Page 109 of Ghostly

The studio was almost empty when Gabriel entered—weren’t such places always?—save for an assistant, going over a lookbook with a client, and another woman, checking out the clothes.

“No, Giorgio, they donotmatch.” The rapid clicking of heels preceded Wynona as she appeared from behind a fake bamboo wall separator. She cinched her phone with her shoulder while she spread a piece of paper. “Ihave the brochure from Pitti Filati right here, and these are not the knits I ordered. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Well, you tell him that. And be firm!” She slammed the phone on the table and turned, her disposition changing in a second. “Babe! You came!”

She strolled up to Gabriel and kissed him on his cheek.

Twenty-three. Nothing.

“Something causing you trouble?” he asked.

“Nothing you should worry about.” She needlessly smoothed his hair; he resisted the urge to shake her off. “I’m so glad you came. And you’re just in time, too!” She looked past his shoulder.

“Just in time for—”

“Come on in, guys!” Wynona put on a friendly smile and waved.

Gabriel followed her gaze to a group of people, armed with cameras and phones, and his blood froze.

Reporters.

Would this never end?

“Don’t worry, babe, they’re only here for an interview with me.” Wynona tapped his shoulder and, arms spread in welcome, walked to the reporters. Gabriel gripped the edge of the table and breathed to calm down.

No suchthing as bad publicity.

They’d notice him—or Wynona would make them notice him—but it was all a part of the plan.

Be friendly, normal, and soon, you won’t beinteresting to them anymore.

“And this is from our newest collection…” Wynona moved to one of the display racks, the group following her around like sheep.

Gabriel tried to distract himself by sifting through a catalog on the table. That wasn’t a bad jacket—dark blue with a silver leaf pattern.

“Of course, you already know the man behind the woman.” Wynona laughed her perfect laugh as she led the reporters to Gabriel and looped her arm around his.

Gabriel put on a smile and turned to the vultures. “Ms. Ensfield is selling herself short. She’s perfectly capable of taking care of everything on her own.”

“Though he is currently wearing one of my new shirts.”

Gabriel shook his head in a comical “you got me” manner. “Shameless promotion.”

“And when are you two getting married?” A reporter shot.

Gabriel froze in the middle of a smile. “Mar—”

“I’m so sorry, darling. I may have slipped with the news of our engagement,” Wynona said.

Engagement?His chest tightened. They’d never spoken about this. Right? Had he been more out of it these past few weeks than he thought? Beads of sweat dripped down his back as the reporters bombarded them with questions.

“Tell us how you proposed, Mr. Vane!”

“Is it going to be a big wedding?”

“Are you thinking of inviting your ex-husband?”

Wynona’s hand landed on his back, jolting him to reality. “We, uh, would prefer to keep the details to ourselves for now,” Gabriel said after he shared a look with her. “But you’ll be notified of everything in due course.” He waited for the reporters to nod and get busy with their recordings, then, behind gritted teeth, said to Wynona, “You didn’t tell me of any of this,fiancée.”

“Sorry,” she returned in the same manner. She didn’t sound nearly as regretful as she should, though. “But they started hinting, and it’s bound to happen anyway, isn’t it?”