1100 Local
Phillipe's
London, England
The moment Mac stepped into the shop she could feel the energy. One one side of the shop tens of divine dresses shone on the racks and on display. They came in every fabric, color and style imaginable. On the other side were suits, tuxedos, and formal kilts, all of them meticulously made and matched. Harm knew he was walking into a man's worst nightmare.
"This could take a long time," he mumbled. And Mac shook her head at him and smiled.
A blond woman in her early thirties came out onto the floor to greet them. "Ah, Lynnea," she said with too much enthusiasm.
"Hello, Cynthia," Lynn said politely, "Would you tell Phillipe that I'm here with a new client, please?"
The woman smiled, and said, "He's in the back. I'll get him." And she disappeared through a curtained door.
"Harm, I'm never going to be able to pick a dress," Mac whispered, "They're all so beautiful."
Harm nodded; and then, he realized that instead of fearing a nightmarish experience, he secretly hoped that it would take all afternoon for them to find Mac the perfect dresses. That way, he'd be able to see her in all of them.
"Lynnea," came a man's voice, crisply accented, "How are you, darling?"
"Phillipe," Lynn reached her hand out to him, and he kissed it.
"You must be here for your dresses," Phillipe said, "They're ready in the back, and they're fabulous."
"Actually, Phillipe, I'd like you to meet Commander Harmon Rabb and Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie," Lynn said indicating Harm and Mac.
Phillipe looked them over as they walked toward him.
"Harm," Harm said holding out his hand.
"Mm, Mm. Perfect build, broad shoulders, thin hips," Phillipe said as he circled around Harm, "Dark hair. Oh, and those eyes." He paused continuing to look him over. Mac stood off to the side a little bit struggling to hold in her mirth.
"Actually, sir," Harm said, uncomfortable, but flattered, "Colonel Mackenzie is the one who needs your attentions."
Lynn smiled broadly at the disappointed look on Phillipe's face, and said, "She'll be attending the premier tonight and the Christmas Ball tomorrow evening with Admiral Grant."
He turned his gaze on Mac. "Hmm, excellent figure, good skin tone and hair color," he said, circling her. Now, Harm stood back and watched as Phillipe scrutinized Mac. "Now, this will be fun." Phillipe said as he took a surprised Mac's arm in his and lead her toward the back. "Cynthia, bring the navy chiffon and the red silk back to the main dressing room," he called when they had reached the curtain. Lynn and Harm followed closely behind him.
Over the next hour, Mac modeled many different dresses for Phillipe. She tried on dresses that were red, gold, green and blue, dresses that had full bell skirts, dresses that clung to her, dresses that had slits up to her mid-thigh. But despite all the hard work, they couldn't find the perfect dresses. Phillipe wasn't discouraged and Harm was thoroughly enjoying himself, for Mac had been parading around in beautiful dresses for the last hour.
"We'll find the perfect ones yet," Phillipe said, "Even if you have to try on every dress in the shop."
Even though she had spent much of the last hour reading over paperwork or talking on her cell phone, Lynn had noticed that with every dress Mac tried on she got more frustrated, so when Mac went to change yet again, Lynn followed her.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
Mac gave and exasperated sigh, and flung the wrap she was holding onto the floor. "Yes, I'm fine," she said, very unconvincingly. Then she sighed and told Lynn said, "I don't know what to look for and I feel like I have no control over what's going on."
Lynn nodded. "Would you like to see what I'm going to be wearing," she suggested, "You could get an idea of what to look for."
Mac thought for a moment. "That would be nice," she finally said.
"And it would give you a chance to grab a bite to eat," Lynn said, mentioning the food platter Phillipe had ordered in.
"And stay in the same clothes for more than five minutes," Mac added.
Lynn left the changing room, and said, "Phillipe, Mac would like to see what I'll be wearing, so she can get a better idea of what we're looking for."
"Excellent idea," Phillipe said, "Cynthia, would you please get Lynnea's dresses from backroom?"
"Of course," Cynthia, who had been doing nothing but retrieving gowns, said through her teeth, "I'll be right back."
Mac came out of the changing room wearing a black satin robe and took a seat next to Harm. Harm's eyes widened and he watched as the robe rippled and shone with every graceful step Mac took. By the time, she sat down, he had recovered his thoughts and his voice.
"I don't know what all the fuss is about," Harm said, "I thought you looked great in all of them."
"Thanks, Harm," she said thankfully.
In a few moments, Cynthia returned carrying a simple black dress and a shimmering mint green ball gown. Over her shoulder were a matching wrap and a pair of matching gloves.
"Now, Lynnea, go put on the opera dress and come back out," Phillipe ordered.
Lynn took the dresses and accessories from Cynthia and disappeared behind into the dressing room. When emerged she was wearing a simple two-piece thin-strapped black dress. It was fitted to her figure and the slim skirt made her seem taller. The ends of the mint green wrap were draped over each of her elbows. She was stunning.
"You see how the cut of the dress calls attention to her figure, and the wrap adds a dash of color. But it's simple and subdued, so she won't draw too much attention," Phillipe said. Then, he said, "Now, Lynnea, take your hair down. For God's sake, girl, don't hide your light."
Lynn looked at Phillipe, daring him to make her, but she began to pull the pins out of her hair. After she had pulled out the first few, two braids tumbled off her head. She undid the braids and a mass of auburn-gold waves cascaded down to her mid back.
"You see how the green brings out the color of her eyes and offers a stark contrast to her hair," Phillipe pointed out, then he turned to Mac, "But for you Colonel, we'll need something." then he paused, and he jumped up, "Cynthia, the black, drape neck."
When Cynthia returned with the dress, Mac disappeared back into the dressing room, and few moments later came out, and Harm's jaw dropped. This dress hugged Mac's curves. The draped neckline displayed her collarbone, and as she turned, Harm saw that it draped down her back, forming a 'U' of bare skin.
"This is it," Phillipe said, "It's perfect. It shows just enough, but covers enough to leave an onlooker wondering."
Mac stopped turning and looked at Harm. He was staring at her. "What do you think?"
"Wow," was all he could say.
Mac smiled. "I like it."
"You'll turn a few heads, ma'am," Lynn said.
Phillipe nodded and smiled proudly. "Lynnea, would you please change into the ball gown now."
"Sure," Lynn replied, and she disappeared.
While Lynn was changing, Phillipe and Cynthia fitted Mac with a pair of black strapy high heels. They also found a little handbag and a pair of black gloves. They finished the outfit with a pair of pearl earrings and two pearly hair clips. Mac looked more elegant than she ever had, thought Harm. She seemed to be just as at home in this dress as she was in her uniform as she sat comfortably eating cucumber sandwiches with him.
"Do they have any real food?" she asked Harm in whisper.
"This is real food," Harm said, "You just don't recognize it."
Mac smirked. "You don't know what you're missing."
Phillipe's
London, England
The moment Mac stepped into the shop she could feel the energy. One one side of the shop tens of divine dresses shone on the racks and on display. They came in every fabric, color and style imaginable. On the other side were suits, tuxedos, and formal kilts, all of them meticulously made and matched. Harm knew he was walking into a man's worst nightmare.
"This could take a long time," he mumbled. And Mac shook her head at him and smiled.
A blond woman in her early thirties came out onto the floor to greet them. "Ah, Lynnea," she said with too much enthusiasm.
"Hello, Cynthia," Lynn said politely, "Would you tell Phillipe that I'm here with a new client, please?"
The woman smiled, and said, "He's in the back. I'll get him." And she disappeared through a curtained door.
"Harm, I'm never going to be able to pick a dress," Mac whispered, "They're all so beautiful."
Harm nodded; and then, he realized that instead of fearing a nightmarish experience, he secretly hoped that it would take all afternoon for them to find Mac the perfect dresses. That way, he'd be able to see her in all of them.
"Lynnea," came a man's voice, crisply accented, "How are you, darling?"
"Phillipe," Lynn reached her hand out to him, and he kissed it.
"You must be here for your dresses," Phillipe said, "They're ready in the back, and they're fabulous."
"Actually, Phillipe, I'd like you to meet Commander Harmon Rabb and Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie," Lynn said indicating Harm and Mac.
Phillipe looked them over as they walked toward him.
"Harm," Harm said holding out his hand.
"Mm, Mm. Perfect build, broad shoulders, thin hips," Phillipe said as he circled around Harm, "Dark hair. Oh, and those eyes." He paused continuing to look him over. Mac stood off to the side a little bit struggling to hold in her mirth.
"Actually, sir," Harm said, uncomfortable, but flattered, "Colonel Mackenzie is the one who needs your attentions."
Lynn smiled broadly at the disappointed look on Phillipe's face, and said, "She'll be attending the premier tonight and the Christmas Ball tomorrow evening with Admiral Grant."
He turned his gaze on Mac. "Hmm, excellent figure, good skin tone and hair color," he said, circling her. Now, Harm stood back and watched as Phillipe scrutinized Mac. "Now, this will be fun." Phillipe said as he took a surprised Mac's arm in his and lead her toward the back. "Cynthia, bring the navy chiffon and the red silk back to the main dressing room," he called when they had reached the curtain. Lynn and Harm followed closely behind him.
Over the next hour, Mac modeled many different dresses for Phillipe. She tried on dresses that were red, gold, green and blue, dresses that had full bell skirts, dresses that clung to her, dresses that had slits up to her mid-thigh. But despite all the hard work, they couldn't find the perfect dresses. Phillipe wasn't discouraged and Harm was thoroughly enjoying himself, for Mac had been parading around in beautiful dresses for the last hour.
"We'll find the perfect ones yet," Phillipe said, "Even if you have to try on every dress in the shop."
Even though she had spent much of the last hour reading over paperwork or talking on her cell phone, Lynn had noticed that with every dress Mac tried on she got more frustrated, so when Mac went to change yet again, Lynn followed her.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
Mac gave and exasperated sigh, and flung the wrap she was holding onto the floor. "Yes, I'm fine," she said, very unconvincingly. Then she sighed and told Lynn said, "I don't know what to look for and I feel like I have no control over what's going on."
Lynn nodded. "Would you like to see what I'm going to be wearing," she suggested, "You could get an idea of what to look for."
Mac thought for a moment. "That would be nice," she finally said.
"And it would give you a chance to grab a bite to eat," Lynn said, mentioning the food platter Phillipe had ordered in.
"And stay in the same clothes for more than five minutes," Mac added.
Lynn left the changing room, and said, "Phillipe, Mac would like to see what I'll be wearing, so she can get a better idea of what we're looking for."
"Excellent idea," Phillipe said, "Cynthia, would you please get Lynnea's dresses from backroom?"
"Of course," Cynthia, who had been doing nothing but retrieving gowns, said through her teeth, "I'll be right back."
Mac came out of the changing room wearing a black satin robe and took a seat next to Harm. Harm's eyes widened and he watched as the robe rippled and shone with every graceful step Mac took. By the time, she sat down, he had recovered his thoughts and his voice.
"I don't know what all the fuss is about," Harm said, "I thought you looked great in all of them."
"Thanks, Harm," she said thankfully.
In a few moments, Cynthia returned carrying a simple black dress and a shimmering mint green ball gown. Over her shoulder were a matching wrap and a pair of matching gloves.
"Now, Lynnea, go put on the opera dress and come back out," Phillipe ordered.
Lynn took the dresses and accessories from Cynthia and disappeared behind into the dressing room. When emerged she was wearing a simple two-piece thin-strapped black dress. It was fitted to her figure and the slim skirt made her seem taller. The ends of the mint green wrap were draped over each of her elbows. She was stunning.
"You see how the cut of the dress calls attention to her figure, and the wrap adds a dash of color. But it's simple and subdued, so she won't draw too much attention," Phillipe said. Then, he said, "Now, Lynnea, take your hair down. For God's sake, girl, don't hide your light."
Lynn looked at Phillipe, daring him to make her, but she began to pull the pins out of her hair. After she had pulled out the first few, two braids tumbled off her head. She undid the braids and a mass of auburn-gold waves cascaded down to her mid back.
"You see how the green brings out the color of her eyes and offers a stark contrast to her hair," Phillipe pointed out, then he turned to Mac, "But for you Colonel, we'll need something." then he paused, and he jumped up, "Cynthia, the black, drape neck."
When Cynthia returned with the dress, Mac disappeared back into the dressing room, and few moments later came out, and Harm's jaw dropped. This dress hugged Mac's curves. The draped neckline displayed her collarbone, and as she turned, Harm saw that it draped down her back, forming a 'U' of bare skin.
"This is it," Phillipe said, "It's perfect. It shows just enough, but covers enough to leave an onlooker wondering."
Mac stopped turning and looked at Harm. He was staring at her. "What do you think?"
"Wow," was all he could say.
Mac smiled. "I like it."
"You'll turn a few heads, ma'am," Lynn said.
Phillipe nodded and smiled proudly. "Lynnea, would you please change into the ball gown now."
"Sure," Lynn replied, and she disappeared.
While Lynn was changing, Phillipe and Cynthia fitted Mac with a pair of black strapy high heels. They also found a little handbag and a pair of black gloves. They finished the outfit with a pair of pearl earrings and two pearly hair clips. Mac looked more elegant than she ever had, thought Harm. She seemed to be just as at home in this dress as she was in her uniform as she sat comfortably eating cucumber sandwiches with him.
"Do they have any real food?" she asked Harm in whisper.
"This is real food," Harm said, "You just don't recognize it."
Mac smirked. "You don't know what you're missing."