Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 14 - High Above the City Lights

"Jean Luc? What are you doing here?"

The Frenchman's eyes travelled from her head to her toe before his brows lifted into a perfect arch. "I think the question is what are you wearing?"

His lips twisted with obvious contempt for her skin-tight black jeans and Kayleigh's heart fell into her guts. She was already anxious about her ensemble and her jeans were the one thing she was confident of.

"They're Kiltons. You designed them!" she mumbled defensively.

"Oui! Five years ago. They're a classic go-to for binge drinking with your girlfriends. A big no-no to go on a rendezvous with the hottest bachelor in the city."

Kayleigh groaned and let him in. She was regretting this rendezvous the closer it got. "Well, it's either this or the dress I wore to WYLD."

"Non! Too flashy!"

"Hence, the jeans."

Jean Luc gave her an empathic smile and waved a dress bag in her face. "Don't you worry, Kay Cakes. I have you covered."

His sharp eye fell on the empty wine glass on the counter and Kayleigh shuffled her weight from one heeled foot to the other. "I needed something to take the edge off," she explained.

"Oh, ma Cherie! Come on!"

Jean Luc strode down the short corridor to her bedroom as though he'd been to her place a hundred times before, leaving Kayleigh no choice but to follow him.

"How do you know where I live?" she called out behind him. 

"I handle the department's paperwork, including the personnel details form," he drawled as he opened the dress bag to reveal a dark green, silk mini-dress.

He dug into the large Kilton bag he brought with him, took out a pair of dainty gold sandals and set them underneath the dress. Then he started to spread an impressive selection of makeup products on her dresser and plugged in a curling iron. Kayleigh sucked in a deep breath as she saw her room being transformed into the backstage of a runway show.

"Okay, that is borderline stalking, not to mention a breach of God knows how many privacy regulations. And Jack is picking me up in twenty minutes. There's no time to play make-over. Besides, my hair doesn't do curls. It'll fall flat by the time I'm out the front door."

"I am not going to curl your hair. I am going to twist it into a low bun," he explained calmly. "It will give you that je ne sais quoi you Brits know nothing of."

Kayleigh had never felt so in over her head as she felt at that moment. Not even when she told her parents she wanted to be a fashion designer, knowing perfectly well she was too awkward for the industry. At least then she had the certainty of the warmth and excitement she felt when she saw a designer piece that she loved. She was soothed by the bold colours and the haute couture. She relaxed drawing up elaborate pieces and dreamed of models wearing them one day. 

"Will you at least wear the dress?" he begged, finally giving in and plopping down on her bed.

Kayleigh turned to the dress hanging from her wardrobe. It was beautiful. Sleek and simple, made from gorgeous silk fabric and a single knit-line at the back. She knew it would fit her figure perfectly. Jean Luc had a good eye. "Did you do this?"

"Yes. I was going to present it to Kilton for last year's fashion week. Then I got moved up to the bridal department and didn't want anyone else to get the credit. I'm petty that way."

Kayleigh smiled at his unrivalled genius and was suddenly glad he showed up at her door. "I'm sorry, for taking Abi's wedding from you. I didn't mean to. It was..."