“But without a positive review, I don’t know how I’ll sell my collection.”
“A new opportunity will present itself,” he said. “You’re too talented not to have this collection snapped up.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said.
“I know I am,” he said.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jet said. “But the main buyer from Federated wants to speak to you.”
“Go on,” Alex said.
She started to walk away, but then turned around and came back over to him. “You look fabulous tonight. I was wrong to worry about you. I’m sorry.”
“I know I look good,” he said with a wink. “Apology accepted.”
She shook her head and walked away and Alex watched her work the room. There was something fascinating about seeing her in her element. They were definitely from different worlds, but he could see where he could help her out in this one. And he knew that she would help him as well. Already he had an idea about how to merge their two worlds in a fashion app that would be a nice complement to her new line and her new direction.
But Alex knew that he couldn’t hide behind his apps and games—the impression he made in the real world mattered, too. His conversation with that critic could have really hurt Fiona, and he was only lucky that it hadn’t.
He was too blunt to navigate her world gracefully. He had to figure out how to be a little more polished if he had any hope of being an asset to her. But pretending to be something he wasn’t . . . he wasn’t sure that was the way to win her heart. And he knew that was the only thing he wanted.
Chapter Seven
On Sunday morning, Alex opened the door of his parents’ house in Bridgehampton to Fiona and her family. Her mother—who was taller than both Fiona and her father—had her arm looped through her husband’s.
"Happy Mother's Day," he said by way of greeting. The film crew were setting up in the house where they'd be filming later. Alex was glad to have this moment to meet Fiona's parents untapped.
“You must be Alex,” she said. “I’m Siobhan and this is my husband, Neil. We’ve heard so much about you from Fiona.”
“All good I hope,” he said, stepping back so they could enter. Her parents stepped inside and when Fiona came close to him, Bella Ann held her arms out to him.
He reached over to take the little girl, dropping a kiss on her forehead before leaning over to give Fiona a kiss. “My parents are waiting for you in the conservatory along with the film crew. With the weather the way it is today, we decided an indoor brunch would be better.”
“Of course,” Siobhan said.
Alex handed Bella Ann back to Fiona and led the way to the conservatory. His mom and dad were waiting to meet Fiona’sparents. When his mom had heard he was dating a fashion designer and that her mom was a famous model, she’d joked that she’d really need to get dressed up to compete this Mother’s Day. Seeing his parents nervously standing there made him realize two things—how much he loved them for doing this for him and just how different he and Fiona were.
Was he really going to try to make this work with her? He felt as if he was losing his focus on this relationship. He’d thought once they had sex maybe the physical side of things wouldn’t be as demanding and he could concentrate on other parts of the relationship, but that hadn’t happened. She’d spent the night at his place in the city after her fashion show and he’d held her tightly all night, afraid to let her go.
And now she was here and he saw they were from completely different worlds, despite his success and wealth. His parents were dressed casually in Ralph Laurenwhile her parents looked like they’d just stepped off a jet from Milan. Yet when he caught Siobhan looking at Fiona, he saw the same love and concern he often observed in his own mother’s eyes.
Appearances aside, perhaps they weren’t that different after all.
Willow bustled into the room and made sure that everyone was ready to be filmed. Then stepped back and said, "Action!"
“Mr. and Mrs. McCaw, these are my parents Marlene and Dan Cannon.” Alex paused, then turned to Fiona and the baby and smiled. “Mom, Dad, this is Fiona and Bella Ann.”
Their parents starting talking among themselves. His dad took Neil McCaw over to the bar to mix drinks while his mom reached for Bella Ann.
“What a pretty baby. Can I hold her?” Marlene asked.
“Yes,” Fiona said.
The two moms—Fiona’s and Alex’s—walked away, chattering happily about babies. “My mom was so worried she’d have nothing to say to your mom.”
“Mine, too,” Fiona said.
“Why?”
