Last-Minute Bridesmaid by Nina Harrington Read Free Book Online Page B

tailor’s model, smoothing each piece in turn to fit the curves of the shape below. Her fingertips moved in slow languorous strokes, sensually caressing each piece, one after another, with infinite care and such loving attention that Heath’s blood pounded just a little hotter.
    He paused and tapped his head with his forefinger. ‘Touché. Actually, I have come to apologise for yesterday. Then I’m going to thank you nicely for making four charming bridesmaids’ dresses at very short notice to help me out. Is that better?’
    Kate twitched her lips but turned back to her model and kept on pinning and smoothing until the entire bodice was covered with what looked like a jacket. Only when she had arranged the pattern pieces to her satisfaction did she whirl around towards him with her back against the desk.
    Heath inhaled slowly and braced himself for whatever was coming his way. Which was why when she did speak what she said knocked him more than he could have imagined.
    ‘I am curious about one thing. Did you come to me as the last resort? Because you left it too late to ask anyone else to make the bridesmaids’ dresses?’
    He winced and gave her a brief nod. There was no point in denying it. ‘Partly that,’ he admitted. ‘My father only announced that he was getting married a month ago. I had no idea that fashion houses need such a long lead time.’
    And then he took a breath. ‘But I also relied on Amber’s judgement. She knows how important this wedding is, and would never have suggested Katherine Lovat Designs unless she was confident that you would do a good job.’
    Kate sighed out loud through her nose and crossed her arms. She shook her head and clenched her small fingers into fists for a few seconds. ‘And to think that I actually came all the way to your office yesterday, in the rain, to thank you for choosing me in preference to some big name couture fashion house.’ Her knuckles wrapped on her forehead. ‘Idiot.’ Then she sniffed and started to stack the pile of papers on the table. ‘Did you seriously hate the dress I showed you?’
    ‘On the contrary. The colour is perfect for me but I suspect it would be a little snug across the chest.’
    Her lips pressed together and she blinked several times but refused to look at him. ‘Really? And what about the pearl embroidery on the bodice? All that embellishment that you have a deep aversion to.’
    He took a step closer. ‘It’s lovely. Really lovely. Was it done by hand?’
    Her head shot up and she stuck her neck out, open-mouthed. ‘No, the magic elves came in the night. Of course it was done by hand.’ She lifted both hands and waved them at him. ‘These hands, to be precise.’
    He tried to take that information in, but words refused to form.
    ‘You did all of that pearly embroidery?’
    She nodded slowly up and down. Once.
    ‘For all four dresses? On your own?’
    Kate replied with a small shoulder shrug. ‘This is a one-woman show. No assistants, no apprentices. And I had to get the pearls just right. Otherwise the design wouldn’t match the pearl embroidery on Alice’s wedding dress.’
    Suddenly she winced in pain as though she had cut herself and launched herself at him and grabbed the sleeves of his suit jacket. ‘Oh, no! Look what you made me do. I should not have said that. Should. Not. The wedding dress has to stay top secret until the big day. You have to promise not to say a word to your father. Seriously. Not a word. Okay. Promise?’
    ‘What wedding dress is that? Never heard a thing. Was someone talking?’ he replied in a calm voice and pretended to look around the room for a few seconds before gazing into her green eyes, which were sparkling with passion and sunlight. ‘But why didn’t you explain that last night?’
    ‘Because you were far more interested in your phone call than listening to anything that I would have to say.’
    Kate released her grip on his sleeve and smoothed down the fabric before looking