“The pots? Herbs. Mint, chives, basil, and sage. I thought if these work out, I could try lavender and some of those giant daisies to pretty things up. And arugula and a tomato plant or two. And there’s a perfect spot for a rosemary bush over…” Now I was rambling. “Uh, what’s the favour?” I asked again.
Catering a dinner party? Taking his car for a service? Picking up a gift for Emmy?
“I’m due to attend a benefit tonight, and Emmy’s had to fly out of the country unexpectedly. Is there any chance you’re free?”
I dropped the rest of the seeds, and they rolled between the cracks in the paving. Oh, shoot—now there’d be basil everywhere.
“I know it’s short notice,” he continued, “but we wouldn’t need to stay late, and you could take as much time off as you want next week.”
I glanced down at myself, smudged with dirt. “I’m sure any number of beautiful women would be only too happy to go with you. Why don’t you ask one of them?”
“I did. Nobody else on my list can make it.”
So I was right at the bottom? That made sense, but it still stung to hear him say it.
“Just walk into the nearest bar and smile. You’ll pick somebody up, no problem.” A touch of snarkiness may have crept into my voice, but I didn’t care.
He leaned back against the house wall and sighed. “I know, but that’s not what I’m looking for. Those women come with strings attached. I don’t want any...expectations. I just want to go out for the evening, come back home, and go to bed. On my own.”
“Oh.” That was novel. If my experience at Buck’s was any indication, most red-blooded men wouldn’t turn down “expectations.” I had to admire Nick for being faithful to Emmy.
“And going alone isn’t an option either. Five minutes after I walked in the door, women would be flocking around me like flies on shit. I tried it once and ended up acting as referee in a catfight. One girl ended up bawling because she broke a nail. It wasn’t pretty.”
I rocked back on my heels. “I’m hardly benefit material.”
“You’re kidding, right? Have you ever looked in a mirror?”
“I try to avoid them. In any case, I don’t have anything to wear.”
“That’s no problem. I can sort out a dress. Will you do it? Please?”
My head said no, while my libido screamed, fainted, and threw itself at his feet. Common sense, what little of it I had, packed her sensible shoes into a suitcase and headed for Alaska. Before I knew it, I’d nodded. The full force of Nick’s smile hit me like a hurricane, and I was glad I’d stayed sitting down.
“I really appreciate it.” Oh, that smile was lethal. “Leave everything to me.”
What the hell had I done?
CHAPTER 18
NICK WASN’T KIDDING when he said he could sort out a dress. An hour and a half later, Bradley arrived, followed by a pair of assistants each carrying an armful of garment bags. They were followed by two other women, who he introduced as the nail technician and the masseuse.
The masseuse?
The remainder of the afternoon passed in a blur. I was poked, prodded, primped, and pampered until not an inch of me remained untouched. Bradley did my hair himself, chopping layers into it until it sat just below my shoulders and adding some golden highlights to my natural mousey brown. It sure beat my usual visit to student night at a local salon.
Next came the gown. Bradley had the two assistants zip me into dress after dress, and I was beginning to despair of ever leaving the house when he held up a hand.
“Perfect. That’s the one.”
He turned me around to face the mirror. Yes, he was right.
The strappy yellow dress had a tight bodice that did wonders for my cleavage, and the silk skirt fell in soft gathers to the floor. I’d always hated my curves, but this dress made me feel elegant in a way I never thought I could.
Bradley flicked his wrist at an assistant. “Shoes.”
A pair of fancy red-soled pumps appeared as if by magic and found their way onto my feet. They were high. Really high. I loved my heels, but I was used to low-rise apartment buildings as opposed to skyscrapers.
Bradley squeezed my arm and smiled. “Yes, they work. Only your make-up to sort out now.”
“They’re lovely, but I’m not sure I can walk in them.”
“Nonsense, you’ll be fine. You can’t wear that dress without