A Price Worth Paying - By Trish Morey Page 0,21

our fault,’ one of the shop assistants said. ‘We have kept Simone so busy, we felt she deserved a treat.’

‘So busy,’ the other said, ‘but so efficient that we even managed to get her into the salon across the street. Do you like Simone’s new look?’

So that was what was different about her? Now he could see not only that her hair had been professionally styled, but that highlights had been added, whisper-thin streaks of chilli and cinnamon that gleamed in the light and blended in with the natural honey-gold of her hair. Somehow it seemed to give her hair depth. He nodded. ‘I approve.’

‘I won’t hold you up,’ she said, her cheeks flaring now under his scrutiny as she awkwardly stood, reaching for her shopping.

‘Is that all there is?’ he asked, surveying the small collection of carrier bags nearby.

‘The gown needs to be taken up,’ said one of the women, ‘It will be delivered tomorrow.’

‘But that’s the rest of it?’

One of the women laughed. ‘Your girlfriend is a very reluctant shopper, señor. We tried to convince her but she would not buy a fraction of what we picked out for her.’ She nodded. ‘You are a very lucky man.’

The women excused themselves to return to their shop while she gathered up her bags.

He leaned past her to collect up the last of them and he breathed in her scent, like warm peaches on a sunny day. Liking her perfume, even though it was probably just the shampoo the salon had used. Still, he liked the changes he was noticing about her. She was still not his type, but it would make it so much easier to pretend. ‘They think we are a couple.’

‘I know. I couldn’t see the point of correcting them.’

‘No, it is good,’ he said, leading her back to where he’d parked the car. ‘That is what everyone is meant to think. If they assume simply because we are seen shopping together that we are a couple, imagine what people will believe when they see us kiss.’

See us kiss? ‘You were actually fitting me out with a wardrobe,’ she said, trying to find a shred of logic in a mind that wanted to hone in and focus on the prospect of him kissing her instead. When? How? How soon? ‘We weren’t “simply shopping” at all.’

He shrugged. ‘Still, I think we will have no trouble convincing people.’

They were almost at Getaria when she remembered to ask, ‘What was that about in the shop before, when you first asked about the dress?’

He looked across at her. ‘When?’

‘You said something like “What about that one?” after they brought the first batch of gowns over and that one was set apart. But you were all speaking so fast, I couldn’t understand.’

He shook his head. ‘I don’t understand what you’re asking. We have the dress, don’t we?’

‘I mean, was there a reason they didn’t include it in the first place? Did they think it wouldn’t suit me?’

‘Ah,’ he said. ‘Apparently another of their clients had expressed interest in seeing it, that was all.’

‘Oh, you mean they had it reserved for someone?’

He shrugged. ‘It makes no difference now.’

‘But won’t that person be disappointed that it’s sold?’

He smiled. ‘Probably.’

She settled back into her seat, tangling fingers in her lap, newly manicured fingernails painted bright red if he wasn’t mistaken. He had to hand it to her, she had been busy this afternoon.

‘I should thank you, of course,’ she said, ‘for the clothes and everything.’

‘I’m not sure you got anywhere near enough.’

‘You must be kidding,’ she said with a shake of her head, ‘there’s heaps, really there is. I just hate to think how much it cost. But in case you’re wondering, I paid for the salon. I don’t want you thinking I’d take advantage …’

Was she serious? Or was this just another tactic to lull him into taking her and her story at face value and believing she wanted nothing more than to make an old man die happy? Because none of the women he knew were anywhere near as naive or horrified at the prospect of spending someone else’s money on themselves.

But then none of the women he knew would go to such extraordinary lengths that she was going either. Why was she going to such trouble for her grandfather? He didn’t like that he didn’t know, but if he ended up with the vines and she ended up not pregnant and with no claim on the estate, he didn’t really care.

What he