I leave Gia in Alexander’s expert hands while I retreat to my office on the upper level to make a few calls. I’m turned around in my chair, looking out the window at the view of Central Park when the call I’m waiting on comes through. “Kennedy,” I answer the second I press the speaker button on my desktop phone to accept Keanu’s call.
“Accardi.” There’s a brief pause. “I spoke with Rachel, and we made it happen. I have a driver on the way to you. He should be there within the hour.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you pulling out all the stops. Send me the invoice directly, and I’ll pay it immediately. Please pass my regards and gratitude to Rachel.”
“Consider it done.”
“Hit me up anytime I can return the favor.”
“I’m still intrigued. I didn’t think you dated let alone date a woman who refuses to wear the Accardi brand.” He chuckles. “Your girlfriend must be someone special if you’re going to all this trouble.”
Movement behind me lifts all the hairs on the back of my neck. I swivel in my chair, eyeballing the stunning redhead standing in my doorway. “She deserves to look a million dollars, so no trouble is too much trouble.”
“Cagey as ever, Accardi.” Keanu chuckles.
“I owe you one.”
“Happy to help. Say hi to Caleb,” he says before hanging up.
“Who was that?” Gia asks, stepping into my office.
“Have you ever heard of knocking?” I cross my feet at the ankles and lean back in my leather chair as she walks toward me.
“I planned to, but then I heard you speaking, and I didn’t want to interrupt your call.”
“You’d just rather eavesdrop.”
She shrugs, like it’s no biggie, as she flops into the chair in front of me. “Is it eavesdropping if it concerns me? And I’m an informant. Spying is second nature.”
“Glad to hear it. To answer your question, that was Keanu Kennedy.”
“No way!” She sits up straighter in her chair. “He’s gorgeous. All those Kennedy men are.”
“If you’re into old dudes.”
She bursts out laughing. “I can appreciate a good-looking man of any age, and youthful genes clearly runs in their family. Besides, Hewson Kennedy isn’t an old man. He’s a freshman at Harvard.”
“Stalker much?”
More laughter spills from her mouth. “If you weren’t such a cold fish, I’d say you were jealous. But we’re getting off topic. What’s going on, and why does he think I’m your girlfriend?”
“You need a new wardrobe, and we can’t dress you from our label because there can’t be any hint of an Italian connection. We want to keep this on the down-low, so I called Keanu. He understands the need for discretion, and I knew he could get his hands on what we needed ASAP. Rachel McConaughey is practically his family, and she has a large store near Sak’s Fifth Avenue. She’s sending over your new wardrobe now.”
“Oh my God. I freaking love Rachel’s brand!” She’s close to bouncing in her chair, and amusement tickles the corners of my lips. “It feels like I’m having my ownPretty Womanmoment.”
“I don’t recall there being a gun-toting Irish mafia prick Julia Roberts had to seduce in that movie?”
“You’ve watchedPretty Woman?” Her tone drips with disbelief.
All good humor fades. Why does my ex keeping cropping up? Fuck this day. Can it seriously be over already? “Change the subject,” I grit out.
She drills me with a pensive look, like she’s trying to dig a hole in my head and extract my innermost thoughts. Her features soften a little, and I’m guessing she’s worked it out. I’m grateful she doesn’t articulate it. “How did you know what size to buy?”
“I called my mom, and she called yours.”
“You could have just asked me!” Her voice elevates a few notches. “I’m a grown-ass woman and a professional. You didn’t have to involve either of our mothers.”
“You were busy with Alexander, and it seemed easier to call Mom.”
