‘Hi, everyone! Libby here, and welcome to another video. Today I’ve got some fabulous products to show you and how they can be used to create a great summery look. Even better, these are all from a new range called “You Can Bee Natural” which is a small start-up company committed to using Fairtrade, fully natural, non-GM ingredients. You know I’m all about the natural and ethical when possible so I’m pretty excited to try these out. But, don’t worry, you don’t have to have these particular items to get this look, and I’ll be chatting about plenty of other ways to adapt it to suit whatever you have in your own make-up bag. So, first off…’
3
The following day I was just in the middle of editing the completed video when my doorbell rang. Glancing down at the clock in the corner of my computer’s screen, I guessed my assistant, Tilly, was finally done with tasting wedding cake. I got up and went over to answer the door.
‘Hi! I’m so sorry I’m later than…’
She stopped half in and half out of the doorway and stared at me.
I shifted my eyes. I’d opted for a slice of chocolate cake for elevenses (it needed eating) and was just beginning to wonder if I should have checked my chocolate-to-face ratio before opening the door.
‘What?’ I asked, when Tilly still said nothing.
‘That’s it,’ she replied.
‘What’s it?’
‘That look. The one you’re wearing. Is that for a video?’
‘Yes, I shot one for it yesterday. Are you actually coming in?’
‘Oh, right. Yes!’ Tilly stepped inside and pushed the door closed as she slipped off her heels and the lightweight jacket she’d had on over her sundress. It was warming up out there now that the clouds were clearing but there was a definite breeze whipping in off the sea.
‘Tea?’ I called, heading off to the kitchen.
‘Please!’ she replied before following me through. ‘So, did you just come up with this look yesterday?’ Tilly had come closer and was now peering at me.
‘Could you look at it on the video? I’ve captured a couple of stills for the blog too. It’s just – and don’t take this the wrong way – you’re freaking me out.’
‘Oh! Sorry! Of course!’ Tilly stepped back.
‘It’s only that I’ve been through so many magazines, videos, and goodness knows what else trying to find the right look for the wedding, I was beginning to think I’d never find the right one. And then there it is!’ She started smiling. ‘Although, I might leave off the chocolate-cake crumbs…’
‘It needed eating.’
‘Of course.’
‘Talking of which, how did your own cake-tasting go?’
‘Good. Apart from the fact I might not want to eat another piece of cake again for several months. I think we finally settled on one. It was actually the first one we’d thought we’d go for, but Sam wanted to make sure. You know how it is?’
‘You mean he was hungry?’
‘Exactly.’ Tilly rolled her eyes. Tilly’s fiancé, Sam, was always hungry. It led us to wonder where he put it all as he was skinny as a beanpole but the amount of food he could consume was staggering.
‘Come on. I’ll print off those stills for your wedding file, and then we can get on with some tasks. The most amazing box of goodies arrived this morning. I haven’t had a chance to look through them properly so thought we could go through together and plan out some posts around them. If you choose which things you’d prefer to try, then I’ll take what’s left. Although, from what I’ve seen, they all look delicious!’
‘Ooh, show me! Show me!’
We took our tea and headed back into the living room to get to work.
* * *
At precisely half past ten the following Saturday morning, the doorbell rang and I opened my front door to find the light almost entirely blocked out by a very tall, slightly serious-looking but entirely gorgeous man. He wore smart dark-wash jeans, a slim-fit short-sleeve shirt, that only half hid some serious guns, and a messenger hybrid laptop bag hung from a strap slung across his broad chest. His dark blond hair was short and neat and a cleanly shaven, lightly tanned face highlighted the most strikingly blue eyes I had ever seen.
‘Hi.’ I smiled. It was kind of hard not to.
‘Hello.’ He half smiled and shifted his weight. ‘I’m looking for Libby Cartright.’
