DESIGN FOR LOVE Read Online Free PDF Page B

patted her shoulder affectionately.
    “I’m sure she will,” Francine replied. “But even so, I’ll call you at least twice a day while I’m gone.”
    Mrs.‘T’ smiled. “Now, why doesn’t that surprise me? So, off you go - show them Yankees how it’s done!”
    Francine smiled. “I’ll try, believe me!”
    After checking in all their collection of baggage at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Francine and Vince settled down for a wine cooler in the bar close to their departure gate. Vince brought the drinks to the table and with Francine sitting with her back to the corridor going past, she turned in surprise at a familiar but unwelcome voice behind her.
    “Miss Dubois! Are you sure you’re not following me?” she turned to see Gerard Cinclare, Jeri as usual on his arm, the latter looking stunning in a tight-fitting pale green pant suit.
    Francine quickly recovered from the surprise, venom, or as close to venom as she could manage at two seconds notice, creeping into her voice. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Cinclare,” she countered. “This is a big airport, used by many people and though you may find it hard to believe, not every woman here is a member of the Gerard Cinclare Fan Club!”
    Jeri grinned. “Touché! I’m Jeri, good for you, Francine!” Gerard held up his hand in surrender. “Yes, touché. Let me guess, you’re heading for New York?”
    There was still a chill in Francine’s reply. “As a matter of fact we are. Please make my day and tell me that you and Jeri are heading elsewhere?”
    He grinned disarmingly, causing yet another unexplained flutter somewhere in the region of Francine’s rib cage. “Sorry to disappoint you, but yes, we’re heading for the New York Show. Let me guess, you and the acrobatic models will also be there?”
    There was a friendly smile on Jeri’s face as she seemed to be looking affectionately at Francine but a little more than tolerantly at Gerard. “Take no notice of him, Francine. I’m glad you’ll be in New York and I hope things go well for you.”
    Try as she may, Francine could not help liking the tall, lovely blonde. She managed a smile. “Thanks, I hope to see you there,” and turning a scathing glance in Gerard’s direction, she quickly added. “Pity you’ll have some excess baggage with you!”
    Gerard seemed undeterred. He waved over the waitress and ordered two glasses of Chardonnay before fixing Francine with what Stella would probably have called his ‘serious Greek God look’.
    “I see you’re still a little touchy, Francine - but I’ll tell you what I’m prepared to do.”
    “You mean you’ll stay behind in Dallas?” the words almost tripped flippantly off her tongue.
    He shrugged, still semi-serious. “You, in turn, may find this hard to believe, but there are other designers in New York and it is highly likely that I will be ordering some of their creations!”
    She looked him straight in the eye. “You don’t say!”
    He continued unabated. “And what I was about to say was that the moment your creations look as though they will fit into my purchasing scenario, I promise you I will be placing orders.”
    Francine was so mad with him at this stage that she could have cared less if he never placed an order. “Be still my heart!” was all she could manage as she finished her drink with one slurp and motioned to the open-mouthed Vince that they were leaving.
    From the moment the confrontation between Gerard and Francine had started, Vince had been staring unwinkingly at Gerard, the latter looking casually chic in black dress slacks and a crisply-laundered golf shirt.
    “Goodbye, Jeri,” Francine hissed as she dragged the unwilling Vince from the bar. “Mr. Cinclare!” was all she could whisper as they left the smiling Gerard behind, Jeri quietly punching his arm.
    As they walked towards the departure gate, Vince was smiling at Francine. “My God, Princess, the guy’s gorgeous! But of course, you’ve already figured