Calla’s answer is indignant. “No, we design for all ages. Phil’s very popular with middle-aged and older women because he actually listens…. Wait. Does that mean she knows what the gown looks like?”
My gut drops like a stone, my chest getting tight. Not now.Pleasenot now. I fumble for my tea, keeping one hand in Vivi’s fur, and between sips, I try to breathe evenly. I just want to ride out this meeting. I don’t have to talk. I don’t have to participate.
When I have enough control of my anxiety to look up, Calla nods and turns back to Spears. “Very few people know what the dress looks like, even if they know the design exists.”
Griff shifts his chair a little closer to mine but doesn’t reach out to take my hand again. I appreciate the distance—I don’t think I could handle contact right now.
“Fewer than the names you mentioned before?” Spears asks, and we all nod.
“Much fewer,” Griff says. “On my end, there’s me, Damian, and one of my colleagues at Style Me.”
“Name?” Spears’s pen is poised to write.
“Adam Granger. He’s a big fan of Phil’s and has pulled garments from Phallacy before.”
“For multiple clients,” Calla confirms.
“I’ll keep that in mind. What about here at Phallacy?”
“Me, Phil, and our pattern cutter, Shane. He might have shown it to someone else, I guess, but he doesn’t usually.”
“I’ll ask that question when I’m interviewing all the staff,” Spears notes. “Is the design accessible to them like the calendar is?”
“No.” Calla’s voice is firm. “We’re very strict with designs.”
“Okay.” He nods, then glances at Griff. “What about Margaret Haywood? Has she seen it?”
“Yes. I sent it to her after our first meeting.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
GRIFF
“Take Vivi in with you,”I suggest, but Phil shakes his head stubbornly.
“It’s unprofessional.”
“But you said this client likes you. She’ll understand.”
“No.”
“What if you ask first if she likes dogs? Leave the choice up to her.” I’m pushing a little harder than I should, probably, but after seeing how frustrated he was by his mutism yesterday afternoon, I’d like to do what I can to prevent it happening again so soon.
His hesitation is a victory, but I don’t leap on it. I can be patient.
“I’ll ask,” he concedes at last. “But I don’t think it will be necessary anyway. She’s going to try on the dress, and we’ll probably talk about her daughter’s wedding and their plans for the holidays. All very calm. Even if I do go nonverbal, Pamela’s seen me that way before.”
I lean in close and kiss him, basking in the sensation of being close, of the warmth from his body and the silky cool touch of hishair on my skin. I still can’t believe I’m this lucky. “I’ll be in the workroom with Vivi if you need me.”
He smiles, and those stars in his eyes are just for me. “Stay in the lounge. You’ll get more done. It gets noisy out there.”
“I’m used to it,” I admit. “It feels weird working in a quiet space.”
That wins me a chuckle, though it fades when his phone rings. We both stare at Spears’s name on the screen. He was going to interview Margaret this morning.
Phil takes a deep breath, then taps to answer. “Hi, Detective. Griff’s here with me.”
“Good morning to you both.” It sounds like he’s driving, so I guess he’s finished the interview.
