Shiver. by Kate (best romance novels of all time TXT) 📕

it seems you caught me at the wrong time, I have to go,” I excuse myself stepping backwards then turning at my heel without a glance back at Mr. West. But a smile tugged at my lips as I walked towards the car while hearing the sound of his shoes following me. Oh Ivy, I didn’t know you like stalkers following you, my conscious sounded in my head to throw me off. I almost tripped again and found myself with Mr. West’s hand on my back to keep me steady. I couldn’t let go of the embarrassment I felt, but then I saw a car pull in next to Janette’s I start to go back to my normal self. Someone stepped out of the car, an obvious male, and then he turned to me to show himself to me personally almost. He slid off his shades revealing the same light blue eyes I have. Turning around I faced Mr. West again with a sweet smile.

“Could you help me please, you can see I’m struggling, almost juggling all of these things. Also I need a ride,” I asked with a voice so bittersweet, one that said help me please, or else. His smile faded but his cold businesslike attitude didn’t come back. He didn’t respond, but he still took all of the sketches from my hands and led me in the opposite direction of Janette’s car towards his. He led me to a car which had a driver standing by it, you could tell the car was used for business. He opened the door and had me slid in first then he got in a few seconds later after saying something to the driver. As we left I noticed we were going in the direction of my company’s store, I smiled thinking that my business wasn’t completely ignored by the public eye. I stared out the window but then I realized the tint for my reflection was all I saw. Those light blue eyes stared back at me causing me to jump and looking away from the window. Doing my makeup was hard enough, I don’t need to see those eyes more than I have to.

“Thank you Mr. West,” I said because I knew in less than a minute we’d be at my store and I’d leave. He handed me my sketches with an amused look.

“You’re welcome Ivy,” he replied talking for the first time today. His response made me jump as he called me by my first name again.

“I fear I’m at an disadvantage Mr. West, you know my first name but I don’t know yours although you are quite famous,” I told hoping he would give me his name after saying something like that. It earned me a smile that was bright, but his eyes still said otherwise.

“Tristan.”

“Tristan West,” I said as if testing how his name sounded together. Something twisted in my stomach as I said it, then the twist released in butterflies which I waved away knowing better than to feel for someone in that direction. The car stopped in front of the store where many young couples in their twenties waited.

“Thank you Kenny.”

The driver in front looked back at me and smiled then waved me off. I collected my stuff and quickly got out of the car trying to get away from Tristan, but he followed me again. I stopped before he could follow me inside to my work. Turning on my heel I look up at Tristan.

“Mr. West do you have business here at White Silk Bridal Gowns,” I inquired with my evil eye which means no harm.

“Yes, my mother is getting married to her 3rd husband, I’m meeting with her so I thought I would wait inside,” he retorted staring back with his own version of the evil eye, and with a smirk that says take that.

“Very well, follow me.” As I open the doors all the couples follow me including Tristan who still wore his smirk till this moment. Oh my, how immature all these men are, I thought to myself as his smirk brings me back to being fired by a smirking man. I got a pounding headache just thinking about it.

“Hello everyone, I am the president of White Silk Bridal Gowns, follow me to the waiting room, where my employees will go take your measurements, only girls though. Unless you husbands want a dress for yourself,” I suggested earning laughs from around the crowd that was following me. We walked into the modern looking waiting room where there were white leather couches with mahogany tables to match. There were four sections of couches with small walls of waterfalls section them off. The floor was a wood that matched the mahogany tables and warmed against the white couches which matched the desk where my number one employee Ms. Randy sat checking all the couples in. A lady with sandy blonde hair, who looked in her late 40’s came in, all stylish and expensive matching the one and only Tristan.

“Excuse me, but do you know if Tristan West is here yet,” she asked me without even glancing over at the waiting room. I tried not to laugh then thought I would get on her good side.

“Oh are you the fiancé he is waiting for, I knew he had good taste,” I complimented then led her over to Tristan.

“This girl is so sweet she thinks you’re the one I’m marrying,” his mother marveled with a huge smile across her lightly tanned face.

“Ivy,” he asked with a wondering expression on his face, almost asking me if I was joking or complimenting.

“Yes, Mr. West,” I questioned right back at him with a small smirk to hide away my stifling laugh.

“Do you two know each other,” his mother interrupted our sparks which were starting to fly again, almost as if we were back were we left off when we met.

“Of course, I would take you to the best bridal dress designer in San Diego. I know she is the best because I watched her sketch a dress the other day,” he mentioned which made Ms. Randy look up from her desk and walk quickly to my side where she pinched me.

“Do that again, and you’re fired,” I hissed at her then smiled at Mr. West and his mother. She smiled then went over and hugged Mr. West’s mother.

“This girl is the best in San Diego she even has an award to prove it,” Ms. Randy assured then without another word walked back over to her desk where she assigned my other employees their couples to measure.

“Since you are Mr. West’s mother… actually, I would like to address you otherwise, what is your name,” I questioned as I grabbed her hand leading her over to a couch were we sat down.

“Call me Victoria, honey,” she insisted making herself comfortable on the couch then she slid her purse onto her lap where she pulled out small fabrics of color you use for decorating furniture, but I didn’t mind.

“Victoria, since you are as lovely as you are, I’m going to measure you and take notes for what you want your dress to be like personally, and that includes the color,” I offer her, then as hear Tristan start to refuse I wave him off. His mother liked that and smiled, as if she knew the troubles the dangerous and mysterious man faced. She probably did saying how she is his mother. There was a twinge in my heart when I thought about the time my mother found out. I distracted myself with taking Victoria’s measurements. Then I took my notebook, I always had on me, also I took out one of my famous sketch books. Flipping through the pages you could see some of the dresses, but I quickened my search for the last page so they couldn’t see all of the dresses. I like to keep these things secret.

“You were lucky the other day, because I didn’t feel your presence or else you wouldn’t have seen me sketch like that,” I told Tristan with a wink as I found the next empty page. His mysterious smile came back and then left at the same moment.

“Okay, Victoria. Let’s start with the shape of the dress. Do you want it an A line dress which is like,” I asked the sketched out an simple of an typical A line dress, then drew out the other styles and shapes with labels. Usual I have an printed paper of them, but I couldn’t find it do I just did it.

“I have to say they all look nice, but I like the princess style, it looks easier to walk in,” she picked and stated why, which I liked completely it made it easier to invision something.

“That’s good, so now I know that you want something light and flowing to walk in easily right,” I noted making sure I was getting the right clues. She nodded with a quick and easy smile.

“I’d like these three colors to be in the dress, all three of the colors represent something, although I know I should have an white dress.”

“No, I like adding colors to wedding dresses. It doesn’t bring them out of the traditions, it just gives them an extra addition, and since the colors mean something it’ll have an greater effect on the dress in an entirely different way,” I explained so she wouldn’t back out of the colors, because I knew she needed them in the dress. What I said gave her courage so she nodded and we moved on, and by the end of our session I was tried and I could tell so was she.

“It was nice meeting you, and I can’t wait to see you soon.”

“Ivy, thank you for agreeing to design my dress, I will be proud to wear an accustomed designed dress by Ivy Blair. Even before Tristan told me about you I knew you made bridal gowns, all of my clients and peers praised them.”

“Thank you, Victoria. Goodbye Mr. West,” I urged him out, I could barely distract myself anymore with all the other couples being helped by the employees. They both waved bye at the same time and left me alone. I went over to my coffee and took a sip then smiled at Ms. Randy, after that I went start to chatting with the couples with my notepad in my left hand and my pencil in my right.

When my day at work was over I was exhausted, but it only got worst as I realized I had to walk home. However to my surprise when I walked out of my store there Kenny was waiting for me.

“It’s been a long time Kenny, since you had to quit when you moved, I had no idea you moved to San Diego, or else I would’ve insisted on going with you,” I blurted as I walked up to Kenny. He smiled with delight then took off his hat and pressed it to his heart in front of me. I smiled then got into the car.

“Hello, Mr. West, may I ask what you are doing here,” I question then before he could answer I mutter to myself “although I let myself in.” He laughed musically but then stopped as the car rolled forward as we left.