“Sir?” he said. His voice was flat, not teasing.
She didn’t back down, simply lifted her chin, met his gaze head-on, and said, “That is my customary way of addressing a client.”
He looked down, then back up at her through his lashes. “It’s not what you think.”
“Actually, it’s not what you think. Miss Russell,” she said as she turned her shoulders to brush past Ryan, “how can I help you today?”
“First of all, thanks for getting me out of there. It’s not that I’m not grateful for all the attention, but I’ve been in five different showrooms today and it’s starting to stress me out a little.”
“Of course,” Simone said. “Can I get you something to drink? Some water, or perhaps a cup of tea?”
“Water would be lovely,” Daria said.
“And for you, sir?” Definitely still irritated over something she shouldn’t be, over a man she shouldn’t want.
“Water’s fine,” Ryan said.
She got Daria settled in one of the chairs in front of the three-way mirror, and gave her a Pellegrino. After the actress had opened the bottle, swallowed a couple sips of water, and visibly exhaled the tension from her shoulders, Simone sat down a respectful distance away and said, “How can I help you, so you can go home and relax?”
“I’m going to a gala event at MoMA tonight. We both are,” she said, nodding at Ryan with a smile. “I finally found a gown, but none of the undergarments fit quite right. You came highly recommended.”
“I’ll certainly do my best,” Simone said. “Do you have the gown with you, or is it being altered?”
“No, they just finished fitting it,” Daria said. “I was supposed to wear this gown to an event I’m going to later in the month, but this invitation came unexpectedly, so I asked the designer to hurry up and finish it. I promised I’d wear something different for the next one.” She gave a little laugh. “I shouldn’t sound so ungrateful. I remember when I could go months without anyone inviting me to anything, and when I was invited, I shopped the sales in the thrift shops on the Lower East Side.”
“I’ve found some quite good bargains down there,” Simone said. She actually liked this woman. She didn’t want to like her, because Simone could see Ryan settling down with a woman composed and self-aware, but like her she did. “If I could see the gown, perhaps? I’ll send my assistant to get it.”
Ryan held up his mobile. “I’ve already texted the driver.”
Simone rose. “Excuse me for just a moment,” she said, and went back into the showroom. Lorrie hustled down the stairs and returned with a dressmaker’s bag held high to keep it from dragging on the floor. “I’ll take that,” Simone said with a smile.
“The driver said he was double-parked, so he was going to move the car, and to text when he needs him,” Lorrie added, and left.
Simone carried the dress through to the workroom, hung it on a hook by the three-way mirror, and arranged a folding screen to give Daria a measure of privacy while she changed into it. Daria declined an offer of help, and disappeared behind the screen.
Lorrie poked her head into the workroom. “There’s a delivery for you.”
“I’m not expecting a delivery,” Simone said.
“It’s a bike messenger,” Lorrie said, and closed the door behind her.
Ignoring Ryan, Simone stood at the edge of the three-way mirror. “Ms. Russell, excuse me for a moment, but I need to take a delivery.”
“Not a problem,” Daria said from behind the screen. Simone heard the whoosh of denim against skin as she took off her jeans.
The showroom was busy but Lorrie seemed to have things under control. The bike messenger who had delivered Ryan’s outrageous tip stood in the doorway, dressed in his helmet, blade shades, cargo shorts over tights, and a skin-tight bike jersey. Blond scruff glinted against tanned skin. He wore a messenger bag slung across his body and cradled a plant in his arm.
Not just any plant. An enormous, lush arrangement of orchids drooped and trembled in the messenger’s arms.
“Oh, pauvre petite plante,” Simone said as she approached him. “You didn’t put that poor thing in your bag, did you?”
“No, ma’am,” he said. His smile was quick to arrive and just as quick to disappear. “The florist was only a couple blocks away. I walked this pretty thing on over.”