Julie waved her hand. “I don’t care who goes to the bridal shop. Just find me an amazing dress. Nothing fitted at the waist, of course.”
That’s right, Todd thought. Julie was pregnant.
He knew Ryan was excited about being a father. While Todd never intended to marry, he liked the idea of having kids. The lack of wife would complicate things, but didn’t make the situation impossible.
“I can’t believe you want a say in the dress,” Marina muttered.
He leaned toward her. “Think of all those models I’ve dated. Some of their fashion sense must have rubbed off on me.”
“Did you talk about fashion much?”
“We didn’t talk at all.”
He heard her grind her teeth together and nearly laughed.
“Willow works for that nursery,” Marina said as she ignored him. “I’ll ask her for recommendations on the florist front.”
“Good idea,” Julie said.
“I know a photographer,” Todd told her.
Marina widened her eyes. “Does he take pictures of people with or without clothes?”
“Both. You’ll enjoy looking at her work.”
“I don’t care about naked,” Julie said. “Does she do weddings?”
“They’re her favorite.”
“Good. Put her on the list. Marina, nothing too artistic. Just regular pictures.”
“Gotcha.”
They went over a few more things, then Julie left to find the dress pictures she’d torn out of magazines.
Todd turned his attention to Marina. “I think this is going to be fun.”
“Oh, me, too.”
“You don’t like me much.”
“I don’t know you.”
“You don’t want to.”
“Actually I haven’t decided that. Amazingly enough, you haven’t been on my mind at all.”
One point for her side, he thought. “You didn’t say nice things about me before. I heard you.”
She tilted her head as she stared at him. “You have a reputation which, personally, I think you enjoy. But people form impressions based on that notoriety.”
“You think I’m shallow.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever had to work very hard at anything but your company.”
“Still, you agreed to go out with me. One date. You promised. Aunt Ruth told me.”
Her gaze narrowed. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
She might be uncomfortable with the idea of dating him, but he was the one who had to live with the reality of his aunt offering her granddaughters each a million dollars if one of them would marry him. It made him feel like a loser. What the hell was so wrong with him that a woman had to be paid that much money to make a commitment?
Not that he wanted to get married, but it was the principle of the thing.
Fortunately Julie and Willow were both out of the picture, which left only Marina. He would have refused even a single date with her, but Aunt Ruth had looked so happy at the thought and although he would rather face medieval torture than admit it to anyone, he was a sucker when it came to his aunt Ruth.
“It’s only one date,” he said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“It will be three hours that will seem like a lifetime?” But there was a flash of humor in her eyes as she spoke.
“The wedding,” he said. “We both have to be there, we’re both in the wedding party, which means it wouldn’t be much fun for anyone else we brought.”
She nodded slowly. “We will have just spent all that time arranging the event, so we’ll have plenty to talk about.”
“We can have lots of champagne.”
She grinned. “Always a plan. All right, Todd Aston the Third, I’ll be your date for my sister’s wedding.”
Two
G randma Ruth’s three-story Bel Air mansion was just as awe-inspiring the second time Marina pulled in to the stone covered circular driveway. It was massive and out of place—this was Los Angeles, not eighteenth century England. But the rich lived different lives, Marina thought as she climbed out of her aging import. Lives with live-in staff. Her idea of help at home was a package of premoistened glass cleaning towelettes.
She glanced at the double door leading into the house and decided to wait until Todd showed up before going inside. Okay, sure, she shouldn’t be intimidated by her grandmother’s maid, but she was. So what? She had other positive attributes she could focus on.
Less than a minute later, a gleaming silver Mercedes pulled into the driveway. The car was a sporty two-seater model, the kind that cost as much as the national debt of a small third world country.
The guy who climbed out of it was just as impressive. Tall, well tailored and sexy enough to encourage smart women to make some really stupid choices. She would have to make sure she didn’t fall into the category. Fortunately he wasn’t her type.
“Marina,” Todd said with a grin. “I thought you would have already scouted the house and made the decision.”
“We’re a team, Todd. I totally respect that.” Or she would as long as it suited her.
Speaking of suits, his was dark gray, with a subtle pattern in the weave of the fabric. His pale blue shirt contrasted with the deep burgundy tie. While she preferred a more casual look, he wore his power extremely well. She, on the other hand, looked like a college student with a limited budget. Although her skinny jeans had zipped up with no problem, which made this a very good day.
She collected her digital camera and a small notebook, then followed him to the front door. “I have about an hour,” she said as she checked her watch. “Then I have to be back at UCLA for a class.”
“What are you taking?”
“I’m not. I’m interpreting.” She glanced at him. “I’m a sign language interpreter for deaf students. I specialize in chemistry and physics, mostly the upper division classes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Impressive.”
“It’s not that hard for me. I’ve taken all the classes myself, so I understand the material. I have three advanced science degrees. Eventually I’m going to have to pick a Ph.D. program, but I’m not ready yet. I already knew how to sign, so I decided to do this for a couple of years.”
His eyes widened. “Three advanced science degrees?”
She loved people underestimating her. “Uh-huh. It’s less impressive when you know I started college at fifteen.”
“Oh, sure. It’s practically ordinary. You’re pretty smart.”
She smiled. “Smarter than you, big guy.”
He laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
He knocked on the front door and when the maid answered, he greeted her by name.
“We’re here to see the ballroom, Katie,” he told the woman in uniform. “Then check out the backyard.”
The maid nodded. “Yes, sir. Your grandmother told me you’d be stopping by. Would you like me to show you upstairs?”