had no
reason to come back to the store, there were plenty of other high end
department stores with chubby girls he could flirt with. For all I knew it was
just a game. It meant nothing and he was just pushing to see how far I would
take it.

But
he came back for me. That had to mean something.
I needed to stop thinking about it. I
wasn’t doing myself any favors. Men as handsome and sexy as Will didn’t want a
girl like me. He was probably laughing at me just like Doug did a few weeks ago
in his car.

The
elevator doors opened and I stepped out onto the white marble floor and
followed it down the hall to a large archway, under which was a walnut desk
with a pretty young African American girl chewing gum.

She
looked up at me and flashed a perfect smile. “Hi, are you Deborah Hanson?
They’re waiting for you,” she said as she motioned to the glass door
behind her.

“Waiting?
I was told 11. I’m early.”

She
leaned forward and the light hit her hair, revealing it to be a deep purple
shade. I got a strong whiff of the pink bubble gum in her mouth as she
whispered.

“Apparently
the last girl here was just wasting their time,” she used air quotes as
she finished her sentence then sat back satisfied she shared her piece of
gossip. “Go ahead through those doors. Good luck!”

“Thanks,”
I mumbled as I walked past her desk with my tablet and through the oversized
glass doors to a small conference room.

With
my shoulders back and my head held high, I looked at the three people seated at
a long table at the end of the room. I recognized the Women’s Fashions buyer
from her photo in the hall. A woman in her fifties with larger than life bright
red hair and small delicate features, Amanda Cunning was known to be very
particular about the new designers she introduced to the store.

I
paused in my trek to the blue conference chair set up across the table from
them when I recognized the older man seated next to Amanda. It was renown
fashion designer Tim Ross. Tim Ross’s designs were classy yet fashion forward
at the same time, a feat many designers tried to accomplish but failed. He was
one of main reasons I wanted to become a designer. The highlight of my
collection was an evening gown that gave a nod to his influence. I couldn’t
wait to show him.

Last
was a small, thin woman with her black hair pulled back into such a tight bun,
I wondered if her face would collapse if she loosened it. Wearing a very
traditional navy business suit, I assumed she was one of Hargrove’s higher ups.
Maybe even Mrs. Hargrove. I knew nothing of the Hargrove family except that
they created the fine department store decades ago.

Smiling
as I approached them, I extended my hand while holding on to my tablet with the
other.

“Hi,
I’m Deborah Hansen. Thank you for allowing me into the contest, I know it was
last minute.”

“Well
we didn’t really have much choice now, did we? I’m Claudine Calvin,” said
the woman with the tight bun, “Director of Acquisitions. I believe this
has been the worse turn out to this contest in years. Kylie at the desk out
there likes to talk, I’m sure she told you what happened to the last
contestant.”

I
smiled, not wanting to answer and get Kylie in trouble.

“Yes,
the turn out has been surprising, Claudine,” Amanda said. “So when
Human Resources called to enter you and said you were a friend of Joshua
Cane’s, lets just say I was hopeful.”

“Is
that why Hargrove’s hasn’t had a collection at Fashion Week in three
years?” Tim asked.

“Precisely.
I wasn’t going to have one of my designers create a collection and then dash
their hopes in going if we had an amazing winner. And I refuse to show more
than one collection at Fashion Week,” Amanda said. “I believe you
show one fabulous collection and leave them wanting more. Now Miss Hansen, will
your designs interest us or leave us cold?”

“My
collection is perfect for Hargrove’s,” I said stepping forward and resting
my tablet in front of Tim where they could all see it. “Even though its a
mixture of day and evening looks, the overall cohesiveness works. I chose
colors inspired by nature and styles that are flattering to all body
types.”

Swiping
the screen slowly, I showed them each of the pieces I created and how some of
them could mix and match with others. While I assumed Amanda and Claudine would
make the decision, my focus was on Tim Ross who nodded and smiled as he looked
at my sketches. At the end, I let the tablet do a slideshow of the images to
give the impression of them walking down a runway.

“Very
impressive Miss Hansen,” Tim said and I fought the urge to jump up and hug
him. “I especially enjoyed that show stopper gown at the end. Did you also
design the dress you’re wearing?”

“Oh
you have no idea how much that means to me, Mr. Ross. Your designs have been so
inspirational. I did design that gown with you in mind and yes, this dress is
mine too.”

“Beautiful
work. I can see you have an eye for detail.”

“Can
you get us samples next month?” Amanda asked.

“Samples?”
My head spun. Samples meant I needed to buy fabric and create each of the
pieces. The cutting and sewing wasn’t the hard part, I could create samples
fairly quick, they didn’t need to be fit-on-model perfect, but they did need to
be well constructed. The problem was I didn’t have money for fabric. I’d have
to figure something out. “I could get you samples next week,” I said
confidently.

“Perfect,”
Amanda said. “We have several other contestants to meet with this week,
but based on what we’ve seen so far I’m pretty sure we’ve found our
winner.” She turned to look at Tim and Claudine and they both nodded.
“Kylie will be in touch with you to schedule the sample viewing.”

“Thank
you! Oh thank you so much!” I was so excited I ran to the other side of
the table and hugged each of them before picking up my tablet and exiting the
room before they could change their minds.

“Sounds
like they liked you,” Kylie said as I left the conference room.

“I
knew they’d love my designs. Now I just need to make the samples. Guess I’ll
see you in a month!”

Stepping
out of the elevator, I floated on air as I walked back to my department. I
purposefully walked past each of the women’s departments and imagined my
designs on the mannequins. It would be a dream come true to see my collection
in the store but there was one big hurdle—money.

If
I worked extra hours, I could borrow from my rent money now and be able to pay
rent with my next pay check. I’d have to make sure with Dianna that there were
extra hours available, but I was positive she’d figure out a way to get me
them. I knew the days would be long and I’d have to work on the samples late at
night, but a little less sleep never hurt anybody.

“You
look happy,” the deep voice of Mr. Sexy coming from behind me startled and
excited me at the same time.

I
spun around to face him. Looking gorgeous as always, this time he was in a
classic three piece brown suit with tan pin-striping. Still on my high from the
interview, I hugged him. I probably would have kissed him if he wasn’t so damn
tall.

“The
most amazing thing happened! They want to see samples of my collection!”

I
spoke too fast because I was so excited but he didn’t seem to mind. He just
smiled and looked happy for me too.

“I’ve
been looking for you,” he said.

“Well
you found me.” I wanted to say
its about time
but didn’t want to
lose him because of my snark.
Best to let him get to know me and then he can
realize I’m a wise-ass.

“I’ll
pick you up tonight, at 6pm,” he said then turned to go.

“Wait,
what?” I asked confused.

“We’re
going on a date. I’ll pick you up at six.”

“No,
I can’t.”

I
couldn’t believe the words came out of my mouth. How could I say no to a date
with Mr. Sexy? It’s not even like it was a question. He expected me to just go
with him…and I didn’t have a problem with that.

“What
do you mean no?” He asked obviously not used to hearing the word no.

“I
need to work. I need some extra hours so I can cover the rent money I’m taking
to make samples.”

“I’ll
give you the money. See you at six.”

He
began walking away while I shook my head. “No!” I called out to him.
He turned back and looked at me confused. “I’m not going to take your
money, Will.”

“Fine,
but I’ll still be here at six.”

I
stood there dumbfounded as he walked away, cutting his way through the crowd as
they parted before him.

“Was
that him? The elusive Mr. Sexy?” Dianna asked as she approached.

“Yup.
That was him,” I said numbly.

“Hmm
he looks familiar. Maybe it’s just the suit. What’s wrong? You don’t sound
happy.”

“I
am happy. Today’s been one of the best days of my life. He’s taking me on a
date.”

“So
what’s the problem?”

“I
was going to work late, I need some extra money. I’m a finalist in the
competition and I need to have samples ready for next month.”

“Awesome!
Go out tonight and celebrate with Mr. Sexy. You can worry about real life
tomorrow.”