Three Weddings and a Dress (41 page)

“Conner?”

She heard his yawn, then a groggy, “Yeah?”

“Sorry Conner, I know you were at the restaurant late last night. But I need a huge favor.”

Ari heard something and then Conner told her to wait a minute. She could hear Gerard in the background. Relief ran over her, he’d come to pick the files up.

Conner returned to the line to let her know Gerard was now in possession of the files, she told him thanks and she’d see him at home.

“Well?”

Ari jumped, “Crap. What?”

“You left in a rush did you tell Conner to take the files to Gerard?”

“You’re doing fine so far, what do you think?”

Darlene settled into her usual place when she invaded Ari’s office space. Her hands cradled the mug of coffee. Most likely a refill, either that or it was now iced coffee.

“Here’s what I think. You’ve fallen for the handsome computer geek. You’ve scared the shit out of him.” She smiled then took a sip. “And now both of you are avoiding each other, how am I doing so far?”

This is what she expected to hear from Darlene in the break room earlier. Darlene could read Ari and her situations like an open book. No one had ever been able to do that.

“I hate when you do that.”

“I’m right on the money.” This time Darlene smirked. “So where does Bella come into all this.”

“It’s her fault.”

“What? Bella is a designer gown. How can it be a piece of material’s fault?” Darlene was chuckling and shaking her head.

“Have you watched the Today segment with Heidi?”

“No, what does that have to do with anything?”

Ari sipped her own coffee, grimaced, it was cold and she hated cold. “Go find it on the Internet it will save me from explaining.”

“Now I’m intrigued. A girl and her dress, there’s a story somewhere.”

“I’ve got work to do, designs to create. I don’t have time for your speculations.”

Darlene stood, saluted with her mug. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m off to watch the Today show.” She stopped at the doorway. “When did it air?”

Ari told her, and then with determination flipped open her bag to pull out her latest design. A flowing dress with a story from the roaring twenties, a history that would make the dress come to life.

*****

It had been a very long day. Ari admitted part of the cause was Darlene. As promised, she’d watched the show and hit the nail right on the head again.

That day she’d told Ari that Bella was her soul mate and the gown had somehow contrived to have Gerard and Ari fall in love. Ari hadn’t bothered to point out that it was one sided.

She loved him. He didn’t want to have anything to do with her. Ever since she hadn’t been able to get him out of her thoughts.

Once she was finally home, she stowed the Love Machine and let herself into the building. As she approached her apartment, garlic invaded her senses, again. Man, she hoped that was coming from her place because her stomach just gave a growl in answer to the aroma.

Luck smiled on her because when she opened the door, Conner was busy in his kitchen. It was no longer hers. He’d taken control, and she was glad to let him.

“Smells divine, what’s for dinner?”

“Go relax, you’ll know soon enough.”

A knock on the door interrupted her progress to her room. Retracing her steps she pulled the door wide and then blinked. Was Gerard a cross dresser?

“Hi?” Maybe he had a twin sister? Oh, that was probably it. “You must be Gerard’s sister.”

“I’m Lacy his younger sister. Are you Ari?”

“Yes, come in.”

The girl stepped into the living room. Now, in the better light, Ari could see she was much younger than Gerard. When she saw Conner she frowned and stared accusingly at Ari.

“So that’s what happened.”

Bewildered Ari slanted her head. “How what happened?”

Conner had dried his hands and stood facing them both. A welcoming smile played over his face.

“You broke Gerry’s heart. My poor sweet brother, all his life girls have chased him. He never gave them a second thought. Then he falls for you and you’re in love with someone else.”

“What?” Ari and Conner asked at the same time.

“Oh this just keeps getting better. I wish I had some popcorn.” Conner’s comment sounded like nails running down the schoolroom chalkboard.

“You call Gerard, Gerry?” Somehow Ari could not picture her broad shouldered neighbor as a
Gerry
. And how in the hell had she broken his heart?

The girl looked at Conner and then back to Ari. “He doesn’t live here then?”

Ari gave a narrow-eyed glance in warning at Conner, then returned her attention to Lacy. “Conner is my roommate, we’re friends. Why would you think Gerard would care if Conner and I were dating anyway?”

She sighed as if Ari were dumb. “Because my brother is in love with you.”

Conner gave a bellow of laughter at that comment. Ari noticed that Lacy shot him the same disgruntled look she knew was on her face.

“Lacy, why don’t you stay for dinner? I’m cooking French. You can ask Gerry if he wants to join us. Ari, that’s okay with you, isn’t it?”

Ari didn’t know what to say. Of course, she wanted Gerard to come over. His sister had to be wrong. Over the month he’d been programming the mock up to present to Gertrude, they’d worked closely going over the details. Her heart had hammered and by the time he’d left she’d felt as if she’d run a marathon.

However, he’d been indifferent to her. Hardly glancing in her direction, professional and direct the entire time. Since his demonstration, when Ari had all but run from her bosses office, she hadn’t seen him.

The girl had misread the situation.

“Yes, please come for dinner. Conner’s meals are fabulous.”

“My sister Marla is here too.”

“Bring everyone, there’s plenty of food. It will be ready in about twenty minutes. You may want to bring some soda, we only have wine and beer.”

The girl stopped in the process of leaving and turned back, “I’m twenty-one and Marla is too. We can have a drink with dinner.”

Both Conner and Ari stared after her as the door snapped shut in their faces. Ari looked to her roommate, “I thought she was about sixteen.”

Conner chuckled as he shook the pan to sauté whatever treasure he had in it. “I did too.”

Ari continued to her bedroom to put away her bag and change, what she’d been about to do before Lacy had interrupted. When she walked in, Bella shimmered in the evening light.

“Gerard and his two sisters are coming for dinner. I’ll leave the door open so you can hear.”

Bella swayed on her stand. Ari smiled. She had given up trying to come up with explanations of why the gown could do those types of things.

Bella was her soul mate. Now she had to convince Gerard he was hers. A laugh bubbled up from her core. If his sister was correct there wouldn’t be much convincing.

“Bella, wish me luck.”

For a moment, she thought she’d have to catch the mannequin before it landed in a heap of lace and silk.

“A happy dance, Bella? Really?” Ari chuckled at her own joke as she threw open the closet doors to consider what to wear. “Can’t do too fancy or he’ll catch on. And can’t go seductive, not with the little sisters watching.”

Reaching in, she pulled out a hippie boho patchwork, her favorite long summer dress. The lightweight material swung around her legs as she walked, making her feel feminine. As most of her dresses, she had a pair of flip-flops that matched.

“So how do I look? Not too dressy, but feminine?”

Bella gave a soft shimmer in the setting sun. Ari danced around her bedroom letting her joy fill the air. Then she waved at the gown and walked into the living room.

“Bella approve?” Conner’s asked dry as toast.

“In fact, she did.”

Conner walked to Ari, circled around her and after a moment. “I agree, very nice.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Oh, that will be our guests,” Conner said. “Why don’t you play hostess and I’ll pour the wine.”

Ari opened the door and her breath caught in her chest when she came face to face with Gerard, handsome in casual jeans and tee shirt. He had an arm slung over each of his sisters. They were the twins. If Lacy hadn’t been wearing the same outfit as she had earlier, Ari wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart.

“Dinner is ready. Come on in.” She held her hand out. “You must be Marla, and I assume you and Lacy are twins?”

Both girls giggled until Gerard answered for them. “Marla is a year older. But most people can’t tell them apart.”

French to Conner meant an appetizer of escargot, and both girls needed persuading to try one. Neither Ari nor Gerard needed any prompting.

“The butter and garlic must have been what I smelled at the door when I walked in.” Ari forked a second one leaning in to make sure butter didn’t drip down her front.

Gerard had been entertaining them all with stories of his computer school days at NYU. She’d laughed so much her sides ached. He was on his best behavior, confusing her all over again.

After everyone had quieted to finish their dinner, Gerard turned his attention on Ari. Her fingers lost all sensation with his intent look and her fork dropped.

“Is Gertrude ready to launch the new virtual program along with the design studio?” His expression was professional, in no way as personal as she’d have liked.

His sister had to be wrong. He didn’t care for her in that way. They had a professional relationship, as far as he was concerned anyway.

“Yes. Tomorrow morning, a full-page ad for Classic Manhattan will run in both the New York Times and The Post. It will feature all the details of the bridal fair we’re sponsoring to unveil our new virtual wedding planner and my designs.” Ari busied her shaking hands by spreading a bit of brie on a cracker.

“Is your picture in the ad?” Lacy asked.

“Yes. The photographer took several pictures of me in my new design room working over the draft tables, or cutting some satin. I haven’t seen the ad, I hope I look decent and not like a dork.”

“Did you have an airy dress on like you have now? That dress tells your story.” Marla nodded at her flowing sundress.

Ari glanced down, “You think I’m a patchwork person?”

Both girls laughed, but Lacy answered for her sister. “We’ve just met you, but by having dinner here I’ve learned that you are more than meets the eye.”

Ari wasn’t sure how to take that statement, “Thank you, I think.”

Marla answered this time. “You’re welcome.” She pushed away from the table. “Thank you Conner, that was a lovely meal. I need to get home I have an early workday tomorrow. Come on Lacy.”

“Any time you want us to try out a new recipe give us a call. Here’s my card.” Lacy handed it to him and grinned. “I’ll have to run extra miles around the park, but it will be worth it.”

Conner bowed, the towel over his arm swaying as he did so. Ari bit back a laugh at the picture he made, like something out of French cuisine magazine.