Goody Two Shoes (Invertary Book 2) (17 page)

Caroline faced the assistant. “This is the one. I’ll take the shoes too.”

The woman made a note on her iPad. “We’ll need to arrange for a fitting, to make sure it’s perfect on you. When should I book?”

Josh answered for her: “Next week. You have the wedding dates and details, right?” The assistant nodded. “In that case, it would be best if you came to us this time.”

“That won’t be a problem.”

Caroline skimmed her hand down the smooth silk bodice. Never in her life would she have imagined getting married in such a dress. She glanced at Josh to see if he was in as much awe of the dress as she was.

“I need to eat. Now.” Nope, Josh wasn’t in awe of the dress. He gave her a pleading look. “Are we done here?”

She bit back a smile. “Yes. We’re done.”

“About time.” He turned to the sales assistant. “Don’t offer her anything else. If there’s something you think we need, bring it to Scotland. We’re done and we’re going to eat.”

Caroline and the woman exchanged an amused look.

“Are you getting changed or do I need to help you?” Josh said with a growl.

Caroline laughed as she ran for the changing room.

They were sitting in Harrods’ Steakhouse, perched on high stools around the gleaming marble counter. Behind the counter, an army of men in chef’s whites took orders for steak, and cooked it while their customers watched. The aroma was mouth-watering. Caroline swivelled on her stool. Behind her there were several counters similar to the one they were seated at. One for meat, another for seafood. She supposed this was Harrods’ version of a fast-food court.

They sat at the end of the counter. On the stools at the other side of Caroline were two men in business suits, deep in discussion about the economy. Josh turned towards her, spreading his knees wide so that they sat either side of hers. The stools were fixed to the floor, so Caroline couldn’t move away from him. Not that she wanted to. He rested his right hand on her thigh.

“You can’t live on salad and water, baby. This is a long day. We left early. You need energy.”

They’d had this discussion already, when he’d ordered the world’s biggest steak with a barrel of fries. His thumb caressed her knee. Caroline found it hard to concentrate on his words when his touch was vibrating throughout her body.

“Josh, I’m getting married. I need to look my best.”

“Baby, you can do that on a steak.”

“I want a salad.”

He frowned. “Nobody wants salad.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“Okay,” he said, “how about we get some cake for dessert?”

Caroline scowled at him. “Do you want me to look fat at the wedding?”

His eyebrows shot up. “You won’t look fat. You’ll look perfect.”

“Not if I live on steak and cake, I won’t.”

He threw up his hands in exasperation. Clearly he didn’t understand a word she was saying. But she knew that on her wedding day, the world would be watching, wondering what kind of woman made Josh propose. There wasn’t time to change her image. To become more stylish. There was nothing she could do but look exactly like what she was—a plain, mousy librarian. But she could at least try to be the best mousy librarian possible. Which meant no cake.

Josh scooted forward. His thighs pressed into her legs. His right hand moved slowly up her arm to rest at the base of her neck. “I like how you look. Even if you gorge yourself on cake, that won’t change.”

Caroline blinked hard at him. She was wearing her only other dress. A pretty pink linen shift that she’d bought in a sale when shopping in Glasgow years ago. She’d teamed it with cream flats and a simple silver necklace that her grandfather had given her. It had a single daisy pendant hanging from it. She didn’t have any other jewellery on, and her only makeup was some mascara and a swipe of lip gloss. She was plain and underdressed, especially for Harrods. And he liked how she looked?

He leaned towards her. His left hand stroking her knee. “I like how you look a lot.” She held her breath, mesmerised by the desire in his eye. “I like how you taste even better.” He growled softly before his lips touched hers.

Caroline didn’t have time to panic about kissing in public. In fact, she didn’t have time to think at all. One touch of Josh’s lips and she sank towards him. His hands held her tight; otherwise she’d have fallen off the stool and flat on her face before him.

“Better than steak,” he murmured against her lips.

She couldn’t think. His tongue teased its way inside her mouth, and all she could do was sigh. He tightened his grip as flashes went off in her head.

Suddenly Josh was gone. The flashes hadn’t been in her head. There was a photographer brandishing his camera at Josh. Caroline gripped the counter to steady herself.

“Get lost, McInnes. I got what I needed. I’m out of here. Get your hands off me or I’m gonna sue then watch this on E! News.”

Caroline sucked in a breath as her hand went to her mouth. Josh had his fists twisted into the T-shirt of a lecherous-looking man. He was short and acne scarred, and reeked of smoke. Josh’s face was thunderous. Caroline felt everything still within her. Suddenly the fact he didn’t have a bodyguard made perfect sense. Josh could obviously take care of himself.

He shook the photographer. “You know the rules, Pyro. No paparazzi in Harrods.”

The smaller guy sneered, making his face twist into something ugly. “I got the shot I wanted. I’ll make ten times more than whatever fine I have to pay here. Kicking me out won’t make any difference.” Pyro poked Josh in the chest. “Thanks for the payday, bud.”

Josh snarled. “Don’t think I won’t hurt you.”

“You do and you’ll be front-page news. I’m not the one assaulting someone. Everything you do is money to me. So go ahead,” the photographer spat out. “Hit me. I’ll live off that payday for a year.”

Caroline sprang from her stool and put her hand on Josh’s arm. He didn’t look at her. She wasn’t sure he even felt her.

“Maybe,” Josh said to the worm, “that seems like a good deal to me.”

At the far end of the room, Caroline could make out security uniforms running towards them.

“Josh.” She held his arm tightly. “He’s not worth it.”

“Better listen to the little lady,” the photographer sneered. “Seems like she’s got the brains in this setup. You were always a grinning idiot. I mean, look at you. You could have had anyone you want, and you pick her.”

Caroline went still. Josh’s biceps flexed. His eyes were dark. Something in Caroline snapped. She let go of Josh, snatched the camera from the photographer’s side and clicked it loose from its strap. She held it in her hands.

“Get your hands off my property, bitch!”

Josh took another step towards the photographer. Looming over the man. Itching to strike out. “Don’t talk to my woman like that.” His voice was thunder. “Don’t look at her. Don’t take pictures of her. She doesn’t exist for you.”

“Or what?” the idiot demanded.

Caroline had heard enough. “Is this one of those cameras that can email photos?”

The guy’s glance flicked to her. She saw worry in his eyes. “What do you care?”

“I’m guessing by the look on your face that you didn’t have a chance to send the photo yet.”

He wet his bottom lip. Nervous.

“Good,” Caroline said. “I’ve had enough of this discussion.”

She took the memory card from the camera, dropped it on the floor and crushed it with her heel. A stream of cursing cut through the gasps. The photographer fought to get at her. “I’m going to kill you for that. Bitch!”

“Done here,” Josh said.

He pulled back his right hand, made a fist and aimed.

There was a sickening crunch. Pyro bent double and held his nose. Blood dripped onto the floor.

“Well done, asshole,” he spat. “That’s money in my pocket.”

Josh folded his arms and scanned the rapt crowd. “Anybody get a picture of what happened?” There was silence. “Anybody witness what happened?”

“Guy fell over,” someone shouted. “Broke his camera. Banged his nose.”

“Saw the whole thing,” someone else called. “This store needs to maintain its floors better.”

Josh glared at the paparazzo. “Looks like you need to find another payday.”

“You’ll pay for this,” Pyro said. “You don’t mess with the paparazzi. We have the power, man.”

“This is Harrods.” Josh calmly wrapped his arm around Caroline’s shoulders. “They don’t like the paps in here. You know that, Pyro. You lot killed the owner’s son. Remember Diana, asshole? There’s a reason this is a paparazzi-free zone, and you just blew it.”

Two burly security guards followed by a man in a perfectly cut suit screeched to a halt beside Josh.

“Trespassing,” the man in the suit said. His face was grim. He motioned to the guards.

The security team grabbed the photographer and yanked him towards the back of the shop.

“You’ll regret this. You and that ugly bitch you’re marrying,” the guy shouted.

Caroline jerked straight. His words were a slap.

“I’m sorry about that, Mr. McInnes,” the man in the suit said.

Josh tightened his hold on Caroline. “So am I.”

As Caroline tried her best to become invisible, the man turned to the crowd.

“Please forgive this unseemly disturbance. If you would all like to make your way to the bakery, you’ll find complimentary snacks and drinks for everyone.”

The crowd moved with excitement, abuzz with chatter. Caroline felt herself being turned in Josh’s arms. She was wedged against his side and, without thinking she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“We’ve lost our appetite,” Josh told the guy in the suit.

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll deal with this mess. You and your fiancée enjoy the rest of your day.”

Caroline watched him go as a few people lingered to stare at them.

“What do you want to do, honey?” Josh stroked her hair.

“I want to go home.”

He kissed her head, grabbed her hand and marched them towards the exit.

CHAPTER FIFTEEEN

Caroline got back from London to find her old-style answer machine was at capacity. It was the type where the light blinked to show a message had been recorded. The more messages, the faster the blink. It was going so fast Caroline couldn’t keep track. Usually she dealt with her calls as soon as she came through the door. This time she didn’t. She headed for the kitchen, flicked on the kettle and sank into a chair at the table.

The ride home from London had been tense. They’d been in the limo on their way to the airport when Josh’s cell phone rang. He looked at the screen and frowned before answering.

“Who are you and how did you get this number?”

There was silence before Josh cocked an eyebrow in Caroline’s direction. He handed the phone over to her. She hesitantly took it. He folded his arms and shook his head at her, as though she’d done something wrong.

“Why am I hearing about your wedding on the TV?” her sister screamed in her ear.

“Elaine,” Caroline said on a sigh.

“Yes, Elaine. Your sister. Your only family. The one person you should have called with the news. Instead I find out the whole town knows before me. Not only that but BBC entertainment news, E! News and CNN.” She let out an angry growl. “I’m feeling the love here. If I wasn’t the size of a beached whale I’d get on a plane and sort you out in person.”

Caroline took a deep breath. “I was waiting for the right time to tell you…”

“That would have been straight after you said yes to Josh freaking McInnes!”

“Calm down,” Caroline told her. “Think of the baby. I didn’t want to stress you and throw you into early labour.”

“So you thought hearing about my only sister marrying a famous singer from the news was going to be
less
stressful than telling me yourself?”

Caroline pinched the bridge of her nose. She so didn’t need this right now.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Things have been insane since we agreed to get married. I should have made time. It’s no excuse.”

She listened as her sister let out a deep breath. “So, what’s the deal? How long have you been dating this guy? Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

Caroline felt her stomach plummet. The answers to those questions weren’t going to help at all. “Elaine, this isn’t the best time to talk about all of that. I’m in a car on the way to London City Airport. We’ve been shopping for wedding dresses. I’ll call you when I’m back home.”

She heard a sniff. “I’m going to miss your wedding.” Elaine sobbed. Caroline scrunched her eyes shut as her chest ached. “Can’t you wait? I want to be there when my sister gets married.”

Caroline shot a glance at Josh. “It’s part of our deal to get married fast. Something to do with being a celebrity.”

“I don’t want to miss your wedding. You’ve always been there for me. I want to be there for you.”

“You will be, honey. We’ll come visit as soon as it’s over. You need to concentrate on taking care of my new wee niece. That’s more important than a wedding any day.”