Page 93 of House of Scarlett
His chin lifts in slow motion, and he uncrosses his arms to stare at me like I’m a wild animal in the zoo. “Well, well. I can’t say anyone has had the balls to speak to me like that in years.”
“Likewise,Gunter.”
“Why don’t you come back, and we’ll start over—with an apology. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier with my words. I apologize. And what’s more, I would never disparage Scarlett in any way, shape, or form. I’ve known her since she was practically a baby, and I consider her family. I feel quite protective of her.”
I release the door handle and turn around. “I may not have known her that long, but there isn’t a goddamn thing I wouldn’t do to protect her, and that’s all you need to know about me.”
Gunter’s lips quirk and he smiles. “That’ll do. Come in. Let’s get you measured so I can get to work performing this miracle.”
While he measures what seems like every inch of my body, Gunter never stops talking.
“I started working for Lourdes Scarlett Priest and House of Scarlett when Scarlett was five. You’ve never seen a happier, sweeter child. She played hide-and-seek in the racks of clothes and spent hours flipping through fabric swatches. Her mother was so proud. She thought Scarlett would follow in her footsteps and take over the house, but high-fashion design has never been Scarlett’s passion.”
“But Scarlett could’ve run the business like a boss. She’s capable as hell.”
Gunter nods in agreement, making a notation on his pad. “Absolutely, but when Lourdes’s health was failing, she and Scarlett had the discussion about the future of the business, and both agreed on the sale. It was the right move, in my opinion. And they were both incredibly strong women, which is what it would take to make that kind of decision under those circumstances.”
“What about Scarlett’s dad?” I ask, because I don’t know enough about the asshole whose absence after her surgery made her cry.
Gunter’s expression hardens. “I hate that man with the fire of a thousand suns.”
“Damn. I figured he was a major prick, but it sounds like I underestimated him.”
Gunter clenches the tape measure in his hand. “Scarlett is and will always be Lawrence’s finest accomplishment in his lifetime, but he pretends like she doesn’t exist.”
“I fucking hate that for her.” I grit out the words from between clenched teeth.
“You and me both.” Gunter pauses, setting aside the tape measure and lifting his brown eyes to mine. “You really care about her, don’t you?”
I shift my feet and hold his gaze. “No offense, old man, but what I feel for Scarlett is between me and her. And if I haven’t told her yet, I’m sure as hell not telling you.”
Gunter’s entire expression changes when he smiles widely. “She deserves an exceptional man, Mr. Legend. I truly hope you can be him.”
“I don’t know about exceptional, but I’m going to do whatever I can to keep her happy and safe.”
Gunter nods slowly. “You’ll do, Gabriel. Yes. You’ll do very well.”
Fifty-Seven
Scarlett
The clientsI have on the third floor today are enough to give me a total headache.
Two women left without buying a single thing, after each browsing for over an hour. Then Lucy Byers—heiress to a paper company, former prep school classmate, and queen bitch—shows up. Her first order of business is to scold me for keeping her waiting three weeks for an appointment.
“You know, I almost didn’t even come. No one makes me wait for anything. It’s like you’ve forgotten who your people are, Scarlett.” She lets her words hang in the air, before adding for emphasis, “I guess that’s what happens when you start scraping the bottom of the barrel for men. But, tell me, is he really hung like a Clydesdale? Because I’ve heard rumors.”
I stare at her in shock. “Excuse me?”
She turns to her friend, whose name I’ve already forgotten, because shedidn’thave an appointment, and smiles. “I told you she’d never admit to seeing him. Scarlett has always been too much of a good girl. Worried about her sterling reputation and all.”
I have lines, and this bitch just crossed one. “You know what, Lucy? Get the hell out of my store.”
Lucy’s jaw drops. “What?”
“If you think you can come in here and talk like that to me, then you aren’t worth my time. As you’re aware, I have a long waiting list of people who’d love to be in here right now, and they wouldn’t resort to mean-girl tactics that should’ve stayed in high school just to feel better about themselves.”
Her chin goes up, and it’s abundantly clear she’s had plenty of work done on her face since prep school. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m simply making conversation. Did I hit a nerve with my comment about your boyfriend? Or is he just your ... entertainment? Because no one would judge you for needing a real man after Chadwick. He’s anepicallyterrible lay. The worst I’ve ever had.”
