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Chapter Nine

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“He could leave marks on me anytime. I’d bring the stick!” – Lt. Kitty Lawrence

I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE

Izzy

I settled back against the plush leather of the private airplane seat. Shane had offered the entire fleet of Mod Appeal’s private jets for our use this weekend to get all our personnel and equipment to Colorado as easily as possible. That way we didn’t have to worry about cancellations through the airlines with the monster winter storm headed into the region.

Smiling to myself, I took a deep breath and sank deeper into the leather. I could get used to this. I glanced over to where Shane stood talking to the plane steward. He noticed my attention and winked at me, sending my stomach fluttering. If I handled this campaign and impressed Shane, this luxury could be my life in the future.

While I’d grown up in a wealthy family, this was so much more than I was used to. I liked it, even if I knew this world had its serious downfalls, too...just ask my mother who was now living in a commune in New Mexico to ‘detox her chakras from decades of over-indulgence’. Her words, not mine.

But from what I’d seen this week, Shane Humphries was not the same type of man as my father. First, he didn’t flaunt his power and control. Yes, he had the personality that made it obvious he was a guy who was used to getting what he wanted, but he was always inherently polite to everyone who worked for him. He also wasn’t afraid to listen to alternative ideas. His wasn’t the only way to approach the world, even in his world of marketing. It was impressive.

I shook my head. I was getting way ahead of myself. Before I could think about having Shane or this lifestyle permanently, I needed to focus on nailing this campaign. To that end, I pulled out my iPad and the scenes I’d saved from Bundle of Joy and That Touch of Mink.

I was halfway through my favorite scene in Bundle of Joy when Leo sank into the empty seat beside me.

“You’re smiling. What are you watching?”

I took out one of my ear buds and offered it to him. “I’m researching.” I gestured at the screen. “I couldn’t work out the details where we could do this exact thing with the photo shoot, but this is the feeling I want exuded to the Mod customer with this campaign.”

I restarted the scene and Leo watched it silently with me.

When it ended, I stopped the video and asked. “Well, what did you think?”

He frowned. “Um, maybe I need more context. I don’t think I’ve seen this movie.”

I gasped. “I haven’t made you watch Bundle of Joy? Oh, my god. We will fix that when we get back to Austin. Bundle of Joy is where Princess Leia is from.”

Leo snorted and gave me a disbelieving look. “Okay, I need an explanation of that.” But then the light bulb appeared above his head. “Wait. That was Eddie Fisher in the scene...and Debbie Reynolds,” he added slowly.

I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, this is the only movie they ever did together. They weren’t married long, but this was in the first year of their marriage and, even though they hid it well, Debbie Reynolds is pregnant with Carrie throughout the movie. I love that about it. Plus, I just really love the movie.”

“Okay,” he said. “While I admit the world was a better place for having Carrie Fisher conceived,” he laughed low, “I still don’t see what this scene has to do with us this week. It looked to me like he was dressing her up. I don’t think we’re telling women they should change for their man, are we?”

“No. Absolutely not. That’s not what this scene is. In this movie, Debbie Fisher’s character is a single mother...” I shook my head because the details of how that happened in this movie weren’t important right now and I didn’t want to spoil the joy of watching it for Leo the first time. “That’s not the point. The point is, he doesn’t want to change her. He wants her to feel like a queen, and nothing can do that better than a new outfit that looks custom made just for her.

“This is the message I want to exude with this campaign...that the right outfit can make any woman feel like she can conquer the world, one perfect accessory at a time. It’s the feeling we all get when we know we look good...beautiful, in control of our own destiny, powerful.”

He got a funny look on his face, like he wasn’t getting it.

“If I could have my way, I would give every woman this feeling for Christmas. For Doris Day, it was That Touch of Mink that’s in the title of that movie. The coat Cary Grant gave her made her feel in control and self-confident, and you can note that is a scene very similar to this one where she’s getting an all-new wardrobe and the whole being-pampered montage. For us, it will be That Touch of Holiday Magic...Mod Appeal for the Season.”

My eyes widened, and I scrambled for my planner. “That’s it. That’s our campaign slogan.”

I fumbled with my fountain pen, and Leo saved it from flying to the floor. He handed it to me slowly, watching me carefully as he shook his head. “You don’t need new clothes to make you beautiful.” His tone was so serious and thoughtful. “You just need this, this passion that makes your eyes sparkle over a new idea, when your face lights up because you know you’ve hit on the perfect slogan.”

I shivered and stilled as he handed me my pen, his fingers brushing mine slowly, deliberately. My gaze flew to his, and there was some sort of look in his eye that made my stomach clench. I didn’t know what it meant. I couldn’t read him.

There had been a lot of moments like this between us lately. Leo was acting weird, and I didn’t know what to do with that. Maybe I was just too wound up in making sure everything was perfect with this campaign and it made me extra sensitive to his mood swings.

I cleared my throat. “Thank you.” Those two words seemed so insignificant with the power of what he’d just said to me.

My BFF knew how to make a girl feel amazing.

He shrugged and refocused on the screen of my iPad. “You know, us mere mortals can’t afford to dress a woman in couture just so she feels good. We have to show her in other ways.”

“Of course. That’s the point I’m trying to make. Mod Appeal’s clothing line can bring this kind of magic to anyone’s life. It’s about feeling good in one’s own skin. In fact, if we sell this right, this theme can go past the holidays and through New Year with resolutions and such.”

I thought for a moment and began scribbling ideas in my planner. “Let the outside reflect the confidence you feel on the inside. Something like that for the long-term slogan.” I tapped the capped end of my pen to my lips as I considered it.

“You’ll figure it out, Iz. You always do. That’s why you’re the best in the business. Mod Appeal will see it and so will your dad.”

I reached and grabbed Leo’s hand. “You’re good for a girl’s ego. Almost as good as a personal fashion show.”

Leo chuckled. “I do what I can.”

We shared a smile, and once again, I was so thankful to have his support. I couldn’t do any of this without Leo.

But before I could tell him that, Shane stepped up carrying two champagne glasses. He raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re not still working, are you?”

My insides fizzled, just like the bubbles in the glasses he held. “You didn’t give me much time to organize all this. I’m just smoothing over some details with Leo.”

“Well, as the client on this, I’m demanding your devoted attention for the rest of this flight. We need to celebrate our new partnership.”

I pressed a hand to my chest, where my heart raced. “Aww.” I melted more than just a little at that.

“Okay,” Leo grunted as he stood. “That’s my cue to leave. You all have fun...or whatever.”

Leo left, but all I could see was the pleased smile and that adorable dimple on Shane’s face.

Happy sigh.

Wow, he really was gorgeous.