Read Online Recaptured Dreams by Justine Dell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Justine Dell
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seconds.
“Destinies aren’t set in stone—they are made,” he said.
A flutter of uncertainty settled in Sophia’s chest. His words…it was almost as if he knew what inner demons she fought.
“This charity gives the children what they need. Now it’s up to you to support that. XS proudly presents this piece for that purpose.”
A model, refreshingly curvy, strode onto the stage wearing the most marvelous dress Sophia had ever seen.
It was long and flowing with ease as the woman glided across the stage. The top, gleaming white, hugged her like a second skin. Capped sleeves and a sweetheart bustline looked bubbly, almost like silk clouds. It was cinched at the waist and cascaded down to a sparkling, magnificent blue skirt. The transition from white to blue was effortless, like it melded where they met. And Sophia was certain she’d never seen that shade of blue, so bright and glittering, in any painting or anywhere. The fabric folded and swished with each step…just like waves in the sea.
The sea.
Sophia felt a splash of spray on her face. The taste of salt on her tongue. The warmth of a man’s embrace.
Her eyes slid to Xavier, who now stood slightly off-stage with a hint of apprehension creasing his masculine features. He stared at her, then at his creation. Smiling briefly, frown lines wrinkled his tanned forehead, and he glanced once more at Sophia, locking her in her seat. There was so little space between them, but something told Sophia that a lot more than physical distance separated her and Xavier. A lifetime of differences.
“It’s beautiful.” Ann Marie’s voice floated into Sophia’s senses.
She snapped out of her trance. “Uh? What?” Her heart was pounding. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”
“The dress.” Anne Marie nodded in its direction. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yes.” Her voice held a hint of a quiver.
“It reminds me of the sea.”
Sophia’s whole body went numb. “The sea?”
“Yes, darling. The sea. Look at it. The colors, the waves, the movement. It was clearly meant to portray the untouchable beauty of the ocean. Can’t you see it?”
She nodded quickly. Of course she could see it. A little too well.
“He’s exceptional, you know,” Anne Marie said quietly.
Sophia sat up straighter. “Who?”
“Xavier. Creating this dress is like a dream—a fantasy come to life. Wearing it would be like wearing the unpredictability of the ocean. I’ve never seen a designer who is able to capture life in a dress, Sophia.”
“Yes.” The answer was no more than a whisper because Sophia had lost her breath. Xavier captured life in his creations. Life that she could reach out and actually touch. A life that, until now, she hadn’t realized she craved. He was practically in her head and knew all of her dreams…all of her needs.
No. Not possible.
He was just brilliant. A million other women probably felt the same thing about his clothes. And a million other women probably swooned over him, too. Just like she was doing.
“Look at him.” Anne Marie nudged Sophia’s arm, and Sophia followed her gaze across the room to Xavier. “So strong, yet so vulnerable. Can you see it?”
Yes. Sophia saw more with Xavier than she’d ever hoped to see. A hint of something—a feeling—she’d never felt before. And it terrified her.
“He’s such a successful man,” Anne Marie continued. “He creates masterpieces with cloth and does philanthropy work as well. But look at him. Why does he always look so upset?”
Sophia tapped her fingers on the table. She took a hard look at Xavier. He was no longer staring at her, thank God, but now all his energy and emotions were focused on that dress. He watched it float across the stage, seeming to look through it, perhaps remembering something about its inception. His facial expressions changed every two seconds—from joy to sadness, from anger to hopefulness.
Sophia and Anne Marie both watched in astonishment as Xavier then
“Destinies aren’t set in stone—they are made,” he said.
A flutter of uncertainty settled in Sophia’s chest. His words…it was almost as if he knew what inner demons she fought.
“This charity gives the children what they need. Now it’s up to you to support that. XS proudly presents this piece for that purpose.”
A model, refreshingly curvy, strode onto the stage wearing the most marvelous dress Sophia had ever seen.
It was long and flowing with ease as the woman glided across the stage. The top, gleaming white, hugged her like a second skin. Capped sleeves and a sweetheart bustline looked bubbly, almost like silk clouds. It was cinched at the waist and cascaded down to a sparkling, magnificent blue skirt. The transition from white to blue was effortless, like it melded where they met. And Sophia was certain she’d never seen that shade of blue, so bright and glittering, in any painting or anywhere. The fabric folded and swished with each step…just like waves in the sea.
The sea.
Sophia felt a splash of spray on her face. The taste of salt on her tongue. The warmth of a man’s embrace.
Her eyes slid to Xavier, who now stood slightly off-stage with a hint of apprehension creasing his masculine features. He stared at her, then at his creation. Smiling briefly, frown lines wrinkled his tanned forehead, and he glanced once more at Sophia, locking her in her seat. There was so little space between them, but something told Sophia that a lot more than physical distance separated her and Xavier. A lifetime of differences.
“It’s beautiful.” Ann Marie’s voice floated into Sophia’s senses.
She snapped out of her trance. “Uh? What?” Her heart was pounding. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”
“The dress.” Anne Marie nodded in its direction. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yes.” Her voice held a hint of a quiver.
“It reminds me of the sea.”
Sophia’s whole body went numb. “The sea?”
“Yes, darling. The sea. Look at it. The colors, the waves, the movement. It was clearly meant to portray the untouchable beauty of the ocean. Can’t you see it?”
She nodded quickly. Of course she could see it. A little too well.
“He’s exceptional, you know,” Anne Marie said quietly.
Sophia sat up straighter. “Who?”
“Xavier. Creating this dress is like a dream—a fantasy come to life. Wearing it would be like wearing the unpredictability of the ocean. I’ve never seen a designer who is able to capture life in a dress, Sophia.”
“Yes.” The answer was no more than a whisper because Sophia had lost her breath. Xavier captured life in his creations. Life that she could reach out and actually touch. A life that, until now, she hadn’t realized she craved. He was practically in her head and knew all of her dreams…all of her needs.
No. Not possible.
He was just brilliant. A million other women probably felt the same thing about his clothes. And a million other women probably swooned over him, too. Just like she was doing.
“Look at him.” Anne Marie nudged Sophia’s arm, and Sophia followed her gaze across the room to Xavier. “So strong, yet so vulnerable. Can you see it?”
Yes. Sophia saw more with Xavier than she’d ever hoped to see. A hint of something—a feeling—she’d never felt before. And it terrified her.
“He’s such a successful man,” Anne Marie continued. “He creates masterpieces with cloth and does philanthropy work as well. But look at him. Why does he always look so upset?”
Sophia tapped her fingers on the table. She took a hard look at Xavier. He was no longer staring at her, thank God, but now all his energy and emotions were focused on that dress. He watched it float across the stage, seeming to look through it, perhaps remembering something about its inception. His facial expressions changed every two seconds—from joy to sadness, from anger to hopefulness.
Sophia and Anne Marie both watched in astonishment as Xavier then
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