employers, or change industries, before I let you marginalize her. End of story.”
I head straight for the stairs, and away from Lucas Sutton.
His long legs make him faster than me.
“Stop.” he says, and I do. “Don’t go down to the subway. Let me take you home; I’ll be happier if I know you’re safe. And we can discuss this further tonight or tomorrow; I could care less.” He skips a beat. “Please, Sadie. Please. I want to discuss this rationally.”
I pause, suddenly realizing how tired I am. “You’ll take me home and we can discuss this issue later? Seriously?” I wonder how that’s possible.
“Yes, I promise. No more for tonight.”
I breathe a long sigh. “Okay. Then let’s get going. I just realized how tired I am.”
Lucas signals his limo driver (how, I’m not sure) and his car waits for us at the top of the subway entrance. Gentlemanly, he opens the back door and I slide in first, across the wide bench seat. Lucas slips in after me and closes the door with finality. He moves across the seat and is closer to me than I anticipated. His long thigh touches mine. I’m inordinately close to the opposite door, and I’m trying to keep my equilibrium, being in such close proximity to a Greek God. I’ve never felt so self-conscious.
He takes my hand in his, and pulls me toward him. “You ’re freezing” he says with concern. He rubs my fingers between his until there’s feeling in both my hands, and I’m watching his face closely. “We have to discuss your perception of me, Miss Graves” he says earnestly. “I know my personal habits look a little loose to you”, he says without looking at me. He swings his deep eyes to me now, and waits a few beats before he speaks again. “I can assure you that my intentions toward you are honorable. And I don’t play around.”
I’m pretty sure I look dubious , because he frowns at me in response.
“Tell me your address”, he insists, and I peel it off quickly so he can tell his limo driver where to go. He repeats it back into the limo’s intercom system, and the n raises the privacy screen between the driver and the two of us.
“Now, for my real question. I called Teddy earlier. He says you haven’t had a boyfriend since he’s known you. Is that true?”
“ Why would you dig into my private business?” I’m shocked that anyone would ask me such a personal question. And embarrassed that Teddy would out me so completely. Couldn’t he have been more flattering? While Lucas Sutton has been banging every blonde in New York County, I’ve been alone. Yep. Not dating . He accepts this as truth, and I look out the window, trying to think how I can possibly correct his assumptions. But of course I can’t.
“If you’re going to be associated with my company, your personal life is every bit my business. Wild reputations are hard to erase” he says kindly. He looks at me now with a hard-to-discern expression. I open my mouth to speak, dreading what comes out. “I’ll admit; I’ve been focused on work and my career. I haven’t dated much. And the last year’s work – the lingerie line, the couture – it’s been overwhelming. I haven’t had much time for socializing.” I keep my eyes down, hoping he won’t make fun of my lack of experience.
He doesn’t.
“Sadie, your work is lovely. Your ideas are unique. Tell me about the lingerie line?”
I relax, and do. There are four bra designs: a back hook, a front hook, a halter style and a demi bra. Panties are mostly small – bikinis, thongs, and one boy short that has sold fairly well. I designed a corset, two different garter belts, and three teddies. Anna let me choose all the fabric, the stays, the lace and the underpinnings. I explain the choices, the options, and why I opted for certain selections over others. He listens without interrupting.
The whole idea was an experiment, but the customers were thrilled. Past thrilled; jubilant, even. The first person to buy one of
I head straight for the stairs, and away from Lucas Sutton.
His long legs make him faster than me.
“Stop.” he says, and I do. “Don’t go down to the subway. Let me take you home; I’ll be happier if I know you’re safe. And we can discuss this further tonight or tomorrow; I could care less.” He skips a beat. “Please, Sadie. Please. I want to discuss this rationally.”
I pause, suddenly realizing how tired I am. “You’ll take me home and we can discuss this issue later? Seriously?” I wonder how that’s possible.
“Yes, I promise. No more for tonight.”
I breathe a long sigh. “Okay. Then let’s get going. I just realized how tired I am.”
Lucas signals his limo driver (how, I’m not sure) and his car waits for us at the top of the subway entrance. Gentlemanly, he opens the back door and I slide in first, across the wide bench seat. Lucas slips in after me and closes the door with finality. He moves across the seat and is closer to me than I anticipated. His long thigh touches mine. I’m inordinately close to the opposite door, and I’m trying to keep my equilibrium, being in such close proximity to a Greek God. I’ve never felt so self-conscious.
He takes my hand in his, and pulls me toward him. “You ’re freezing” he says with concern. He rubs my fingers between his until there’s feeling in both my hands, and I’m watching his face closely. “We have to discuss your perception of me, Miss Graves” he says earnestly. “I know my personal habits look a little loose to you”, he says without looking at me. He swings his deep eyes to me now, and waits a few beats before he speaks again. “I can assure you that my intentions toward you are honorable. And I don’t play around.”
I’m pretty sure I look dubious , because he frowns at me in response.
“Tell me your address”, he insists, and I peel it off quickly so he can tell his limo driver where to go. He repeats it back into the limo’s intercom system, and the n raises the privacy screen between the driver and the two of us.
“Now, for my real question. I called Teddy earlier. He says you haven’t had a boyfriend since he’s known you. Is that true?”
“ Why would you dig into my private business?” I’m shocked that anyone would ask me such a personal question. And embarrassed that Teddy would out me so completely. Couldn’t he have been more flattering? While Lucas Sutton has been banging every blonde in New York County, I’ve been alone. Yep. Not dating . He accepts this as truth, and I look out the window, trying to think how I can possibly correct his assumptions. But of course I can’t.
“If you’re going to be associated with my company, your personal life is every bit my business. Wild reputations are hard to erase” he says kindly. He looks at me now with a hard-to-discern expression. I open my mouth to speak, dreading what comes out. “I’ll admit; I’ve been focused on work and my career. I haven’t dated much. And the last year’s work – the lingerie line, the couture – it’s been overwhelming. I haven’t had much time for socializing.” I keep my eyes down, hoping he won’t make fun of my lack of experience.
He doesn’t.
“Sadie, your work is lovely. Your ideas are unique. Tell me about the lingerie line?”
I relax, and do. There are four bra designs: a back hook, a front hook, a halter style and a demi bra. Panties are mostly small – bikinis, thongs, and one boy short that has sold fairly well. I designed a corset, two different garter belts, and three teddies. Anna let me choose all the fabric, the stays, the lace and the underpinnings. I explain the choices, the options, and why I opted for certain selections over others. He listens without interrupting.
The whole idea was an experiment, but the customers were thrilled. Past thrilled; jubilant, even. The first person to buy one of
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