Authors: Jan Bowles
“How may I help you today?”
“This young lady needs a complete new wardrobe. Everything.”
The painted smile fell from her lips as she assessed Mia’s clothes, making her feel rather defensive. She hardly felt very confident in her gray blouse and faded jeans anyway.
“And what style are we wishing to portray, sir?” the woman asked, arching a brow.
Mia opened her mouth to speak, but Trent answered for her. “Elegance, style, and panache. Something incredibly sexy but not at all sleazy.”
“Yes, this lady has lovely bone structure which compliments her pale complexion. You’re very wise, my dear. I can see you don’t go out in the sun too much. Nothing ages the complexion more than the sun. Hmm, I think elegance is within our grasp.”
Mia looked at Trent and rolled her eyes. He patted her hand as though she were a child.
“Mia, I have it on good authority that Mrs. DuBois here knows all there is to know about designer fashion.”
“And you have heard correctly, sir. Come this way, madam. I’ll take some measurements and then show you the collection most suitable for your requirements.” Feeling as though she were visiting a dentist, Mia followed the pretentious woman into a luxurious changing room.
Once her measurements had been taken, she took a seat next to Trent in a sumptuous room elegantly decorated with red velour seating and deep pile carpets. Within a few minutes, several leggy models came into the room, sporting various garments. They paraded in front of them and then vanished, only to return several minutes later wearing something new.
Mia thought they all looked wonderful. “Trent, they are all so beautiful. I could never hope to emulate them.”
He traced her cheek with the back of his hand and then tucked a stray tendril of blonde hair behind her ear. The act felt so possessive and affectionate that she closed her eyes, savoring the moment.
“Sweet, little Mia,” he crooned. “You really have no idea just how beautiful you are, do you?” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Tell me which one is your favorite so far?”
She clasped her hands tightly together, feeling completely out of her depth. With such beautiful models so elegantly demonstrating the designer garments, she felt all the more conspicuous in her cheap, tatty clothes. “Trent, when it comes to choosing, I wouldn’t know where to begin. They’re all beautiful.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He waved to the hostess, and Mrs. DuBois walked across to them. “We’ll take them all.”
“Trent,” she said, shocked at how easily he’d ordered a complete new wardrobe for her. “How can I ever pay you back?”
He smiled, making her feel very special. “Mia, you worry too much. What is money for if not for spending?” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a wallet. He then handed Mrs. DuBois a credit card. “Have them sent to my apartment please.”
“Certainly, sir.”
He turned back to Mia. “You have to allow me to indulge you. It makes me very happy. Now let’s eat. Where would you like to go?”
“Giuseppe’s, it’s a place I know. He makes wonderful pizza that simply melts in your mouth.” Mia held up her hand. “And before you say anything, Trent, I insist on paying.” Giuseppe’s Pizzeria was one of her old student haunts. It might not be a swish up market restaurant, but at least she knew she could afford it.
For a moment, Mia thought he would argue, but instead he simply took her hand in his as they walked from the store. “Sounds perfect.”
Chapter Twelve
“You’re staring again,” she admonished as he watched her eat the last of her pizza.
He leaned on the table and rested his chin on his hands. “It’s something that you’ll have to get used to, Mia. I just love looking at you.” What a delight she’d been when he’d taken her shopping. Normally, like most men, he’d have steered well clear of this type of thing, but not with Mia. She’d been just like a child, all wide-eyed and happy. It made him feel very protective, a feeling he had not experienced before. With Mia he felt at ease with himself. He loved spending money on her. He’d buy her the world if he could.
The shopping expedition came about when he’d overheard her talking to herself in the elevator. Fear of losing her again had made him monitor her descent to the ground floor to fetch his mail. He really had no right to be so possessive and voyeuristic, but he just couldn’t help himself. The CCTV hadn’t been installed to spy on his girlfriends, but he couldn’t resist checking on her anyway. The relief had been palpable when she’d returned with the mail a few minutes later.
“Trent, did you say you came from Virginia?”
Mia’s question brought him out of his reverie. “Yes, Fairvale, it’s a small town in West Virginia. Why?”
“What’s it like? I mean it must be very different to New York.”
Trent breathed in. “Where I grew up the air is so clean and pure it cuts right into your lungs and smells so sweet. There’s nothing like it. The mountains stretch for as far as the eye can see, and the trees look wonderful, especially during the fall. It’s a million miles away from New York.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“It is.”
Trent recalled how spectacular the scenery around his father’s ranch had been. He thought of the letter that he’d received that morning. He recognized the handwriting, and knew it was from his mother. Why had she suddenly started writing to him after all these years? This was the third letter he’d received in as many weeks. He hadn’t wanted to know the contents, so he’d discarded it, just like he’d done with all the rest.
He glanced at Mia. Had she seen him do it and realized the implications? Suddenly he felt incredibly guilty. His mother had been blameless in the rift that had developed between himself and his father. They hadn’t spoken in years. Hadn’t she suffered enough already? Surely the time had come to put his feelings aside. Yet he resolutely held back from making the move that could bring reconciliation.
He rubbed a hand across his face. Goddamn it, he’d sure inherited that stubborn streak from his father.
“One day you must take me there.” Mia said, bringing him back from his inner reflection.
He smiled. Mia had such a gentle persona. She was a kindly soul. He guessed she would find it hard to understand how he felt. He voiced his misgivings to the woman he knew he was falling in love with. “Unfortunately, my parents and I are not on speaking terms. Sometimes, Mia, when bad things have been said, it is hard to forget, let alone forgive.”
Mia squeezed his hand. “What happened between you and your parents?”
“It was such a long time ago. I can barely remember myself.”
“I’m sure these things need closure, otherwise they will gnaw at you forever.”
At that precise moment he felt sure Mia was far older and wiser than he was. The situation between his parents, and in particular his father had always consumed him. He breathed out. “As an only child, my father had always expected me to take over the family ranch. It had been drilled into me ever since I was a kid.” He smiled at her. “I would have made an absolutely hopeless rancher. I was always far more interested in financial matters. Everyone knew it to be so. The ranch hands. Everyone. I made one mistake after another. It was the unhappiest time of my life. My father refused to face facts. He still expected me to become a rancher, just like himself, when I finished school. To cut a long story short, we had one hell of an argument, and I left. I can still remember his angry words,
You’ll never amount to anything,
as I walked out the door. His words have been behind everything I’ve done ever since. They spurred me on, and made me even more determined to prove him wrong. From that day on I’ve not spoken to either of my parents.”
Mia held his hand in hers. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how you must have felt. But at least you proved him wrong, Trent. That must fill you with immense satisfaction.”
He stroked a hand down her cheek. Just talking about his past had freed him from some of the bitterness. “I am proud of what I’ve achieved.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Thank you. I haven’t spoken of it with anyone before. I’ll have to watch out before I confess to everything.”
Mia giggled a light girlish giggle that filled him with hope and optimism for the future. He was so glad he’d met her. His life had been so meaningless before. It had been just a succession of endless parties and social gatherings. It was all very insignificant and trivial.
“Tell me about your mother. Did she agree with your father?”
“No, she wanted me to be happy in whatever life I chose. However, like most women of her generation, she had to go along with her husband.” He shrugged. “I’m sure she’s suffered the most.” Trent thought of the letter he’d tossed so casually away. “I had some correspondence from her only this morning. I threw it in the bin, Mia, unopened, perhaps I’ll fish it out and read it later.”
Mia beamed at him, a smile full of promise and hope. “Good. I’m glad.”
Trent realized he was glad, too. He missed the clean fresh air of his youth. “I hope one day soon I can go back there.”
“You will, Trent. I’m sure of it. I can tell Fairvale still has a special place in your heart.”
“It has.” He covered her hand with his, aware that his life had become far more meaningful since she’d entered it.
“That’s exactly how I feel about my country, Sweden. The bond can never be broken, no matter how many years and miles lie in between.”
“You sound a little homesick.”
“Just a little,” she replied rather wistfully.
With Mia in his life, he felt completely satisfied. The idea that she might want to return to Stockholm chilled Trent to his core and reminded him only too well that the happiness he felt may only be fleeting. He brushed the thoughts of her returning to Sweden aside as they made their way back, hand in hand, to his apartment. He had to make the most of every day now, and that meant having Mia in his life, twenty four seven.
A large assortment of designer bags from the boutique store was waiting for them with the concierge.
When they were in his private elevator, he turned to her. “Now, I hope you’re going to try all of these on for me. If there’s something you don’t like, we’ll send it back.”
Mia shook her head, and he could see her lips tremble as she fought for composure. “You’ve been so kind to me. I’m completely overwhelmed. I wouldn’t know where to start. They’re all beautiful.”
He put his arm around her shoulders as the elevator door opened to his apartment and guided her from it. He looked intently into her eyes. “I’d particularly like to see you in the blue Cabuchet dress.” He handed her a designer bag. “I think you will look lovely in this.” Aware now that Mia lacked the self-confidence that would come with age and experience, he stroked a hand down her face. “You’re so beautiful, Mia, you deserve the very best. I only want you to be happy.”
She walked away to change into the designer dress. Trent knew for the first time that he loved this woman more than life itself. He’d spent a fortune on her in the last couple of days, but money meant nothing to him. Her happiness meant everything.
Chapter Thirteen
Mia stared at her reflection for a long time. The dress Trent had given her to try on was simply stunning. The flowing, aqua blue creation exactly complimented the coloring of her eyes. What Mrs. DuBois lacked in tact, she certainly made up for in her choice of style. Needing the final stamp of approval she went in search of Trent.
A warm smile parted her lips when she found him in the study.
“Well, I needn’t ask if you like it,” he said, looking up from behind his desk as she entered the room. “I can see for myself. You look radiant. That dress was made for you. Happy?”
She nodded. “I feel like a different woman entirely. Just like when I wore the red Bellini. Thank you, Trent.” She walked over to him, and slid onto his lap. She kissed his lips. “I love it.”