The Dating Plan(31)
“Daisy, who is this?” Deepa Rao, Layla’s cousin on her mother’s side, and second-in-command at the store, intercepted them between the salwar suits and the sherwanis.
“This is Liam.” She didn’t give his last name in case his identity got through to her father in Belize before she could share the big news that she was engaged to the man who had broken her heart. The Patel gossip mill worked faster than the Internet. “My . . .” She stumbled over the word. “Fiancé.”
Liam reached out to shake Deepa’s hand after Daisy introduced them, turning up his megawatt smile. Daisy bit back a laugh when his charm offensive didn’t produce the usual results. Deepa was resistant to anything except the sound of money.
“This must be the boy Salena told me about.” Deepa’s eyes glittered. “I was wondering when you’d be coming in to buy your wedding outfits.” She pulled out her tape measure and wrapped it around Liam’s chest.
Daisy felt a sudden irrational stab of jealousy as Deepa’s hands slid over Liam’s pecs. Why did Deepa get to touch him, and not her? “Actually, Deepa, he just needs a tux. He’s not—”
“I have the perfect outfit for you,” Deepa said, cutting Daisy off. “Quiet and understated, yet powerful and strong. It’s Burma ivory with Banarasi silk, yarn-dyed and hand-spun to create a soft and luxurious quilt. The Bengal-tiger buttons are circled with Japanese cultured pearls. Perfect for a man of your size and stature. It’s got a magnificent shawl made of the highest quality chikankari with a zardosi border. And, of course, you’ll want a sword.”
“Sword?” Liam brightened.
Deepa’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll go get a sample. I know the perfect one.”
“The sword won’t go down so well at city hall,” Daisy muttered under her breath. “They don’t think too highly of concealed weapons. You’ll probably get arrested. Although, I have to admit it sounds kind of exciting being married to a criminal.”
A maelstrom of emotions flickered across his face, and then they were gone. Moments later he was back to his teasing self. “I have a concealed weapon in my pocket I could show you,” he whispered.
“Don’t you dare . . .” She trailed off when he pulled a small penknife out of his pocket. Small and sleek, it had a wood inlay that had been worn smooth in the middle.
“My grandfather gave it to me when I was a boy.” His face softened and his eyes misted the tiniest bit. “I always keep it with me.”
She was touched by his fondness for his grandfather and the rare glimpse into his more serious side. “It’s a lovely memento.”
Deepa returned a few moments later holding up an exquisite sherwani, the material of the long, coatlike garment so soft and fine it glittered in the overhead light.
“It’s beautiful,” Liam said. “I’ll try it on.”
“I’ll get a pajama pant and shoes,” Deepa said.
“I didn’t bring you here to buy an expensive sherwani for a ten-minute civil ceremony,” Daisy said as they walked over to the changing room. “It was more for Layla and her relatives to see you so they could spread gossip about our engagement. You can just rent a tux.”
Liam’s jaw tightened. “It’s my fake wedding. I want to dress how I want to dress.”
Five minutes later, Liam was out and preening in front of the mirror. “How do I look? Amazing, right? Why do men always wear tuxes when they could wear something like this?” He waved Layla over. “Take a picture of us. Let’s see how we look together. We can use it for our fake dating portfolio.”
Daisy stood stiffly beside Liam for the picture, trying to resist the urge to run a hand over the hard biceps bulging beneath soft embroidered silk. With an exasperated grumble, Liam wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his side. He was warm and solid, his arm firm around her waist. Something inside her loosened and sighed.
“Don’t you look like the perfect fake couple.” Layla took the phone Liam offered. “I’ll try to take a picture before Liam runs away.” She managed to snap a few shots and glare at the same time.
“Don’t forget your sword.” Deepa returned with a curved thirty-five-inch sword in a decorated gold and red velvet scabbard, the handle of which depicted a golden leopard mid-roar. “This sword signifies the true glory of a king of the jungle who is brave, courageous, fearless, and protective of his family.”
Liam grinned. “It’s perfect.”
“She’s laying it on pretty thick,” Daisy whispered to Layla.
“It’s because she knew she had a sale the minute she said ‘sword.’” Layla shook her head in exasperation. “The same thing happened when I came here with Sam to try on shoes. He already had a wedding outfit, and yet the moment she said ‘sword,’ another five hundred dollars was gone. What is it with men and weapons?”
“The scabbard is ornamentally decorated to demonstrate masculine vigor.” Deepa pulled the sword from the sheath. “As you can see, the blade is beautifully etched with intricate designs.”
Liam took the blade, hefting it as if he were an expert swordsman. “It’s lighter than it looks.”
A sly smile spread across Deepa’s face. Daisy could almost hear the cash register ring. “If you want something larger and more substantial, I have just the thing.”