Secret Designs(4)

Kane chortled. "Why on earth would I need to remember that? I'm getting married in case you haven't heard the news."

He grinned. "Well, with you out of the market, that means more opportunities for me."

"Oh, Dylan," Kane said resignedly. "I don't know why you won't just find yourself a steady girlfriend instead of drifting from one girl to the next."

He simply shrugged. "I'm still happy with my lifestyle."

"Well, it's your life. As long as you don't make Jaz unhappy by playing games with Ari. But it looks like Ari's fine with it, too, anyway."

"Ari told Jaz?"

"Yes, she rang this morning."

"Okay, good. No one has to make a big deal of it, then."

Dylan watched Kane concentrate on his next shot but his mind had already left the game. All this talk about Ari was disconcerting him.

It was a strange feeling. For the first time in a long, long time, he was missing a woman. He was missing Ari.

Damn, she was hot.





CHAPTER TWO





"Ari, I was wondering if you would like to make my wedding dress?"

Ari gaped at Jasmine, her eyes round as saucers. "Oh my God, Jaz. Yes, of course! I'd love to do it."

"Yay!" Jasmine cried, hugging her tight. "I was worried that you might not have the time."

"I promise you I would make time even if I have to take annual leave from my job to work on it," she responded, her brain already picturing Jasmine in several styles. "Do you have a design in mind? If I start straight away I'm sure I can finish it well before your wedding."

"Nothing concrete. I don't want something big and puffy. I want something that hugs my figure but with a bit of a train. I'm really relying on you for the final look, Ari."

Tears formed in Ari's eyes. She was glad that Jasmine had moved from Melbourne to Sydney to live with Kane. Theirs was a timely friendship. She needed it badly as she had drifted away from some old pals. After her ex-chum stole her ex-boyfriend, she had shied away from the company of people who reminded her of the painful betrayal. Now, Jasmine was giving her the chance to do what she loved most of all.

"Oh, Jaz. Thank you so much. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. And you know what? Last week, I wore one of your casual outfits to dinner at Kane's parents' place, and it got praised by all the girls there. Faye's really keen to meet you so she can have a look at your designs."

The doorbell rang and Jasmine jumped from her seat. "That'll be Sam and Kris," she said excitedly.

Ari smiled as she leaned back in the sofa and closed her eyes. For as long as she could remember, she had loved designing pretty dresses. When she was a little kid, she drew paper outfits for her paper dolls and her mother cut them out for her. By the time she was eighteen, she had already landed a junior position working for one of Australia's biggest fashion designers.

Ten years later, her skills and confidence as a couturier were well honed after working for three different high-end fashion houses. Eight months ago, she'd spread her wings and joined Eros, makers of designer lingerie. She had always wanted to add the crafting of intimate apparel to her skill set; her job at Eros gave her that opportunity.

She could only hope that the rumour of a take-over circulating in their office wasn't true. Whether it was Eros taking over some other company or the other way around, no one could tell. One thing she knew for sure—she couldn't afford to lose her job. She had next to no savings to fall back on if she did.

She sighed. If only she could start her own couture business. That had been her ultimate dream for so many years. But without capital, that remained a fantasy. In the last year and a half, money—or rather, the lack of it—had been her biggest problem.

She shrugged. She wouldn't allow her concerns to dampen her good mood. At least she was still able to design for her friends, feeding her need to create.

"Ari!"

She roused herself from her brainwork and stood up to eagerly hug Samantha Lane and Kristen McCann. They were cousins, and Jasmine's best friends from Melbourne, now also Ari's good friends.

"So glad you're here, girls. Did you have a good flight?" Ari asked.

"Yes, thanks," Kris said. "We're glad we're here, too. We can start a weekend-long celebration of Jazzie's engagement."

"Yes," Sam concurred. "But first, I'd like a tour of this place. Jaz, this house looks amazing."

Jasmine chuckled. "Yes. Kane has designed a beautiful home. I'm glad you finally have the chance to see it. It's so exciting that all you girls are staying with us this weekend."

"Is Mr. Hotshot Architect home yet?" Kris asked.

"Not yet. He'd be home in an hour. Just enough time for us to whip up some dinner," Jasmine answered.