Your Captivating Love (The Bennett Family 2)

“Depends on you. Our fate is in your hands.”

“Not following.”

“We’re in desperate need for a new designer for the show.”

“Okay, but how—OH.” Oh. Wow, no way. “Pippa Bennett, are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?”

“I believe I am.”

I can practically hear her smile on the other end. It takes me a few seconds to process it. “Yes, yes, yes.”

“Wow, you’re so enthusiastic, you’d think I asked you to marry me.”

“What do you need from me?”

I write down everything Pippa requests. I was lucky none of the dresses I designed burned up, just the ones I bought. Well, lucky because Logan stepped in to help me out with the bank. I haven’t heard from Finn yet, but I hope he calls soon and that my loan will be approved, because I need to make some payments to cover my old debt right away. I went back to see the building, and it’s a lost cause.

Not in a million years did I want to rely on a man again. Then again, I didn’t expect Logan to stick around either. He proved me wrong, and it felt so right.

“Can you come by the office after you close the shop?” Pippa asks.

“Sure, but won’t it be too late for you?”

“It’s show week. Everyone’s practically sleeping here.”

“All right. See you in a few hours. Thank you so much, Pippa. I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”

“No need. But you can make it up to Logan. He was the one who told me that you might be a perfect fit for us months ago. I just didn’t want to be unfair toward our current designer, but he asked for it.”

“He did, huh? Anything else Logan’s done without telling me?”

“If you’re referring to my shopping spree...”

I can imagine her grinning ear to ear at the other end. I didn’t touch this topic when she called to check on me on Monday.

“You have fantastic taste,” I say. “I know both of you meant well. I just don’t like other people deciding things for me.”

“Yeah, my brother sometimes does that for no reason. Or, well, I’m sure he does have a reason, but it’s not understandable to us. The whole ‘guys are from Mars, women from Venus’ thing is true. This time, though, I’m on his side.”

I laugh softly. “Of course you are. See you later.”

I almost pinch myself after I hang up. My dresses will be in the Bennett show. I feel like I’m flying. As Pippa said, it’ll be their show, not mine, but this is more than I ever dreamed of achieving in such a short time.

I have two more customers until closing time, and then I receive a call from Archer.

“Nadine, how have you been?”

“Great.” I decide to keep the fire incident to myself, but I want to brag about my good news. “A few minutes ago, I was informed that my dresses will be used in the Bennett show at the end of the week.”

“Congratulations. That’s fantastic news.”

“I still can hardly believe it.”

“Why not? Hard work pays off,” he says good-naturedly. I smile.

“What can I do for you?”

“I spoke to our buying managers in Milan and Barcelona, and they’d both be happy to carry some of your models.”