Shopping With the Enemy Read Online Free Page A

skirt, puffed out with netting, which looked as if it had been cleverly created from a 1950s curtain.
    A pair of earrings in the style of large, boiled sweets dangled from her lobes.
    ‘Wow!’ Lana laughed, ‘brilliant!’
    Once again, her own attempt at a fashion-forward outfit faded into the background. But she didn’t feel jealous, just in awe, because it was impossible not to love Gracie.
    ‘Please tell me you have more of that skirt material,’ Elena said. ‘Maybe we can make dresses from it.’
    Gracie shook her head: ‘Found it in a trash can. But what’s to stop us creating a totally awesome pattern inspired by it?’
    Her eyes flashed with enthusiasm. She darted over to her desk, set down her shiny tote bag and pulled out her notebook, a fuzzy blue pencil case, scraps of paper, magazine snippings, then a foil package which Lana knew would be a wheat-free bagel filled with tofu and vegetables.
    ‘Have you heard of Parker Bain?’ Gracie asked, opening her notebook and unzipping the pencil case.
    Elena and Lana shook their heads.
    ‘He is uh-mazing,’ Gracie said, closing her eyes and stretching her fingers wide to make the point. ‘He’s this totally cool graphic artist, young, like … fresh out of college, but his work is so strong, so distinctive that he’s already got magazine commissions and I was thinking maybe we could ask him to design some fabrics for us.’
    ‘Our own fabrics?’ Elena asked. ‘This will be too expensive, no?’
    ‘I don’t know, I thought if we kept to one or two colours, found a small factory … I guess I wanted to ask him for ideas. Then we get costings and see what might be possible. I mean: our own patterns – that would be really something. Get us talked about, get us noticed. And Parker Bain, he’s on the radar, he’s the really cool, edgy, out there kinda guy we could team up with to make a splash.’
    Elena’s eyebrows were raised, she was obviously considering the idea.
    ‘Sounds cool,’ Lana agreed.
    ‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Gracie went on, ‘but I’ve kind of asked him to come up and see us. Like … this morning … like in fact kind of … now.’
    ‘Now?’ Elena frowned.
    ‘I checked your diary and knew you didn’t have anything scheduled till 9.30. Plus, I just think you’re going to love him. He’s seriously cool and more than a little bit handsome.’
    Lana gave a snort.
    Elena looked stern: ‘This is why you want him to work with us?’
    ‘No!’ Gracie protested, ‘I love this company, I would only suggest someone if I thought they were fabulous.’
    ‘OK, OK, we will speak to Mr Bain for a few minutes,’ Elena agreed then turned back to her computer screen.
    After that, everyone was busy. Lana and Elena made fresh calls, Gracie began a new sketch, colouring in energetically, then the intercom buzzed and Gracie jumped up from her chair to answer.
    ‘Whoa, this is cosy!’ Parker Bain stepped into the office then manoeuvred himself and his bag into the only available space in between the three desks.
    Elena smiled, Gracie grinned and Lana found herself looking hard at Parker Bain and agreeing completely with Gracie that he was more than a little bit handsome.
    Parker was tall and thin with long arms and legs. His black jeans and dark striped shirt were tight, making him look even longer and thinner. He was that heady cocktail of both cute and cool.
    His hair was inky black and just the right mix of short but tousled, and his skin was a soft, light olive. He had a beautiful mouth, beautiful hands with long fingers. Even the battered leather bag slung over his shoulder was the kind of bag that looked vintage and just right – as if it had been taken up mountains and lashed with rain.
    ‘Hi, I’m Parker, by the way,’ he said in a husky voice, ‘Gracie asked me to come over because you might like to talk about designs … which is totally great, by the way. I love fabric designs. I am all about fabric designs.’
    As he