Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [115]
She hurriedly ripped off the heavy expensive wrapping paper on the packages and stared blissfully at her treasures. There was not only a handsome steward's uniform much like Simon's, but also several pairs of designer jeans, blouses, sweaters, a swimsuit, a nightgown, low-heeled shoes, and bras and panties. There was even a lavish makeup kit.
For the next twenty minutes Jane tried on everything that she had received, with a growing appreciation for the person who had ordered her new wardrobe. Everything fit perfectly. Someone had a very good eye, and she rather suspected that that someone was Jake Dominic. After all, he had probably had a lot of experience in buying clothing for his women.
When Jane finally donned the uniform, she was more than pleased with the result. The white polyester slacks were a perfect fit, as was the white turtle-neck blouse. The caramel-beige waist-length jacket gave her rather the appearance of a bellboy, but it also fit beautifully, and the color went well with her hair, she noticed, pleased. She added a touch of peach gloss to her lips and brushed her hair until it gleamed. It was amazing what a little lipstick could do for the morale. For the first time in nearly three weeks, she felt truly feminine.
No, not the first time, she thought, remembering that dizzying moment in Jake Dominic's cabin when she had felt more a woman than she had at any time in her life. She dismissed the thought firmly, and hurriedly put away her new things in the small teak chest before returning to the kitchen for her final instructions from Sam Brockmeyer.
Brockmeyer had informed her that unless Mr. Dominic had a large party of guests aboard, he preferred to have his meals served in the lounge. Though the surroundings were casual, Brockmeyer's table arrangements were not. It took Jane a full thirty minutes to set up the table in the elegant manner the chef felt his creations deserved, and then to transfer the meal in specially heated trays from the kitchen to the lounge. She then carefully chose a suitable bottle of wine from the wine rack behind the bar and moved briskly to stand beside the table.
Jake Dominic entered the lounge a few minutes later, and his brows shot up in amusement as he noted Jane's almost military stance. “For heaven's sake, relax! You make me feel like the prince in a comic opera.”
Jane shot him an indignant glance but remained at attention. He looked like a prince, she thought with a little tingle of awareness. The dark prince Lucifer dressed in fitted black jeans and a black long-sleeve sport shirt. Jane had not seen him since she had started her duties with Brockmeyer, and she stifled the unreasoning surge of pleasure at the sight of that dark face.
“I have my instructions, sir,” she said sedately, as he strolled to his chair. She was immediately behind it and ready to seat him.
He frowned threateningly. “You do that and I'll smack that pert little bottom, brat.”
Jane's face drooped with disappointment, but she obediently moved back to her former position and poured the wine with a little flourish. His crooked eyebrow rose mockingly as she uncovered the soup and set it carefully before him.
“You're overplaying it, Jane,” he said dryly, picking up his spoon. “Why don't you pull up a chair and join me?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, I couldn't,” she answered, shocked. “Mr. Brockmeyer would be positively furious.”
“And I will be equally furious if I have an attack of indigestion from all this hovering,” he said silkily. “Sit down!”
She reluctantly drew up a chair and perched on it gingerly, her face stormy. “You're not being fair. I'm only trying to do my duties properly,” she said. “You wouldn't invite Ralph to sit down and have lunch with you.”
“The same rules don't apply,” he said coolly. “I wouldn't threaten to smack Ralph's bottom, either.” Ignoring her sudden rush of color, he commented casually, “That uniform fits very well. I thought it would.”
This confirmed her