Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
This material is the same as the material our rider clothing is made from. What company is this? Amaranthe was excited.
She was from France and preferred to do most of her shopping there. It was difficult to find clothing suiting her diminutive size that made her feel like a woman and not a child. This was a gold mine find—not only beautiful clothing in the perfect size, but pieces she could safely disappear into a shadow with.
Another cousin of ours, Andrea Ferraro Prescott, owns the company Ferraro Designs. She began experimenting beyond suits when it became clear the women needed clothes for other occasions. Emmanuelle and Mariko both volunteered to help with taking Andrea’s designs into the shadows, and they love them. I told Andrea you might be interested in helping her as well.
How could they possibly make this many dresses and pants in my size? We only announced our engagement yesterday.
She walked out of the makeshift dressing room toward him, smoothing her hand down the navy glitter tulle cocktail gown that was her favorite. It felt fun and flirty and reminded her of a few of her ballet costumes, so it felt familiar. The V neckline held by spaghetti straps wasn’t indecently low for her in the front, but the scooped back was daringly low. The fitted bodice was wrapped with fine ruched surplice and emphasized her small rib cage and waist. The knee-length A-line tulle skirt was very flirty, with flourishes and gathers, and she couldn’t help the extra sway she put into her step.
Geno didn’t say anything at first; he just looked at her, his eyes darkening with a look that sent little electrical charges flickering down her spine. She was utterly aware of him as a man. That made her aware of herself as a woman—so unlike her. She wasn’t a woman who flirted with men. But Geno . . . Everything was different with Geno. Geno made the world brighter.
He shook his head slowly. “You know I’m reading you right now, and it’s the other way around. You make my world so much better. I didn’t realize I even had a sense of humor until you came into it. You make me laugh. Everything around me feels filled with hope and a sense of peace. Even my house already feels like a home just because you’re here. I like sharing my space with you and having someone I can talk to.”
Amaranthe really did feel as if she’d woken up in the middle of a fairy tale. To cover the fluttery feeling she didn’t know what to do with, she spun in a slow circle to show him the sparkling dress with the low back.
“What do you think of this one for tonight? You said to expect quite a bit of press to be waiting for us.”
“I think it’s perfect. I have a navy suit that will match it.” He looked up at the woman helping her. “Andrea, do you have shoes designed to go with this dress yet?”
“I’m sorry, Geno, we’ve designed them on paper, but they’re not made up yet. I did bring a variety of heels for her to choose from that would go with the dress, but they aren’t made of special materials. The good news is, I’ll be able to leave the shoe drawings with you and the two of you can go over them and choose which ones you prefer for us to make up for you. Mariko and Emmanuelle often do ask us to do that. That way, they get exclusive designer shoes to go with their original gown.”
“Please don’t apologize, Andrea. You managed to come through for us on extraordinarily short notice. I have no idea how you did this, but I won’t forget it.”
Amaranthe knew he wouldn’t. He sounded and looked sincere, but more important, she felt that sincerity in his mind. He did appreciate that Andrea’s company had managed to ensure Amaranthe had clothing she could wear out with him, not feel inferiorly dressed, and yet still be able to make it safely into the shadows.
Geno had money. Not a little money. Lots of money. There was no getting around that. He was comfortable in places she would never consider going unless she stayed in the shadows while tracking a rogue. She didn’t have the clothes to be confident in his world and appreciated that he thought of that for her.
You know I can’t afford all these dresses, but I love this one. I really want it, Geno. I’ve got enough to buy this one for tonight.
Babe, really? “We’ll take everything she liked, Andrea.”
Don’t argue in front of her, Amara. Her business is just getting off the ground. Her crew stayed up all night altering the clothes for your size and you’re going to need all of those. We’re all trying to help her as much as she’ll let us.