“Least of my worries, darling,” Jenny said. “I have a dress fitting I’m not going to be around to attend.”
“Oh. I can reschedule that right away for you—”
“No, they won’t have time to make the alterations if anything is wrong. I know you’ve gone above and beyond for this wedding and I really appreciate it. Dare and I would be skunked without you. Which is why I’m hoping you’ll do me one last favor.”
Allison’s gaze flicked to his, suspicion in their depths. “What can I do to help?”
“Last time I saw, you and I are the same size. Assuming you haven’t dropped a few dress sizes, could you take the appointment for me?”
Her eyes widened, and he really couldn’t blame her. His sister had never had a problem asking for everything she wanted.
“You want me to try on your wedding dress?” Allison asked.
“Pretty please?”
“But you’re at least three inches taller than me.”
“I know. I’ve been talking to the store, though, and hemming shouldn’t take much time. It’s the bodice part that will require work if it needs to be adjusted. Honestly, I wouldn’t bother you with this if there was anyone else I could ask. My friends in the city aren’t even close to my size.”
The helpless look she threw his way had him itching to race in and help her.
“I suppose if there is really no one else…” she hedged.
“Thank you! You are such a life saver. Darian has all the details, so don’t worry about a thing. I really do appreciate everything you’re doing, Allison. I owe you big time when I’m back in the States.”
“Hopefully we’ll see you soon,” she said.
So you can take over your own wedding, Darian mused, adding the words he knew Allison must be thinking.
“I’ll let you know how it all goes,” he said, leaning toward the phone. “Talk soon, Kit.”
He disconnected the call and turned back to his assistant.
“You don’t have to do this. I know you have a ton on your plate. There must be someone else in this office I can rope into helping.”
“It seems weird to try on someone else’s wedding dress,” she said. “It’ll be made to fit me.”
He caught her hand. “Do you want to say no?”
She chewed on her lower lip, a reaction that filled him with the urge to kiss away the damage she was doing. “I suppose, in for a penny in for a pound. We’ve planned every other element of this event. Might as well donate my time as a human Barbie doll as well.”
He raised her hand to his mouth, drawing his lips across her knuckles before flipping her hand and pressing a kiss against her palm.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“You’d better.”
“Cross my heart,” he agreed, releasing her hand.
Sighing, she maneuvered around his desk. “Is that everything?”
“For now. I’ll see if I can get us into the dress store tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.” But before she left she leaned over the desk, lips parted in invitation.
It was the most natural thing in the world to press his mouth to hers. The kiss was quick but not less satisfying for its brevity.
“If only we had more time,” he teased, drawing back from her.
That earned him an eye roll. “Your desk is still disorganized from last time.”
“Oh, I can think of quite a number of surfaces we could use in this room.”
“Mmm.” She ran the tip of her tongue across her lip. “I look forward to exploring that idea further.”
“Just wait until all this wedding nonsense is over and we’re back to doing only one job at a time. We’ll have plenty of opportunity then.”
Some of the humor in her eyes dimmed. The hairs on the back of his neck raised the way they did when he was in meetings and knew he was missing something.
“Excellent plan,” she said, turning away before he could study her face further.
Even after she was gone, he sat at his desk, trying to decipher what it was he was missing about Allison.
And what he’d do if he didn’t uncover it.
…
She’d nearly caved.
Ever since the night at his house, she’d wanted to tell Darian. But how did you tell the man you were in love with that you were leaving him? Because in Darian King’s mind, that was exactly what she was doing.
“Damn, damn, damn,” she said.
A passing worker arched a brow at her, reminding her she had an office she could privately freak out in.
Or better yet…
Turning, she headed for Gillian’s office and shut the door behind her.
“Honey, as much as I’d like to hear more tales of illicit sex, I have a thousand things to do today,” Gillian said in greeting.