Stubborn Love - A Contemporary Romance: Falling for Him (Falling for Him Contemporary Romance Series Book 6) Read Free Page B

had more than his share of beautiful women. In his profession as designer and recent founder of a new and trendy fashion label didn’t pass a day where they weren’t throwing themselves into his arms.
    The models who wanted to be discovered. The young designer aspirants who wanted to work for him. Shoot, even the young and old society ladies who adored him for making them look their best. Their attentions had been unwavering and were growing old.
    He’d never had a shortage of women wanting to sleep with him. And he’d taken what was offered. What red-blooded male wouldn’t? But after over ten years in the business, he’d grown tired of empty and meaningless sex.
    After a few disappointments with girls who just used him to gain fame, he’d made it a rule to never again have a fling with someone who worked for him. Business and sex just didn’t mix well.  Especially in an industry where sex was used like a piece of clothing. It was readily donned, each and every day, in an effort to sell something to a public that otherwise might not be interested in buying!
    After crying off those meaningless relationships, he’d spent a considerable amount of time trying to find someone to share life with. But in the fashion industry, it was next to impossible to find real and genuine people. I guess that’s what I love about Clara! She’s authentic and true in everything she does and says.
    “Sir, if you please fasten your seatbelt, the pilot has announced we’re ready for take off.”
    He’d been so absorbed in his thoughts; he hadn’t even heard the announcement. Now he nodded his compliance to the stewardess, latched the seatbelt low across his lap and looked out the window.
    Sometimes he envied his good friend and former mentor Sara Newsom. She’d married Gordon Shaw years earlier, but still used her maiden name for business reasons. As he watched the tarmac move by, he realized he was jealous of her. She’d found true love with her current husband and whenever they got together, he witnessed them exchange looks like freshly in love teenagers. Even though they’d been married for more than a decade now. That’s what I want! A relationship that will last longer than this season’s current trends. A lifetime.
    His last conversation with Sara came to mind and he remembered that they had scheduled a meeting in two days. He’d told her he was looking for an assistant designer for his new women’s line. He was stepping out and breaking the mold. His new line would be designed for the real and curvy woman, not for the skinny model types. A woman built like Clara! She’d make a perfect model for what I have in mind, if she was a bit taller . 
    Sara had been her ever-helpful self, mentioning a friend of her new acquired daughter-in-law. She had an amazing eye for talented people and Nigel looked forward to meeting that young woman. If anyone else had suggested he meet with a completely unknown and inexperienced designer, he’d have laughed in their face. But since Sara had mentioned her, he was willing to take the risk. He trusted her opinion, and if the young woman had impressed Sara, he prepared to be blown away!

Chapter 5
     
    Clara waited anxiously in the line of other passengers to board the plane. It’s happening! I’m heading to New York City! Her disappointment at having her time with Nigel cut short couldn’t dampen her excitement. Going to New York was every designer’s dream, and she had a leg up on the rest of the competition. 
    Sara Shaw, the mother-in-law of her roommate’s best friend Rachel had invited her to New York City!
    She stowed her bag beneath the seat in front of her, squirming in the less-than-roomy seat to afford the other passenger seated in her row a few extra inches of space. She thought back to the day when Rachel had told her who her mother-in-law was and giggled. Her fellow passenger gave her a sidelong glance, but then turned his attention back to the book in his hands.
    The