The Claiming of Sadie Graves Read Free Page B

arm, like he doesn’t intend to stay long. I scan his hands for a wedding ring, but don’t see one. Everything about him looks well controlled, well exercised and wealthy. He looks bored. And he’s sexy as homemade sin.
    Ugh! Sadie. Did you really think that? Get a grip on yourself.  Focus!
    And so, I do. “Good afternoon. I’m Sadie Graves. ” I acknowledge my colleague. “This is Lottie Perkins. We’re both Anna’s assistants, but I’ll be supporting you in your fitting today, Miss Emery. Ms. Rosenstein will be along in just a moment. Will you please follow me to the fitting area?”
    “Oh, hullo”, Violet says without emotion. “This is Lucas Sutton. He’ll be approving my outfit today.”
    “Okay, great”, I manage to get out. Since when does your boyfriend approve your outfits, I think uncharitably. Doesn’t your agent just tell you what to wear? Both of them begin to follow me to the back of the building, where most of the couture is created and fitted on live models.
    On the way back, I lead them past row after row of seductive lingerie in every color of the rainbow. Anna gave my designs their own area of the atelier, after the first order sold out completely in two weeks. Lucas says something low under his breath to Violet that I can’t hear. That’s too bad, because I’m listening for all I’m worth. We keep moving forward, though, intent on reaching Anna’s inner sanctum. 
    Lottie fades back toward the staff offices, and I wave a hand at her, letting her know it’s okay – I’ve got this. I hear the couple behind me sniggering slightly. “Did you have a question?” I ask, turning around to look at Violet Emery. “No, I was just laughing because Lucas has a dog named Sadie”, she says with a saccharin smile. “I was thinking…how fitting…” she trails off, smirking at her own joke.
    I whip my head forward without responding, flushing bright red. Of course; of course. I would do anything to be able to control my body language right now, but turning crimson is one of my signature moves. I’m mortified. The most beautiful man and woman in America are comparing me to a dog. Ugh. I want to crawl under a piece of furniture. I know I’m no beauty queen, but it hurts to be made fun of by someone you were just thinking you’d like to impress. I immediately try to disconnect my feelings; hoping tears don’t spring to my eyes and embarrass me any more than I already am.
    I continue walking straight ahead and keep my head held high. Lucas Sutton clears his throat uncomfortably. Shit . I hope I don’t look too flustered when Anna sweeps in – which she does right when we enter the back of the house. She takes one look at my face, and hers becomes super-composed.
    She ’s worked with me long enough, and we’re close enough; she knows I’m rattled, and she steps in, socially adept as ever, to pick up my slack. While she’s meeting Violet and her escort, I step over to the side to get a wrist pincushion and a tape measure, and drape it around my neck. I retrieve the dress to be used in the shoot, and look it over with an appraising eye. It’s going to be a slam-dunk, even if this girl is a complete bitch. And I get it now; sure I do. She’s out to make every other woman look like crap in front of her man, even a woman as inferior as me. Ha ! Me; miss nobody fashion assistant. I feel a headache coming on, but I roll my shoulders in an attempt to move on, and take her the dress. I show her to the dressing room, and tell her where to stand when she’s changed. I approach the dais and mirror, drop to my knees, and prepare to adjust Violet’s hem when she comes out.
    “You must be Bain Sutton’s son; you look a lot like him” Anna says directly to Lucas, her eyes appraising. She is tempted to put on her cheaters, I know, which hang from a beaded chain around her neck. But she doesn’t.
    “Why yes, I am. Do you know my father well?” he asks, one eyebrow raised. “No, but we’ve met