by Unknown
Blake did that to her.
She’d known from the beginning that he liked her. He’d never been quiet or shy about that fact. She’d known him for over a year and had never heard about or seen him with another girl. She couldn’t assume that he’d been waiting for her all that time, but just the amount of patience he’d shown her from day one had her softening to his teasing nature.
The best part about this whole situation so far was that he’d quit asking questions.
Chapter Eleven
“Thank you.” Kim hung up the phone in Leo’s kitchen as the stainless steel appliances and deep cherry cabinets blurred and swayed in front of her.
“You okay?” Leo asked as he poured them both cups of coffee.
“I don’t know.” That was a lie. She wasn’t okay. The last two days had been the most surreal of her life. The first twenty-four hours of that time had been spent crying on a famous movie star’s shoulder. Talk about bizarre…
And now bizarre just took a left turn. Carl told her that investigators had found no sign of Stephanie’s body. On top of that, the limo driver, Phillip, had disappeared too. A full investigation had started. Kim would’ve suspected Carl if his house hadn’t burned down. But did that fact sway the detectives?
With nothing but the clothes on her back, Kim’s options had been limited. Carl had called yesterday and offered to pay for a hotel room. Kim had hesitated. She’d only come in the first place because Stephanie had requested it. Carl had been a giant pain in the ass from minute one and not someone she wanted to owe anything to. Besides, he gave her the willies. And losing all her money and starting from scratch had taught her to watch every dollar, so the combination of everything with the added problem of affording a hotel room plus transportation… Kim had instead taken Leo up on his offer to stay a night or two.
“That was Carl,” Kim said. “The fire investigation team went over the property again and found no sign of Stephanie.” A ray of hope streaked through Kim’s broken heart. She hadn’t believed them the first time they’d told her no body had been recovered. Despite Carl’s grumbling that Stephanie had run off and left him, he’d ordered the second pass through the rubble.
The idea that Stephanie might have burned to death had been devastating.
“I thought all of the cars except for The Asshole’s were still in the garage. If she wasn’t in there, where is she now?” Leo’s question put a dark cloud over her hope.
“That’s what I want to know.” Kim picked up the phone again and called Carl. She got rolled over to voice mail. “Carl, it’s Kim. I just thought of something. Do you remember the limo driver mentioning if Stephanie planned to go anywhere once he dropped her off? Call me, please.” If she hadn’t been in the house, then where was she? Carl must have been thinking these same things. Kim disconnected and the screen faded to black. “This doesn’t make any sense.” She tapped her nails on the one-of-kind mosaic tile table. “Where is she? What happened?” She picked up the phone again.
“Now who are you calling?” Leo asked. He set the coffee in front of her and sipped his own as he sat next to her.
“My best friend and business partner.” She got rolled over to another voice mail. “Chels, it’s Kim. Can you call me back or text me with the name and number of that PI you used to find Trace? It’s Mills, right? I forget his first name. Tom or Tim? Let me know as soon you can, okay? Thanks. Bye. Tell Matthew hi for me.” Kim disconnected the call and set the phone on the table. “She better not be having that baby or I’m dead meat for not being there.”
“Got a bun in the oven, huh?” Leo asked.
“A giant bun,” Kim confirmed. “But she’s still three weeks away, so I thought I had time to do this for Stephanie before I wanted to be back for Chelsea.”
Just thinking about Stephanie sent a fresh knot of emotion in her throat.
“Look, I know this is a rotten time,” Leo began, “but—”
“But you probably didn’t expect me to stay any longer.” Kim stood up. “Look, you were very nice to let me crash here, but I should shove off. I can find a hotel. I really appreciate you putting me up. I don’t think I could’ve handled being alone the last couple of days.” It had been so weird to make friends with a man she had no respect for. She’d let the media make up her mind for her and so far, their perception of him had been completely wrong. Being in advertising—even if was the accounting end—she wondered about the two very different sides of Leo Frost. So far she’d seen no sign of the spoiled, egomaniac playboy he’d been billed as. He’d been an understanding ear, a shoulder to cry on and he’d made absolutely zero moves on her. She might’ve been a little insulted, but her eyes were still puffy, her hair was a wreck and she’d been wearing a pair of his old sweats for two days already.
Time to get her act together.
“Actually, I was going to ask if you’d mind helping me sort through those files I got from Nathan’s office. I’ll pay you whatever Carl is paying you. I don’t expect your time for free.”
Kim froze halfway out of her chair before sitting down again. “You don’t even know me. Why would you want me to go over your books?”
His steady gaze met hers. “If Wyncott trusts you, I don’t see why I can’t. You seem decent…honest. I’m down with that.” The sunlight hit his chiseled features and a little tingle tickled the base of her neck.
Sipping her coffee, Kim took a second to process his request. Granted, Leo hadn’t done one thing to set off any alarms with her, but his request still came from out of the blue. “Wouldn’t you rather have someone who works in this town? I mean, I don’t even live here.”
Leo shrugged. “The simple fact is I don’t know anyone else here. Sure, I could call a few friends and get recs, but I’ve got you here now and you seem pretty sincere. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t sure about you.”
Working for Leo would give her a good reason to stay in town while the police tracked down Stephanie. It wasn’t as if she could get on a plane while one of her best friends from college was missing. Plus, there was a possibility that Chelsea might have the baby later than her due date, and Chelsea had Matthew with her, whereas Stephanie didn’t have anyone but Kim. And the Asshole.
“Okay. Deal.” She extended her hand and Leo shook it. His warmth and strength gave her a much needed shot of focus. As long as she kept those little tingles buried and kept it business, she’d be fine. “First things first. I really need to get out of your clothes and find something of my own to wear. Where’s the nearest mall?”
Leo gave her his multi-watt smile. “I can do way better than a mall.”
Leo opened Stella’s door and Kim slid in, all long legs and styled blond hair. He’d had her red outfit cleaned from the night of the explosion and the repairs would see her through this shopping trip before she’d have to toss it. Now, she’d borrowed one of his blazers, rolled up the sleeves and looked like a sex kitten. Something had snapped her out of her daze. He wasn’t sure if it was the prospect of actual work, the idea of shopping or just the fact that her friend hadn’t burned to death in a house fire.
Along with the initial tears and shock, she’d been pretty quiet and Leo hadn’t pushed her. She had a lot to absorb. He’d had a plate of his own shit to deal with because on top of Megan’s care, now he had first degree burns on his back. He was glad he had Kim to smooth on the aloe vera cream. He wouldn’t have been able to apply it without help. The days of having a female in his house at any given time were long gone. He didn’t count his assistant, Vivienne, who barely worked a handful of hours a week and only popped in when he needed her. The fifty-something grandmother he’d hired years ago was no-nonsense, efficient and blunt. So blunt that he actually often found himself avoiding her all-knowing stares. He had to admit her looks had leaned more toward worry than condescending in the last year, but he didn’t want to deal with that either so it was easier to keep their relationship strictly business.
“If we’re not going to the mall, where
are we going?” Kim asked after he settled in Stella’s driver’s seat.
“It’s a surprise.”
When Kim had gone to shower, Leo had called an old friend of his who had just launched his own clothing line. Kim had the body to pull off any one of the outfits Cesar designed. Leo cruised out of his driveway and headed into Beverly Hills and Cesar’s shop. A few minutes later, he pulled into a back alley behind the store and killed Stella’s engine. He glanced at Kim, looking at him with a very serious face.
“We’re one street away from Rodeo Drive. What makes you think I can afford clothes near Rodeo Drive?” She didn’t make any move to exit the car.
“No worries. Cesar’s a good guy. He’ll make you an offer you won’t be able to refuse.” Her narrowed eyes said she didn’t trust him or his friend. “Look,” he said, unbuckling his seat belt. “If the price is too steep, we walk out and go someplace else. No harm, no foul.”
“I don’t want to insult the guy if he’s a friend of yours.”
“You won’t. Trust me.” Leo pulled out his phone, sent a quick text then unfolded himself out of Stella and opened Kim’s door. He knocked on the back door of Cesar’s shop and a few seconds later, it opened with a whoosh. His bald-headed friend beamed from the interior.
“Leo!” Cesar pulled him into a big hug and Leo winced as his back burned at the contact. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in months?” He looked behind him and spotted Kim, his dark eyes assessing her. “And this must be Kim.” He abandoned Leo and took Kim’s hands in his, pulled her closer as he inspected her. “Leo, how could you let this poor girl out of the house wearing this?” He fingered the blazer with a truckload of distaste. He opened the front and examined Kim with a critical gaze. Her wide eyes said she was about to go ballistic on Cesar’s butt.
“Kim,” Leo said, “don’t let Cesar throw you off. He’s a magician when it comes to fashion.”
“I didn’t know I needed a magician,” she said evenly. Then she looked down at her stained and slightly torn outfit. “Okay, maybe I need a magician, but it’s because of extenuating circumstances.” She eyed Leo before settling her gaze on Cesar.
“I like you,” Cesar said with a crafty grin. He looked at Leo. “There’s something different about her. I like her.”
“So I heard,” Leo muttered. He gave Cesar a small headshake but it was too late. Kim’s lifted eyebrow spoke volumes. Not that it should matter. His past had no bearing on now or his future. Hell, it wasn’t like he and Kim had done anything. In that aspect alone she was definitely different.
Cesar folded Kim’s arm under his and led her into the customer-empty store. He’d closed up shop for their visit. Leo planned to make it worth Cesar’s while.
The next two hours passed in a blur of changes. Kim tried on everything Cesar brought her from skirts to dresses to slacks to shoes and every accessory known to man. Leo sat outside the dressing room and watched as Cesar worked his artistry. Kim made Cesar look like the genius designer he was.
Kim came out of the dressing room in black slacks that hugged the curves of her hips and thighs and flared out slightly at the bottom. The matching black stilettos put her in the stratosphere. A low cut black blouse with muted designs in maroon and teal brought out the sharp green of her eyes.
Cesar smiled and nodded as he looked her up and down. “She is the reason I do this.” He adjusted the shoulders of her slinky top, which bared more cleavage. “You make my clothes look the way I imagine them in my head.” To Leo he said, “She is beautiful.”
“She is,” Leo murmured. Very beautiful. And strong as hell. He liked her backbone. Liked the way she stood up to Carl even when she’d been heartbroken. Liked the way he had to coax her to stay with him on that long scary night.
A blush stained her cheeks and Leo held back a grin. He liked what the color did for her face. She’d been way too pale the last couple of days. It was the first indication that Kim had some vulnerability. He didn’t count her sadness when she thought she’d lost a friend. That was grief.
A few minutes later, with all the choices in front her, and much to Cesar’s dismay, Kim cut the choices in half. “I don’t need all of this,” she explained. “I can mix and match most of it.”
So that’s what she’d been doing. No wonder she’d kept to the same color scheme. He’d caught her looking for tags, but Cesar didn’t put prices on his clothes. He figured anyone shopping in his store could afford what he put on his racks.
Leo handed over his credit card at the register.
“What are you doing?” Kim said, pulling her wallet out of her purse. “I don’t expect you to pay for my clothes.”
He exchanged a look with Cesar. “It’s not a problem,” Leo assured her. “Let’s call it a down payment for the work you’re going to do for me.”
She considered that. “It depends how much this comes to. You’re not paying for my clothes.”
When had he ever had a woman insist on paying for herself? Uh…never.
“What’s the damage?” she asked Cesar.
Leo gave him his card. “Here. Take it. We’ll call this a retainer,” he told Kim.
She scowled, but showed a little give. “I don’t like it.”
Cesar, smart businessman that he was, had already run Leo’s card. His smile dimmed as he blinked at his computer screen. “Um…” he glanced at Leo and regained his smile. “I’m sure it was just a mistake, eh? Let me try again.” He slid the card through the machine and the same surprised look came over his face. He leaned in close to Leo. “Your card was declined,” he whispered.
Leo felt a rush of heat to his cheeks. Kim closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip.
“Couldn’t be,” he told Cesar. He whipped out another card. Platinum. “Use this. Someone must have stolen the number somehow. I’ll call the card company when I get home.” Goddammit. Not what he needed right now, but credit card fraud ran rampant everywhere. He paid for card insurance so he’d be fine.
Cesar ran the new card and his eyes widened as he read the information on his screen.
What the hell? Leo felt his heart thumping harder behind his ribs. Cesar shook his head.
Kim opened the wallet she never replaced in her purse and whipped out a card. “Here. I’ve got this. No need for him to pay,” she told Cesar. “What’s the damage?”
Leo gave Cesar a very clear look. “Didn’t you tell me you’ve got a seventy-five percent off sale happening on last season’s line?” There was at least ten thousand dollars of merchandise sitting on the counter. Probably more. Even a fraction of that was going to cause Kim to balk.
Cesar read Leo’s deliberate stare. Leo had told him when he’d called that if Kim wouldn’t let him pay for the whole thing, he’d at least cover what she couldn’t afford. He was a longtime customer and good for the money. Not to mention the advertising of his clothes when Kim wore them while on Leo’s arm. Cesar knew what good business entailed. “Yes,” he said, beaming at Leo then Kim. “Seventy-five percent off. You came at the perfect time.” He started punching numbers on the register. “It’s your lucky day. Your total is two thousand five-hundred, twenty-seven dollars and sixty-four cents.
“Two thousand five-hundred and…” Kim swallowed. “twenty-seven dollars.”
“And sixty-four cents,” Cesar added.
“Can’t forget that,” she murmured. She started going through the pile again, clearly looking for pieces to discard.
“What about your first time shoppers discount?” Leo asked, giving Cesar another pointed look that said, you know I’ll pay you every dime, just get us the hell out of here.
“Right!” Cesar jumped on the excuse. “How could I forget?” He punched more buttons on his register and brought the total down another five hundred dollars and change. He nearly whimpered and Leo coughed to cover the sound.
Kim tilted and shook her head at the same time. Didn’t look as if she was buying any of it. She separated two more items before requesting anoth
er tally. The bill came to just under eighteen hundred dollars. “Well, bottom line is I love your beautiful clothes and I need them so I’m in.” She handed over a credit card. After a hesitant glance from Cesar, Leo nodded slightly and Cesar finished the transaction. The card went through without a problem and Leo felt another wave of heat against his neck. Cesar carefully folded the clothes between tissue paper and lovingly eased them into handled shopping bags with the store logo on the side.
He came around the counter and gave Kim a massive hug before holding her shoulders and pulling back to look at her. “You will do my clothes justice.” He kissed each cheek then turned to Leo. “She is special. I like this lady. You will bring her in again, yes?”
“Cesar, you are a wonder with fabric, and I thank you for your sale.” The tone of her voice very clearly indicated she smelled the bullshit. “But I won’t be in town long. I just had a clothes emergency and Leo was nice enough to help me out. I can guarantee the next time I’m in town, I’ll be back for a visit. I have a feeling it might a take a couple of trips to make up for the favor you did me today.”
Cesar beamed.
Two minutes later, they climbed into Stella. Leo had no clue what to say and Kim gave him a sidelong glance.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?” Embarrassing himself? Giving her something to go to the tabloids with? He could see the headlines now. Leo Frost Destitute and Living on His Last Dime. Great. He started the engine and Stella purred.
“For talking Cesar down about twelve thousand dollars’ worth of clothes. I’m not stupid, you know. Just out of my league. There’s a difference.” She adjusted the delicate silver watch on her wrist. “I should’ve rented a damn car and gone to the mall, but you hit my weakness. Beautiful clothes. I’m just treating this as next year’s vacation budget.”