Madeline barked loudly to announce his presence in front of Henry"s open door. Henry reached down to scratch the corgi behind her ears before picking her up into his arms. He spoke to her gently while Michael and Nolan talked. Michael kept handing off items to various people who were tidying the closets. When they had run through all the clothing in the rack to make their final suggestions, Nolan looked at the rack in nervous a.s.sessment. "Are you sure I can take these? We don"t know for certain if I can even charm her.""You"ve charmed Madeline so you do have some abilities with the opposite gender. Also do remember that designers sent me these for free because they know that I will be photographed. I have several designs in a couple of colors. It"s all right. I"ll also be getting another PR shipment soon so you can come back and take more. I already have too much."
Nolan looked at Henry sheepishly. "I wasn"t really thinking that far ahead. This is just a temporary thing."
Michael pulled at the jacket Nolan had been wearing. "I need to get all of this altered before I can give it to you to take with you."
Nolan looked sh.e.l.l shocked for a moment as he automatically changed back into his earlier clothes. Henry lead him back into the reclining room where the chairs were rearranged so the two of them could play a game of billiards in the center. While in between shots Henry looked at Nolan with a pleasant look. "I didn"t really think that just changing your hair would cause you to look like a different person."
His brother-in-law smoothened his hair nervously. "I mean it"s just hair. I can grow it back. I hope I don"t shock too many people to treat me differently."
Henry snapped his fingers as he suddenly remembered. "You need one more thing." He waved over one of the gardeners who had been raking the sand of the zen garden below then and she quickly shot off. Nolan looked at Henry nervously as he winked mischievously. "Wait just a second. But you can relax. Go ahead, take your shot. I"m in the lead. I"d like not to completely win. Michael will say I"m bullying you. He wanted me to open up the boiling alley."
Nolan rolled his eyes as he shot proved awry.
"Maybe I should have." Henry said under his breath as the gardener came back clutching a green velvet jewelry box.
Nolan shook his head in disdain. "That"s just the right size for an engagement ring. I"m not ready for that quite yet, Henry. I appreciate your--"
Henry scoffed. "No. The only engagement ring in this house is on the finger of your sister. It"s going to stay there because she likes it and I like it on her." He opened the box and Nolan gasped. Henry held out a gold watch rimmed with three concentric circles inside. It was less flashy, but was timeless enough that it could be worn with anything. It was waterproof and probably worth more than anything Nolan had ever owned. "I wanted to give you this."
"Henry you can"t. That"s a freaking Rolex."
His brother-in-law rolled his eyes as he slapped the open watch band onto Nolan"s wrist before fastening it. "You"re in college. I wouldn"t give you something that expensive. It would get stolen. This is one of my Tag Heuer watches. It"s a Swiss watch. If you break it, you can get a new one. You know what, I"ll pay you if you lose it because my father gave me this one."