No one he knew moved in the world of high fashion except for Fiona, and she’d called him earlier to tell him she’d be busy backstage until after the show. He didn’t know what he was doing here except that this was part of her world and he wanted to know what it was like.
This was another side of the woman he was starting to care for and he needed to understandit.
He found his seat in the second row, which afforded him a great view of the catwalk.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Nichole Reynolds said as she sat down next to him.
“This isn’t my usual scene,” he said.
“I gathered as much. I’ve been to a few of Fiona’s shows,” Nichole said. “Are you familiar with her work?”
“Not at all.”
“Then it’s good you’re here,” she said. “Is this being filmed forSexy & Single?”
“Not my part. I didn't tell them I was coming. They might be filming Fiona backstage.”
“I’d better go have a look around back there. Have fun,” Nichole said as she left.
The fashion show started a few minutes later and Alex had to admit that Fiona’s clothing was as beautiful as he expected. There was a wonderful accessibility to her fashions and he could easily see Fiona in the designs. They were light and whimsical, just like her.
“Well, it’s clear having a baby has sapped all her creativity. These dresses are so . . . plebian,” the man behind him said.
Alex glanced over his shoulder at the man. “There is something comforting in these designs. They’re going to appeal to a lot of people.”
“That’s the problem.”
“I don’t see how making a product that’s going to sell is a problem,” Alex said. “I think you might be a little out of touch with reality, pal.”
“Who are you?” the man asked.
“Alex Cannon. You?”
“Fernando Martinez, fashion critic,” he said. “Everyone likes what I tell them to like.”
“I’ve never heard of you so I’m not sure thateveryonelistens to you,” Alex said. What a jerk this guy was. He wondered how Fiona could stand having someone like this at her launch.
Everyone was standing up and Alex did as well. He was through with the conversation with Fernando anyway.
“I saw you talking to Fernando Martinez just now. What did you say to him?” Fiona asked as she came up to him.
“Nothing. I just told him his opinion was worth squat. Your collection was surprising. I loved it,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the cheek.
“What?”
“I loved it.”
“No, what did you say to Fernando?”
“He called your work ‘plebian.’ I don’t think he understands who you are.”
“This is the worst,” Fiona said. Her assistant was fanning her with a program and everyone around her started talking at once.
Alex just took her hand and drew her out of the crowd. When the others moved to follow, he held his hand up to keep them at bay. “You said this was a new direction for you. As a mom, you don’t have time to design haute couture. It’s not practical for you. This direction might not be one you had anticipated, but it’s your direction. This change is where you’re going whether you expected it or not.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “I knew it wasn’t as highbrow as some of my other collections, but it’s hard to think of anything other than Bella Ann these days. And in these clothes I can hold her and play with her.”
“That’s precisely what it’s meant to be,” he said.
