“Its complicated and not something I care to discuss.”
As the car began driving, Mr. Sexy grew quieter. I didn’t know what to say, but I had to say something. The silence was unbearable and I’d be damned if my date with him was a bust.
Gazing out the window, I looked for something to talk about. I recognized the canyon road leading out of the city to the beach. The colors of the canyon and the sky inspired my collection and I couldn’t stop thinking about the samples I needed to create. As we entered the quaint beach area of Canyon Cove, I recognized a street name.
“Oh there’s Laguna Way. I should’ve known it would be down here,” I accidentally said out loud.
“What’s on Laguna?”
“A fabric shop I’ve heard about called Make It Work. They have a lot of fabrics and trim you can’t find anywhere else in the United States. I’ve always wanted to go there.”
He leaned forward and hit a switch in the ceiling and the divider between us and the driver, lowered.
“Stewart, can you turn around? There’s a fabric shop back there Deborah would like to go to.”
“Oh no, really. We don’t have to go,” I said. “I don’t have the money to buy anything anyway.”
“We’re on a date, Deborah. Call me old fashioned but a woman doesn’t pay when she’s asked on a date. Let’s go look at the fabrics. I should’ve bought flowers for our date, let this be how you let me make that up to you.”
I stared at him in shock. This wasn’t much different than him offering me money earlier for the fabrics, but at the same time it was. I didn’t know if it was the leather of the seats that did it, or the simple fact that I knew we all needed help sometimes, but I nodded and gave the driver the address.
“You have no idea what this means to me. You know I need fabric to make my samples. I honestly don’t have the money though. This is really just the most amazing thing anyone has offered to do. I promise when I can I will pay you back.”
“Nonsense, you don’t pay back gifts.”
“Sir,” Stewart said as he pulled up in front of the simple white clapboard building that housed the store, “you’ll be safe in the car. I’m running in to do a quick sweep of the building.”#p#分页标题#e#
Will sighed and looked out the window as his driver’s words hung in the air. I didn’t know why there was such a huge concern over security. Canyon Cove had very affluent sections with plenty of wealthy people, even billionaires, but I never heard of any crimes against them.
“I can go in alone. I don’t mind. And—” I said until I got interrupted.
“No!” Will interrupted me with a growl. “Stewart, Miss Hansen and I are going into the store.”
He opened the door and got out in a huff. I expected Stewart to argue but instead he looked forward and raised the divider. Will held his hand out and helped me out of the car, not letting go of it as we started walking into the store.
As with most shops on Canyon Cove’s coast, the building exteriors were older and plain. Above the door was a blue sign with the shop’s name in a stylized handwritten lettering. A chime played as we entered the door.
“Welcome to Make It Work,” said a heavy set man with a shaved head and several piercings. He in the center of a large combination check out and fabric cutting area. He was flipping through the latest issue of Vogue and didn’t bother to look up from the magazine.
Behind him aisles of fabrics dominated the store from floor to ceiling. Broken down by type of fabric, it would’ve been easy for me to find what I needed for the samples, but I wanted to look at everything. With my unreliable car, the coast was too far for me to drive. I didn’t know if I’d ever get back there.
“You’re sure you’re ok with this? I know what I’m looking for but I really wanted to look around too.”
Will nodded. “The restaurant can wait,” he said. “I know how important this is to you.”
I could have stayed in that store forever, but I wasn’t about to waste my first date with Mr. Sexy shopping for fabric. Like Dianna said, tonight was about my date, real life could wait for tomorrow.
I managed to get the fabrics I needed for my samples. My favorite was an ocean blue delicate chiffon with a faded white print that resembled wave crests for the gown. The chiffon was so light and soft I knew it would flow beautifully.
Other fabrics I got were a black-brown textured brocade that was perfect for a jacket, a silk-wool with abstract purple watercolor flowers with pale green stems that would make a breathtaking skirt, and silk jersey in several colors because I loved how easy it was to drape.