Recaptured Dreams
Authors: Justine Dell
title page
Recaptured Dreams
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Justine Dell
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Omnific Publishing
Dallas
Copyright Information
Recaptured Dreams, Copyright © 2012 by Justine Dell
All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.
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Omnific Publishing
10000 North Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75231
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First Omnific eBook edition, September 2012
First Omnific trade paperback edition, September 2012
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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
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Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
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Dell, Justine.
Recaptured Dreams / Justine Dell – 1st ed
ISBN: 978-1-62342-908-9
1. First Love—Romance. 2. Amnesia—Romance. 3. Fashion—Romance. 4. British—Romance. I. Title
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Cover Design by Micha Stone and Amy Brokaw
Interior Book Design by Coreen Montagna
Dedication
To Boo for being the reason I breathe.
To Candice for the inspiration.
To Dr. B for the undying Frietaship.
Chapter One
T
HIS
W
AS
E
XACTLY
H
OW
she’d imagined it. The Somerset House had been transformed into the gala of the season. A huge black tent had been erected, hiding the pale glow of the moon. Flashbulbs blinded her as she made her way from the limo into the venue. Inside the tent, she found glittering lights and a long, glossy runway. People were dressed to the hilt all around her, showcasing their couture dresses and designer jewelry. Sophia Montel sat front row at London’s famed Fashion Week.
She still couldn’t believe it.
“Isn’t this marvelous?” Sophia beamed at her friend as she took her seat.
“Very much so,” Anne Marie replied, squeezing Sophia’s hand. “Your mum really outdid herself this year with your birthday.”
“I never would have thought Mother would offer this as gift,” Sophia stated, frowning. “She never was one to go along with what she called my ‘fashion fantasies.’ Sometimes she acts too much a countess and not enough like a mum.”
“Yes, but she knows what pleases you.” Anne Marie’s smile was thoughtful. “What better gift to give her only daughter than a front row seat at a London fashion show?” She raised an eyebrow. “One that happens to include her daughter’s favorite designer?”
Sophia’s frown disappeared in an instant. “The XS designer is here?”
“Of course,” Anne Marie said with a chuckle. “With the new autumn line.”
Sophia let out a loud, satisfied breath, and she wondered if her mother understood more than she let on.
“It’s time,” Anne Marie whispered as the lights went down.
Sophia marveled at the models coming down the spotlit runway. Music hummed loudly in the background, the stride of the women mimicking the beat and the mood of the clothes they wore. Some walked down graciously, others feral. Camera flashbulbs popped and clicked as the beaming lights caught the movements of the flowing silk, rustic wool, tucked cotton, and occasional leather.
Anne Marie leaned over. “Here comes your favorite.”
Sophia adjusted in her seat in anticipation of seeing firsthand the new line of her favorite designer. She had been following the XS line for years, since the first moment she’d seen the short white poplin dress with black boning, matched with a red quilted bomber jacket, in her favorite London boutique. The colors were always bold yet feminine, the patterns intricate in design yet easy on the eyes.
Xavier Cain strode out from behind the curtain and commanded the stage with a knowing arch of his brow and crooked grin. He stood proud in his well-tailored black suit and brushed his dark, wavy hair from his eyes.
Sophia drew a deep breath as she looked him over. His eyes, crystal blue and bright, looked like diamonds sparkling under the intense lights. His broad shoulders and lean frame shifted as he took several long strides further onto the runway.
“Thank you all for being here tonight to see the new line.”
Sophia’s heartbeat jolted when she heard his deep voice. It rolled through the air like a silent freight train and slammed right into her. The tone reverberated in her ears, igniting a slight flick of recognition.
“Everything you see comes from my greatest inspiration.” Xavier’s eyes narrowed, and a hint of sadness flashed across his features. Sophia caught the look and instinctively wanted to comfort him. “Please,” he said clearing his throat. “Enjoy my vision for the Fall/Winter season.”
Her body stirred at the sight of him all right, but there was something else. Something that Sophia couldn’t quite put her finger on when she looked at him. Like he was familiar, like she’d heard that voice—that wonderful voice—before tonight.
Xavier disappeared as the first model stepped onstage. The eclectic line moved from daywear to eveningwear and back: pants, skirts, shorts, and dresses. All colors of the rainbow burst to life. Nothing held back; no standard autumn colors here. The beautiful clothes Sophia had expected, but how she knew they could make a woman feel was something different. Exciting. They made her want to slip the cool fabrics around her body and let the energy flow through her. Powerful yet soft, bold yet inviting.
The final model completed her walk, and all the ladies came out once again for one last dance with the audience. Applause grew louder when Xavier reappeared on stage.
Xavier breezed down the runway, waving at the crowd. He locked up when a woman sitting just off-stage caught his eye. It was as though an elephant sat on his chest, and he couldn’t catch his breath. She was clapping and smiling as she watched the models go by. Her hair, the perfect color of onyx, was clipped short on her neck and slanted longer in front to hang below her chin. Her face was shimmering like the stars on a bright summer night as she whispered something to the redhead next to her.
After all these years—could it really be?
He managed to take another step closer when she turned and faced him. Xavier nearly tripped off the stage when her dark blue eyes met his. His breath came back in a whoosh. Glowing under the lights, she looked like an angel. The mystic blue of her gaze captured him. The curves of her face perfectly complemented her big, innocent-looking eyes, petite nose, and cream, flushed skin. Instantly, his body ached to take a closer look.
A tug on his arm awakened him from his trance. “Come on, Xavier,” a tall model said in an impatient but friendly tone. “The next line is up.”
Looking around, he noticed they were the only two left on the runway. The music had slowed, and people shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Shaking his head, he turned on his heel and started toward the curtain. Looking over his shoulder one last time before exiting, he saw her again, the mystic eyes still focused on him.
Once backstage, Xavier paced the floor like an animal in a cage. He ran his fingers through his hair, wondering if his eyes had been playing tricks on him. He had to get back out there. He needed to be sure.
“Bryant.” Xavier walked over to his brother, who was also his assistant. “Did Marcus show up for the show?”
“Not that I know of, but I’m not sure,” Bryant replied.
“Great, thanks.” Xavier turned on his heel to walk away.
“Wait!” Bryant yelled. “What do you want me to do with the—”
“Figure it out,” Xavier huffed as he exited from backstage.
Xavier rushed out the side door, toward the seating area, and took Marcus’s empty chair in the front row. He sat down and peered across the stage through the models walking by, the beams of light slashing across the runway, and the flashing cameras. His back was tense and straight and his hands were clasped tightly together. His heart raced as he looked at every face on the other side until he found hers.
“What was that about?” Anne Marie asked Sophia as soon as Xavier had left the stage.
“I haven’t the faintest idea,” Sophia said in an exasperated tone, still bristling from the single stare.
“He was staring right at
you
.”
No, that couldn’t be.
But somehow it had been. He’d stopped just feet from her, and Sophia had lost herself in him. As they’d stared at each other for that brief moment, her body had burned with a frizzle she had never felt before, as though he’d burned a hole right through her. Her pulse beat in her ears. His still and serious expression had made it seem he’d been studying her
. But for what?