DESIGN FOR LOVE (17 page)
Authors: Bryan Murray
“Right, right.” he helped her to her feet as they climbed into the dinghy and Gerard started to row.
She looked into those warm green eyes watching her, now that she was totally comfortable looking almost naked in front of him
“Now I know how Robinson Crusoe felt,” Gerard smiled but he added quickly, “Well, not quite.”
“Why?”
“He didn’t have an incredibly beautiful companion with him!”
Once again her heart lurched. “Thank you, kind sir.” was all she could come up with.
A few additional strong strokes with the oars and the dinghy grounded out on the beach.
Gerard jumped out and pulled the dinghy up on the beach and then helped Francine into the shallow water as they removed the towels and beach bag from inside.
When she walked up the beach for the first time, she was totally taken aback by the incredible beauty of the place. She breathed in huge lungfuls of the salty air and turned to look at the smiling Adonis in front of her.
“I’ll bet you bring all the girls here?” she joked.
“Only in the mating season,” he replied with a grin. “No, actually, it was Captain Gironde’s idea.”
“It was?”
“Yes, I said I needed to take a special lady on a pleasant picnic and he had the answer in a flash!”
‘Special lady!’
Francine’s heart skipped a beat at such a hint of interest.
“Well, I must say he was right.” she inhaled the sea air.
“So, ready for a swim?” he looked at her challengingly.
“You bet, last one in is a sissy!” she laughed as she started to run towards the water. Within a few strides Gerard was running beside her step for step.
“Okay, sissy.” he laughed as they both ran into the turquoise surf.
The initial chill of the water followed by its soothing warmth did wonders to control the hot feelings that Francine had been getting from the moment that Gerard had rubbed the oil on her back. As they emerged from the surf, waist deep in the foaming water, they looked at each other and for the first time there was longing in their eyes. Just as Francine was wondering what would happen next, her fate was sealed, sealed by an unexpected attack of cramp in her right leg!
“Ouch!” she yelped as Gerard looked suddenly concerned.
“What is it?” he asked reaching out to hold her arm.
“A cramp in my calf!” she yelled as the pain seized her calf muscle.
“Hang on!” he replied calmly as he scooped her up into his arms effortlessly and proceeded to carry her up the beach. He laid her down on the towel and started to massage her right calf muscle.
“Aaagh, that’s better!” she sighed. ‘It’s incredibly better
!’
she almost sighed having been held close to his chest, just inches from those lips as he carried her up the beach. Slowly the pain subsided and she started to relax.
“Don’t scare me like that!” he chided. “Okay?”
“Okay,” she decided she needed to change the subject. “Mind if I ask you a question?”
“No, go ahead?”
“Were you ever married?”
He thought for a moment and his face clouded for a second before he decided to answer. “Yes.”
Francine was wondering if perhaps this was why he was taking his time with Jeri, “What happened?”
“She died!”
“Oh no!” she now wished she had never asked the question.
“It’s okay,” he added consolingly. “It was a while ago. A car accident. She was killed but my son made it okay.”
‘A son
?’
she had no idea. “You have a son?”
“Yes, he’s ten years old. He’s in a private boarding school in Europe.”
Suddenly, Francine was filled with remorse at asking this handsome, private man to dig up old skeletons. “I’m sorry,” she began hesitantly. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
He touched her arm. “That’s okay, I wanted you to know. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
And then it happened. When she thought about it later, Francine couldn’t decide whether it was the effects of the champagne, the sensuous feelings that had been slowly building, or her sorrow at hearing what happened to his wife, wondering what it would be like to lose someone you love. Suddenly, she reached out with both hands, cupped his face tenderly and gave him a quick kiss on the lips!
At first he recoiled in shock before returning the kiss with a suppressed passion that he himself had been holding in check for the past hour.
As their lips met a second time, Francine could feel every drop of emotion left in her body draining into a warm enveloping mist of sensuality. It was like sinking deeper and deeper into a feather bed and the further you sank, the more erotic became the sensation.
She was not sure where it came from, but a small, warning voice, getting slowly louder, started to pound in her brain. ‘Slow down, girl
.
’ it told her and just as easily as she melted into Gerard’s arms for that heart-stopping kiss, she found the resolve from somewhere to reach out and gently push him away.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I shouldn’t have done that. It, it must have been the champagne!”
He smiled gently. “That’s okay, Francine. I guess we both needed it.”
“Yes, but I shouldn’t have started it,” and she was about to add. ‘And it’s not fair to Jeri!
’
but he interrupted her.
“Really, it’s all right, Francine.” he looked confused.
She reached out and touched his bare shoulder. “Look, it’s been great, Gerard. I had a really nice time, but I think we’d better be getting back. I’ve still got things to do before the show.”
He jumped to his feet, still the perfect gentleman. “Of course, I understand.” he quickly packed the towels in the beach bag and escorted her back to the dinghy. He helped her on board and started to row back to the yacht.
Francine was mortified. One part of her was telling her she was crazy for rushing away and the other part was telling her that it was a smart move.
Across from her, those green eyes were almost reading her mind, “Look, Francine, I had a wonderful time,” he began. “Perhaps we got a little carried away, but forget it, we’re still friends and at least for a couple of hours you were able to relax.”
She looked at him, her brown eyes as sincere as he had ever seen them. “I had a wonderful time too, Gerard, it’s just that I guess we got past the flirting stage just a little too fast,” she added smilingly. “But believe me when I tell you this.”
“Tell me what?”
“You are one great kisser!”
He grinned. “It takes two, Francine!”
She smiled affectionately as they bumped against the side of the yacht and the crew members helped them on board.
After a disturbed night’s sleep, during which Francine drifted in and out of dreams of Gerard, all somehow ending with that spine-tingling kiss, she finally awoke to face the day, the biggest day of her life, feeling less than fired up for the events that lay ahead.
As she headed down to breakfast, Vince was there to meet her with enough nervous energy for the two of them. “Ready to go, Princess?” he chirped.
She smiled ruefully. “Well, not as ready as you are by the looks of it, but I guess I’m going to make it. What’s the latest?”
He smiled enthusiastically. “A couple of Princes and Princesses are definitely coming, so brace yourself!”
Her stomach did a backflip. “Great!” she added, but somehow she didn’t sound that confident.
“Relax, boss,” Vince reassured her. “We’ve got it made, the girls are all ready and all we’ve got to do is perform!”
She patted his arm. “Don’t ever change, Rainbow Man!”
He grinned. “Me? Never!”
Following a hectic day of making final preparations, checking and re-checking lists, a day when visions of Gerard were never far from her mind, the sun finally started to set over a silver/gold Mediterranean as the early arrivals started to make their way to the beautifully floodlit Fashion Center.
Unlike New York, the Europeans seemed to have so much more flair in the way they not only publicized but presented such a special event. At one quick glance through the curtains at the gathering throng, Francine could have sworn she actually saw women wearing tiaras, as well as most of them dripping in other diamonds.
Vince had been right, when Royalty showed up, all the mere mortals made an extra effort at looking elegant and for this to happen to a group of people who were already upper class chic, the final results were quite staggering.
Champagne was flowing freely as well as caviar and just about five minutes before the scheduled start to the Show, sudden applause out front accompanied by flash bulbs popping off non-stop, signaled the arrival of the Royal Guests. With the Princes in white tuxedos and the Princesses in a mixture of Yves St. Laurent creations, they all looked every inch their regal best.
Backstage, Francine’s heart rate was soaring as Vince strutted up and down like a caged tiger, or probably more like a flamingo with leg cramps, judging by his shocking pink ensemble.
As in New York, the big fashion houses, particularly the European ones, were dominating the backstage scene with models, make-up people and hair stylists. Once again, the usual miserable- faced chain-smoking dressers were hovering in the background.
The diminutive Compere was in fine voice as she started the proceedings and TV cameras started to roll. Like the seasoned veteran that she was, she quickly introduced the Royal guests and their entourage before giving a quick rundown of the fashion houses represented.
Francine had to pinch herself when ‘Classique’ was mentioned after which she settled down to await her turn, the entire fashion world ready to pounce just the other side of one flimsy curtain.
After what seemed an eternity, ‘Classique’ got to do their thing and in a maelstrom of activity, half-naked women rushing in and out of clothes, each item in the line made its debut to extremely encouraging polite applause from the gathered audience.
Seated near to the back, Yvette and Carl were holding hands nervously, almost bursting with pride as their daughter’s creations made it smoothly down the catwalk. Yvette’s eyes were riveted on the polite applause from the Royal Box and she gave Carl a quick dig in the ribs guiding his attention in the same direction. He nodded his head as if to say. ‘I
knew
she could do it
!’
Finally, the moment came for Karen to make her big entrance in the red dress. Backstage, Francine and Vince had gone over her like a couple of cadaver inspectors, making sure every little seam, stitch and fold was in perfect position. In the background, the Compere was already building up to the introduction for the big finale. She had already spoken in French, the first spoken language of each introduction, before starting on the English version as Karen stood behind the curtain ready to do her thing. She looked absolutely stunning as she turned, winked at Francine and gave her the thumbs up sign.
“And now, your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the final creation of ‘Classique’ Fashions…”
In the audience, Gerard, who now had the lovely Jeri back on his arm, waited with interest to see what the big finale would look like.
Jeri squeezed his arm and whispered. “Seen anything of interest yet?”
He nodded negatively as the Compere continued. “Here we have Karen in a stunning red evening dress, perfect for that special evening with Mr. Wonderful!”
As Karen moved flamboyantly onto the catwalk, at first there were sighs and then screams of excitement followed by tumultuous applause. Backstage, both Francine and Vince who had been holding hands tightly, eyes closed, suddenly opened their eyes and grinned at each other as the applause continued.
“Bingo!” was all that Vince could manage. Francine had already taken a peep through the curtain at the Royal Box where one Princess was already on her feet applauding enthusiastically, quickly followed by her entourage.
“Wow!” Francine gulped, her heart going a mile a minute.
Out in the audience, Gerard took one look at the dress and slapped his thigh enthusiastically. “That’s the one! Way to go, Francine!”
Even as he spoke, an Usher with a cordless phone approached him and whispered in his ear. Gerard took the phone and whispered into it. “This is Gerard Cinclare?”
A voice with an American accent came on the line. “Mr.Cinclare, this is Doctor James at the Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. I’m so glad I got through!”
Gerard’s face went suddenly very white as he continued to listen. Jeri, sensing that something was wrong, squeezed his arm. “Everything okay?” she asked.
He nodded negatively. “It’s Mother, we’ve got to leave!” was all he said as both he and Jeri made a tactful exit, handing the phone back to the liveried usher.
Backstage, Karen had just returned from her final appearance and she, Francine and Vince were hugging each other excitedly as the models milled around enthusiastically.
Karen was the first to speak. “It was a knockout, Francine,” she enthused. “Princess Helene was on her feet applauding, do you know what that means?”
Vince interjected excitedly. “Yes, it means we need her measurements so that we can send her a ‘Classique’ special!”
Karen smiled. “Right, but it also means an unqualified stamp of approval!”
Francine stood there, tears of joy forming in her eyes. Finally, this was it, world recognition, she had played in the big league and held her own. In the midst of this her finest moment, however, she was still thinking that same thought, ‘Would Gerard like her designs now?’ she couldn’t wait to see his face.
In the event, she could have waited all night in vain. During the final walk down the catwalk with her Models amidst resounding applause, Francine, who was still on Cloud 9, looked in vain for signs of Gerard in the audience, but without success.
Even at the post show cocktail party when designers, models, press and buyers mingled freely, there was still no sign of him. Vince, who had been watching Francine closely, came over, a glass of champagne in each hand. He offered one to her. “Hey, forget him, Princess! After what you just achieved, we’ll be too busy to fill his orders anyway!”
Francine looked him in the eye. “Maybe you’re right, Vince, but I really would have enjoyed seeing him eat crow just once!”