If The Shoe Fits (13 page)

Gates locked and drapes drawn at all hours,
and, nearly a prisoner in his own home when he was there, had been
his routine of late. How many times had she snuck out the back in
the early-morning hours or hurried in during the late-evening hours
to side-step the paparazzi? He’d avoided them at the house, trying
to send the message he was unavailable there.

And at his office, he’d come out to face them
and fob off their many pictures, distracting them from bothering
her by telling them Ms. King would not be making any
statements.

“Two weeks down, four to go,” he said.

“Is that all you can think of right now?” she
asked, leaning into him even more.

He smiled as he gazed at her. “Hardly.”

She wiggled. He groaned again. “It seems to
me,” she brushed her lips against his, “husband of mine, hard is
definitely the perfect word right now.”

“Oh, so you’ve noticed.”

Wrinkling her nose at him, she said, “I’m
quick like that.”

“Not too quick, I hope,” he said, capturing
her lips in a long, drugging kiss.

She reluctantly broke the embrace. Charlie’s
breathing came swift and shallow. It matched his.

The heat of her body, the fullness of her
breasts pressed into his chest, the lush curves under his hands all
inflamed him.

“I’ve got all night, Alex. How about
you?”

“No financial statements, no window displays,
no notes for staff meetings to attend to?” he asked, referring to
her many duties that occupied her time recently.

“All done,” she said. “And, I’ll have you
know sales are up.”

That piece of knowledge shouldn’t surprise
him after the amazing response to her ongoing storyline of the
Charmings. He brushed aside the sliver of unease at the thought of
having to end this charade in a few weeks. Bottom line, it came
down to Royale Enterprises couldn’t afford to keep King’s
Department Store going until it turned a real profit. “You’re very
good.”

“Oh, Alex, you’ll see just how good I am in a
few minutes.”

Courting, as she called it, came easy to him,
Charlie thought the next day as she trailed her fingers over her
slightly swollen lips. His kisses stirred her like no other. His
touch, warm and lingering, set her ablaze.

Gazing into the large mirror with lights
surrounding it, she blinked at her reflection. She glowed. There
was no denying that fact. Her eyes sparkled, she couldn’t stop the
ever present tug of a smile, and her skin appeared radiant, if she
did say so herself.

Marriage was very, very good to her.

But, if truth be told, it was the man himself
that occupied her thoughts and had her gasping for breath on many
occasions. Her initial impression of him as stuffy and all business
contradicted the man she’d come to know. He had this way about
him.

For the first time in years, she
belonged.

He didn’t laugh well, not hard at her antics
or ideas. In fact, the more she allowed him to see her designs and
share her thoughts he seemed to be open and surprisingly
interested.

She’d even gone so far as make a suggestion
or two about his family business. He’d considered it, and then
later had mentioned he’d put them in place.

Leaning her elbows on the dressing table, she
pressed her fists against her cheeks. “Amazing, isn’t he?” she
whispered to herself.

“Gorgeous as the first time, honey,” Dolly
said, coming up behind her. “Who’d have thunk it that you’d be
wearing that wedding dress twice in less than three weeks?” she
asked in a hushed tone.

Sitting up straight, she asked, “And for a
photo shoot at that?” Charlie shook her head. She wore her hair
pulled back again. But now she’d added small diamond earrings and a
very delicate matching diamond necklace, all courtesy of King’s
Department Store.

“Ready, Charlie?” Peg asked with a clipboard
cradled in her arm.

“Sure thing.”

Rico, flamboyant and colorful as ever, came
bustling over. He waved his hands around her frame. “Perfecto.”

She chuckled. “You might want to bring some
powder or even some deodorant if this thing goes on too long.”

He whipped out his makeup brush and container
of powder. “Got it.” Snatching a roll-on from the table in front of
her, he said, “B O, check.”

“B O?” Dolly and Peg asked in unison.

He rolled his eyes at them and tsked. “Body
odor. Where have you two been for the last century?”

Charlie watched as they turned to each other
and shrugged helplessly.

A few minutes later, as directed, Charlie
took the short stool in the center of the photo shoot. Andre, her
photographer friend, checked and rechecked the lighting. His
assistants fluffed and re-fluffed her gown.

“Is this a King’s dress?” one of them asked.
Charlie, sitting perfectly still, thought the question came from
the short, blonde-haired young woman stooping behind her.

“An original,” Dolly piped up. Out of the
corner of her eye, Charlie saw her friend wink.

She smiled. Well, not quite a King’s design,
but close enough. A King did design it and Dolly did make it.

Just then she heard a commotion off the set
and beyond the big, bright lights. Several people talked at
once.

“Oh, they’re here!” Dolly exclaimed.

“Who?” Charlie couldn’t make out anyone in
the shadows.

“The girls. I called for their dresses and
they came!”

“The girls?”

“It’s me, Francine. And here’s Priscilla.
Will you get this guy off of us?” Her stepsister’s distinct voice
reached her.

“Francie?”

“You know her, them, Charlie?” Rico asked,
disgust dripping from his voice.

“We’re related,” Priscilla chimed in.

He tsked. “Charlie, tell me it’s not
true.”

“It is,” she said hesitantly, afraid of his
outspokenness.

“No way!”

“Way,” Charlie and the girls said in
unison.

“Are they in the shoot, too?”

The girls came to the edge of the pristine
white floor draping. Charlie blinked several times. What had
happened to their new looks? The black clothing was back, even with
the thick stockings and clunky shoes. Both of them clutched equally
matronly black purses. They had their hair scraped back, held by a
thick black headband. And not an ounce of makeup adorned their
pretty faces. Charlie groaned inwardly.

“Can we be?” Priscilla asked.

“Not without a whole lotta work,” Rico
pointed out, plucking at the drab sleeve with two fingers.

“Who else can wear their custom-made dresses,
honey?” Dolly asked loudly.

“It’s true.” Charlie gave in. “Rico, can you
give them the works?”

His long-suffering sigh echoed all around
her.

“You are the miracle worker, remember?” She
bit her lip.

“Of course I am,” he declared. “Come on,
girls, we have a whole new world to conquer. And I’m the only one
man enough who can do it.”

An hour later, Charlie’s muscles strained
with the effort of holding herself in one awkward position after
another for long lengths of time.

“Charlie, please,” Andre begged. “Smile. Not
the wooden one, either.”

This required more than she’d anticipated. In
her mind, she saw her work piling up on her desk. She had papers to
sign, new displays to design, and another staff meeting to conduct
on the upcoming sale.

She forced another smile.

He cursed in a foreign language, French she
was certain.

“Sorry, I guess I’m just not cut out for this
line of work.”

“What line? Wife?” Alex asked from the
shadows.

Sitting up straight, she sucked in a sharp
breath. “Alex?”

Gasps rent the air. Next, she detected the
high trill of voices. He seemed to affect most women that way, even
Rico. She giggled at that thought.

“That’s it,” Andre shouted. The sudden rush
of cameras clicking pierced the room.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her
husband walk to the edge of the draping and kick off his shoes.
Just the sight of his big, broad-shouldered frame stole her senses
away. She shifted slightly to see him more as he slowly walked
toward her.

A smile tugged at his lips. “You didn’t
answer my question,” Alex gently reminded her, his eyes
twinkling.

“Wife, huh?” She couldn’t contain the dreamy
quality in her voice. “Oh, I don’t know. You’ll have to be the
judge of that.”

More female gasps sliced through the air of
giddy anticipation.

He raised an eyebrow. Halting before her, he
dropped to one knee. He reached out and trailed a finger over her
cheek. “Really? And just how am I supposed to do that?”

“Will you marry me, Alex?”

He laughed. She joined him. His presence, his
willingness to tease her and play along with her warmed her to her
very soul, leaving an indelible mark on her heart.

She loved him. She finally admitted it to
herself. Deeply, irrevocably, she loved her husband.

“Yes, Charlotte King, it would be my pleasure
to marry you,” he said, and then softly he added, “All over
again.”

***

Sitting in the back of his car, Alex smiled
as he fingered the crisp, beautifully crafted cardstock with the
delicate swirls of lettering gracing it. She’d done it again. This
time, as a form of advertising, Charlie had sent out wedding
invitations for the Charmings, the couple she’d invented for her
store displays.

She’d played her and Alex’s real budding
relationship, engagement, and now wedding with perfect precision
while tempting the public’s interest not only in them, but in
King’s merchandise as well.

“Good, huh?” Edward asked, glancing in the
rearview mirror.

“Amazing,” Alex said, still in awe over the
way her mind worked. If she’d been at the helm of King’s Department
Store all these years, it wouldn’t be in dire straits now. But, in
just a few more weeks, he’d have to pull the plug on the whole
thing. A twinge of guilt poked him in his middle.

“We’re here, sir.” Edward easily maneuvered
the town car in front of the store as the uniformed man directed
them into the slot. “Looks like the crowd is gathering in
anticipation.”

Absently, Alex gazed out the window and noted
the many people, especially women, milling about. The first window
had been revealed. He strained to see the display. No such luck.
The “ceremony” started at ten a.m. He checked his watch. Fifteen
minutes to go. He could sneak in and see Charlie first. Would he
ruin it for her, though?

“I could go around the block another
turn.”

“No, no.” He dismissed his friend’s offer. “I
don’t want to miss it.” He reconsidered his position and decided to
throw caution to the wind and get out of the car. After all, he had
to check out the first window. He wondered what she’d dreamed up
for that one.

He grabbed for the door handle. The car phone
rang.

“Shall I get that?”

“No, Edward, let it ring.”

“It’s your grandfather,” Edward said, lifting
up the phone to show Alex the caller ID.

He blew out a hot breath. The phone rang over
and over again. Giving in, he snatched up his extension. With
forced cheer, he said, “Grandfather, how are you?”

“Where in the devil have you been, son?”

He knew the older man just wasn’t asking
about the present moment. “I’ve been—”

“Distracted? I realize you just got married,
but, son, you spend more time at her store than you do in your own
office.”

“That’s not entirely true, sir.” He grimaced
at his own defensiveness.

“Stop, Albert, your heart.” Alex heard his
grandmother in the background. “Alex,” her voice grew louder, “tell
your grandfather he’s got nothing to worry about. You’ll take care
of everything just like you always do.”

“Honey, I’ve got this.” Gramps obviously
spoke to his wife.

“Oh, Albert, tell him about the party.” Her
voice faded out, and then came on the line. “Alex, are you there?
We’re going to throw you and Charlotte a reception. Saturday,
sweetheart. That’s the perfect way to end this silly charade with
the press.”

“Gran—”

“No need to thank us. You know how I just
love parties. Oh, won’t it be wonderful, the first time as a family
we officially introduce your wife, Charlotte Royale?”

What would Charlie say about the fuss? “She’s
still a King.”

“I suppose I have to invite the stepmother.”
He pictured her gnawing on a painted fingernail. “It wouldn’t be
polite if I didn’t.”

“And the sisters,” he pointed out absently,
suppressing a chuckle at the absurdity of the conversation. He
realized he hated parties. On any given night or day, he’d rather
be alone with Charlie.

“Oh yes. I can’t imagine they’d bring dates,
do you? I’ll just make sure there’s a few extra seats just in
case.” She seemed lost in thought now.

Suddenly, his grandfather’s voice rumbled in
his ear as if they’d never been interrupted. “I see the newspapers,
my boy. I’ve seen the pictures of you and her at King’s. What in
the blue blazes has she done to you?”

His grandmother cried out in the background,
“The window displays! Tell Charlotte the Charmings are
wonderful!”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Just wait until they saw him in the wedding ads. For the first time
ever, he hadn’t minded a photographer taking his picture,
especially with his wife. He’d willingly signed the consent form to
help Charlie.

He wanted her to succeed. If only for a short
time until he had to sell the store.

“And I know just how much time you spend away
from Royale Enterprises.” His grandfather’s words had him jerking
back to reality. “Don’t you think I know what’s going on in the
business I started?” Hurt and disappointment shadowed his
words.