My eyes widen. Wow! He really, really doesn’t want to let the Count down. I’ve met Jenna once when she dropped something off, and she is the same size as me. What harm can it do to go to dinner with them? It’s not like I’ll ever be alone with the Count. I shrug. “Sure.”
“Great. Thank you for this, Autumn,” he says, relief all over his face, as he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “By the way what size shoes do you wear?”
Chapter 9
Autumn
Jenna has smaller feet than me, but Larry calls his wife and finds out she is the same size as me. He gets her to drop off two boxes of shoes. I gasp when I open the boxes. Two almost new, totally gorgeous pair of Louboutins. One red one black. Twenty minutes later Jenna comes around carrying three dresses and a red coat on hangers. I wonder if Marion and Jenna discussed what they would be bringing over, because the red coat is almost exactly the same color as one of the pairs of shoes.
I go into the backroom and try on the slinky black dress first. It is more sophisticated than anything I’ve ever owned. I put it on and immediately know I don’t have to try the others. It fits beautifully, with slim-fitting three quarter sleeves, a scoop neckline, and a fairly tight skirt that ends just under my knee. There is a slit on the right thigh that turns the dress from elegant to sexy.
Gingerly, I step into the pair of red shoes. It’s been a long while since I wore high heels, but after a few steps around the backroom I realize that the shoes are very comfortable and easy to walk in. I find a tube of lipstick at the bottom of my purse and use it on my lips and cheeks. Then I let my hair down and secure the side with a couple of clips I find inside my drawer. To my surprise, I also find an old tube of mascara in there. The wand is a bit dried up, but I manage to get some onto my eyelashes. I pull on the red coat and I’m ready.
I feel like Cinderella as I walk out of the backroom into the shop. Larry is sitting on the leather sofa. He has opened a bottle of champagne and is sipping from a flute. He looks up when I enter, and whistles.
“Whoa, Autumn. It’s a good thing I’m head over heels in love with my wife, because you look positively edible,” he says with a smile.
I feel myself blush at the compliment.
“Come and have a drink with me before we leave. We still have fifteen minutes to kill.” He fills a glass with champagne and holds it out to me.
I go over and take it from him. I take a sip and deliciously cold bubbles run down my throat and hit my empty stomach. “Why do you think the Count wants to take us to dinner?”
He takes a sip of his drink before answering. “I’m not sure, but I have my suspicions.”
Before I can ask him to elaborate, his phone rings and he apologizes and says he has to take the call. He wanders away with his phone held to his ear and I lean back on the sofa and decide to enjoy my glass of expensive French champagne. Five minutes later, I can feel myself start to get slightly tipsy. It’s a good feeling.
By the time Larry comes back I’m positively merry, and it’s nearly time to leave. I stand and Larry laughs when he sees me wobble on his wife’s shoes.
“What has become of youth these days?” he teases. “One glass of champagne and they’re tripping.”
“I didn’t realize bubbles could be so potent,” I murmur.
He smiles at me with fatherly affection. “Yeah, champagne goes to your head fast.”
“Now he tells me.”
“Don’t drink anything else until you get some food in you,” he advises as he opens the door for me.
Outside it’s cold and I’m glad for the warmth of Jenna’s thick coat. We get into Larry’s car and he starts the engine. I lean my head back on the headrest. The nervousness I felt at the thought of meeting Rocco Rossetti is gone. Instead, I listen to Larry’s voice telling me a story about what his youngest kid, Briana did last night, and feel pleasantly tipsy and benevolent towards the whole world.
Thirty minutes later we arrive at the Four Seasons. Confidently, I get out of the car. This is going to be a good night. I love chocolate fudge cake, and I’ve never had anyone come and pour gooey melted chocolate onto it just before I tuck in. And that grass-fed beef steak and smoked duck salad sounded very good too. I’ve never had smoked duck so that will be another experience I can tick off.