Designs for Love — Rachel Cosgrove

Felicia had always dreamed of being a successful dress designer. But after she met Paul, she had another dream: to design the most beautiful wedding gown in fashion history...her own.

Wheel of Fortune...

Petite Felicia Burke was a beginning dress designer and a talented one. But even armed with a recommendation from the head of the school where she'd studied, she was nervous about approaching Adele Wharton of "Adele Originals" for a job. She was stunned when she was hired -- and almost immediately began to wish she hadn't been. Nothing, no one, could ever please Adele. Besides, she was obsessed with the idea that everyone was stealing her designs. Someone was, certainly. When one of the House's best customer's showed up at the fall showing wearing a copy of an Adele Original that hadn't even been unveiled yet, the designer exploded. Looking for a scapegoat, she was ready to believe a jealous lie about Felicia -- and fired her. It seemed like a disaster at the time, but it was actually the best thing that could have happened -- to Felicia's career and her personal life. Because if she hadn't lost her job, she might never have met Paul Norris...

Confrontation...

Adele, her face drained of color, stalked over and planted herself squarely in front of her most prized guest. Never before had Felicia seen her show rage at a customer, but she didn't try to conceal her feelings now.
"Livvy Van Zandt," her voice was a hoarse, muted roar, "where did you get that suit?"
Mrs. Van Zandt, not used to having that tone used on her, said icily, "It's a Sid Frankel, darling. Rather good, don't you think? Frankly, Adele, it's every bit as good as some of the things you've done for me"
It should be, Felicia thought wildly, it was an exact copy of number 49 in the collection...

Hero: Paul Norris
Heroine: Felicia Burke