More Than Perfect(47)
Her head jerked up at that and she swiveled, spearing him with a look. Then her anger dissolved and she burst out laughing, utterly confusing the clerk. “See that you do,” she ordered with impressive arrogance, falling into the character she’d been assigned. She switched her attention to the display case and pointed. “I’d like to see this one, please.”
Lucius came up beside her. “Don’t be so polite,” he whispered in her ear. “You’ll spoil his image of you.”
She turned her head, her lips zeroing in on the side of his face in response. Time slowed and he heard the soft give and take of her breath. Inhaled the light fragrance that was so uniquely hers. Felt the faintest brush of her smooth, silken cheek against his more abrasive one. She said something in return. Something that took forever to slip from ear to brain for analysis and interpretation.
“Right back at you, ace. Henpecked husbands-to-be are required to stand a full pace behind their Bridezillas.”
She looked at the ring the salesman removed from the locked display and shook her head. “Close, but not quite what I’m looking for,” she confessed. “I don’t suppose you have any more by this designer?”
Lucius took a quick look at the ring. Beautiful, of course, considering it was one of Dantes, but definitely not right for Angie. Time to drop the subservient act. He removed a business card and handed it to the salesman. “We’d like to see what you have in the Dantes Exclusive line,” Lucius instructed crisply.
The salesman took his card, glanced at the name and stiffened. “Yes, sir, Mr. Devlin. Right away, sir. Mr. Arroya will see to you personally. He’s the manager. If you’ll just give me a minute to arrange for a showing?”
“We’ll wait.”
Angie watched the byplay with a small smile of bemusement. “No more role-playing?” she asked.
“No more role-playing,” he confirmed. “Tell me what you didn’t like about the ring.”
“It was elegant, but a little too flowery.” She gave an uneasy shrug. “It’s probably close, though. Maybe we should go ahead and take this one.”
“It’s one of the wedding lines created by Francesca Dante, aimed for the average consumer. I think you’ll find some of her exclusive collections more to your liking. I should have thought about coming here first.”
Angie stirred uneasily. “Exclusive collections?” she repeated. “That sounds pricey. The ring I chose is close enough. I don’t mind—”
He cut her off without hesitation. “I do mind.” He softened his words by linking their hands. “Your instincts are right on, Angie. You need something elegant, but stunning. Something that makes a statement, and yet suits your personality. People will judge your worth, as well as your value to me, by the ring you choose.”
He’d shocked her. “That’s horrible.”
“I agree, but it’s life. Trust me on this.”
The salesman returned and escorted them to a sweeping staircase. Lucius removed Mikey from his stroller, while Angie slung the diaper bag over her shoulder with the sort of loving panache that would have befitted a Fendi handbag. Once upstairs, they were shown into a private room with a view of the city.
The room, accented with a wealth of plants and gorgeous fresh flower arrangements, featured a plush, ankle-deep carpet in a pearl gray, giving the impression of luxury combined with warmth. They were shown to a sitting area that consisted of a love seat covered in a discreet pinstripe of gray and white, accented with narrow bands of black, and silk chairs in a rich ruby red. A glass table fronted the love seat and chairs, positioned slightly higher than a conventional coffee table. Overhead spots creating brilliant puddles of light, focused on the table in order to showcase the merchandise.
“I informed Mr. Arroya that the lady finds our Francesca designs most appealing,” the salesman explained to Lucius. “He’s selecting a few of her pieces with that in mind. In the meantime, may I offer you refreshments? Wine? Champagne?”
“Champagne sounds perfect,” Lucius replied, positioning Mikey so he couldn’t grab at anything harmful. Not that he need worry. Mikey simply stared at his surroundings, occasionally offering a babbling commentary in a serious tone, one Lucius answered in an equally serious tone.
The salesman returned almost immediately with a silver tray service that included a selection of hard cheeses, a dish of berries and even a small plate of sushi. He opened the champagne, poured. Then indicated the accompanying food. “Shall I serve you or would you prefer some privacy?”