Lorenzo. Ever since that plane ride, when she had gorged over the services of first class, he had taken a personal interest in her reaction to the luxury lifestyle. She wasn’t tainted like Kristin, who had been raised in wealth and often belittled products and services she believed weren’t up to her standards. Alice loved new experiences, and she also wasn’t a shrinking violet who was intimidated by such a different world.
She enjoyed it, and often left him wondering what else she would enjoy. A weekend getaway in Prague? A special chocolate pudding laced with real gold leaves from that French restaurant he enjoyed? A shopping spree on Madison Avenue with his black American Express? Maybe that one he could include as a bonus if she moved to New York City with him. Of course, all the other current fringe benefits would be off the table. He couldn’t play house with her with Cara right there. Things would get messy, and his daughter deserved better. Damn. Alice deserved better, too.
He opened the door to the Dolce & Gabbana shop and gestured for her to enter. “Do you want to give this one a go?”
“Well, why not?” She winked.
A coiffed brunette greeted them, her smile expanding when she assessed him. She probably recognized his thousand-dollar outfit of casual Bermuda shorts and a linen polo shirt. Even informality cost money, he mused. Money he was happy to spend.
“Good morning. How may I help you?”
“We’re looking for a red dress,” he said in Italian.
The sales clerk’s eyes fell on Alice, and she drew back. A rehearsed smile dented her cheeks. “Of course,” she said in English. “I’m Bianca. Nice to meet you.”
“Alice.” She shook her hand.
“Would you like to browse some ties, sir?” Bianca gestured to the men’s section across the room. Lorenzo was used to larger stores, but since this was an island, even the high-end brands had to compromise. Not on the luxury, though.
Another salesperson acknowledged him, but he hoped a wave was enough to keep the skinny guy from coming over and chatting. Without fuss, he picked up a few ties, one of them a burgundy red. The color was a tad bold for his taste but would come in handy for the party. He had considered ignoring the color request altogether, but he couldn’t risk pissing Viola off just before she announced who she would be supporting.
Me. She will be supporting me. If he didn’t nail the deal, then all of this would have been for nothing—the trip, the fake engagement. Alice. His stomach clenched. He searched for her, his body spinning around as if he was a freaking dog and responding to scent.
Porca miseria. He needed this attraction to her as much as he needed a third ball. His gaze landed on her talking to Bianca who held a dress. Strange. Didn’t she want to try it on?
“How’s it going?”
A shade of pink spread across Alice’s cheeks. She shuffled from one foot to another, and he immediately frowned. “I…they don’t have my size. It’s okay.” Alice waved it off. “No big deal.”
“Can you call another store and have it delivered?” he asked Bianca.
Bianca lifted her shoulders. “I apologize, but ten is the largest size we carry.”
Alice let out a sigh. “I get it. I’m a real woman and not a stick figure.”
“I don’t mean to be rude. I’m sorry.” It was Bianca’s turn to blush.
Alice lifted her hand to her lips, probably realizing what she’d just said. “I was rude, actually. Sorry. You’ve been really nice. I understand. It’s the industry. Honestly, if I were back home and had the fabric handy, I could make adjustments and whip something up in a jiffy. By the way, I would love to come up with a high-end brand to cater to curvilicious women and…” Alice continued to speak as Bianca nodded.
She was rambling. The way she did when she was nervous. Shit. He should have realized before bringing her here that for some stupid reason designer labels had size restrictions. They didn’t cater to women who had voluptuous curves that should come with a warning sign.
He rubbed his temple. What to do? The last thing he wanted was for her to think she was out of place. His Alice was gorgeous, with a body capable of giving him an instant, scorching response. And she should look every bit the part on one of the most important nights of his life. A night when he would finish locking up a door