Chapter 12

Alex Drake probably knew more about ladies clothing than he should. As he handed her yet another tasteful ensemble, this one comprised of a blush-pink charmeuse cocktail dress, open toed pumps and a beaded clutch to match, Janna wondered where he'd gained his expertise.

"You're really good at this," she told him, her astonishment audible.

His smile was devilishly charming. "Lots of practice."

"And how does one get so much practice dressing women?"

"There's an art to making someone look expensive. I had to learn it myself."

"That might explain why you're such a snazzy dresser, but not why you'd know so much about women's clothing."
His gray eyes showed surprise at her logic. It looked like he was debating his answer, and then he gave her a wry smile. "You're quite a gem, do you know that? Nothing's getting past you."
"And you still haven't answered my question."

"I have six sisters."

"What?" It was her turn to look shocked.

"I'm the only boy with six sisters. We were poor growing up, and I mean dirt poor. My mother sewed almost everything we owned, and when I was fifteen, she died. I took over the sewing duties, with the help of the next eldest, Patti. I guess that's where I learned about color matching, materials, and which cuts flatter which type of woman. Patti had an athletic build like yours, and the youngest sister in the bunch, Ruth Anne, she had a carrot top too. Put them together, and it's close enough to your build and coloring to suit."

Janna couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew Alex was wealthy, his presence at the fundraiser had confirmed that. But she hadn't realized that he'd built his fortune on his own, apparently rising from the poorest of circumstances to the heights of high society. She wondered why Brice considered him so dangerous.

Looking into the mirror, she realized that he did have impeccable instincts. The outfit looked as if it had been made for her. Then she glanced at the price tag and realized why it wasn't.

"Do you ever get past the sticker shock?"

She saw an amused twinkle light up his steely eyes, and he gave a short bark of laughter. "I'd like to say 'yes,' but even though I've got more money than I could physically count in my lifetime, a part of me still cringes when I see how much some of this shit costs."

Janna sighed. Sometimes it was too overwhelming when she thought of the gulf between Brice's world and her own. She studied the polished man before her, his outward appearance dark and mysterious, but he'd been completely open with her since their conversation on the dance floor last night. Despite Brice's estimation of his old college rival, Janna saw Alex in a different light. He didn't seem like he was trying to manipulate her, only trying to help her fit in. Time to repay his openness with some of her own.

"You were right about my dress last night." Alex's expression remained impassive, but she thought she saw a light in his silver eyes. "It was a discount bridesmaids dress. I knew it probably wouldn't be suitable when I bought it, but I didn't know what else to do. Brice gave his driver a list of stores so expensive their names are all unpronounceable, shoved his credit card in my hand, and bid me farewell. But I don't feel comfortable spending Brice's money. Especially when the press, and jaded harpies like Donna Goddard, have no problem calling me a gold digger. So I panicked and bought what I could afford."

Alex smile softened. "I'd figured as much. Like I tried to tell you last night, you're not Brice's usual arm candy. You've got sense, and class. Not the polished, brittle class of women like Donna Goddard. True elegance has nothing to do with the size of your bank account."

Janna blushed and mumbled thanks before fleeing back to the changing room to put on her own outfit; the dress Brice had given her on his award-winning date. It was so confusing. Where did she draw the line on Brice's generosity? How much was okay to accept? Why did she feel okay about wearing this dress when she couldn't buy an evening gown, and both would have probably been purchased by the same glossy black credit card? It was too confusing to figure out, even before she added in the Alex Drake variable, the polite southern nouveau riche gentleman who Brice distrusted enough to argue about.

Returning to the sales floor, Janna handed the outfit back to Alex. "It's beautiful, but I can't afford it."

Alex nodded, returned his selections to the sales clerk, then took Janna's elbow to guide her out of the boutique and back into the street. "How about some lunch?"