Still in my robe and slippers, I’m ushered into yet another room. It’s a tidy, upscale little boutique. A stylist is waiting with a rack of preselected dresses. She greets me cheerily, but I can’t respond in kind. This makeover session is happening too fast, with too much going on all at once, and not one bit of it up for discussion or alteration. I didn’t know I’d have to change my entire appearance as part of this agreement. My looks are all I have left, and Nate Windemere is going to ruin my only bargaining chip.
He sits outside the dressing room and critiques each dress I try on. Not revealing enough. Too loose in the hip. Makes her backside look saggy. Not enough chest to fill out the top.
By the eighth outfit, I’m tense and irritable and done having my body picked apart in his efforts to find the perfect dress for this mysterious event tonight. When the stylist zips me into a floor-length, baby blue silk dress with a plunging cowl neckline that shows off a lot of side boob, I almost don’t even want to show Nate. The dress is downright scandalous. And it dips almost all the way down to my ass crack in the back.
He loves it. Of course he does.
He selects a four-inch nude heel and a clutch embroidered with seed pearls that I’m annoyed to find absolutely beautiful, and then instructs the stylist to use a subtle, neutral palette when I’m put into the makeup chair. I sit there dutifully as she removes my old makeup, then preps my skin and applies fresh cosmetics, commenting on how pretty my hair is, and how the blue dress makes my skin glow. Maybe it does, but I don’t give a shit. I just want this night to be over.
My boobs are on display for all to see. My hair is rolled into huge, old Hollywood-style curls, and these heels are much higher than what I’m comfortable wearing. Windemere didn’t bring me here tonight for a girlfriend makeover. He wanted to turn me into a sex kitten.
The stylist completes her work and steps aside so I can get up. She gestures to a full-length mirror. Knowing that I can’t put it off forever, I give my reflection a full once-over. I caught glimpses of my hair while she was doing my makeup, but now that I see it fully, it’s not as bad as I’d thought. Coppery highlights mix seamlessly with my brunette locks, creating a gradient of subtle colors when I turn my head. The red tones really make my hazel eyes pop, and the makeup is perfectly understated.
And the dress…
Okay. I didn’t want any of this, but I have to admit it. I do look hot.
12
PIPER-LILY
Everyone staresat me as we enter CouCou.
At least, that’s how it feels as the silky fabric slides precariously over my chest with each step and visions of wardrobe malfunctions dance in my head. Because that’s all I need right now. A public nip slip. Someone catching my boob falling out at one of the buzziest New French restaurants in the city, preserved for all eternity on their cell phone camera. It’ll be all over the gossip pages before I can get to the bathroom to fix it.
My date hasn’t said anything about my appearance, or even made small talk on the drive here. I stayed silent, and I didn’t thank him for the unwanted makeover either. Once we exited the car, his hand found my lower back and his thumb swept lightly over my bare skin there. The warm, liquid-y sensation that resulted was almost enough for me to stop being irritated with him. Almost.
We’re shown to our reserved table in the back seating area. My suspicions are proved true as we pass a table andthe couple there immediately start to whisper to each other, but not quietly enough that I can’t hear them.
“What is she doing here? She can’t afford thewater.”
“Someone should tell the waiter that she’s broke, just in case.”
Keeping my chin up, I try to focus on the beauty of the whitewashed brick walls, the reclaimed oak floors, the hand painted landscape mural and the tiered steel chandeliers. But I can’t ignore the burn of embarrassment heating my cheeks, especially knowing how easily I blush. I’m sure the red spots on my cheeks are a dead giveaway that I heard the nasty comments. And the ones at the next table…and the next. Everyone is whispering.
Isn’t that a Barclay? Did you hear what her father did? She must have suckered that poor man into feeding her tonight. Maybe she’s hooking now.
It’s too much. I can’t do this.
I try to turn around and go back the way we came, but Nate stops me with an almost reassuring grip on my upper arm. The warmth of his breath at my ear makes me shiver. “Trust me.”
Spinning me in his arms, he cups my chin with one hand and draws me against him. His lips meet mine before I can process what he’s doing, and I’m suddenly swept up in a rush of pleasure from my scalp to my toes. His lips linger, gently feasting on mine for everyone in the room to see. I sink into it, completely unable to help myself, feeling a deep, hungry ache in my lower belly. He pulls back, staring into my eyes with a smile that I know is only for show, but oh my God.
That smile.
He’s grinned some and smirked plenty, but never before have I seen the work of art that his perfect lips have become in this moment. His whole face lights up with pure masculine beauty. It changes his entire presence and draws me in like the cliché moth to a flame.
“What was that for?” The words tumble from my mouth before I can stop them.
“I couldn’t help myself. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.” His voice is loud enough for others to hear.
I can’t even think of how to respond. The heat on my face deepens when I see the waiter has been waiting patiently for our little show to be over. After Nate’s nod, he continues leading us to our table. The whispers are at a frenzied level in our wake, but I don’t worry about listening this time.
I’ve never been kissed like that in my life. My brain whirls as I relive it. How did he do that? His lips were pressed against mine. It was nothing fancy. No trick moves. No tongue. Just…a kiss, and yet…I feel like it awakened something I didn’t know existed. A fire inside me. A spark.
He moves beside me to pull out my chair and leans close to whisper in my ear again.
“You get wet so easily.”
