Page 60 of Lost & Found

“Yup,” Pasha said, finishing his Danish and rising to join him. “Just so you know, waxing can be a masochistic person’s dream come true,” he added.

Our eyes met, and I could imagine the primary question behind his eyes. The one he wouldn’t dare say out loud.

“Are you a masochist, Princess?”

Was I?

I guess I’d find out in a few short hours. As they both made rounds saying goodbye to us girls, Pasha stopped and kissed my forehead and then leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“Pain causes the central nervous system to release endorphins. So after the first pull, your body will rush to block the pain. If you’re really lucky, euphoria follows. Just ease into the feelings. Don’t fight it.”

My breath caught in my throat as my body reacted to his words in the most magical way. A small flutter stirred deep inside my belly, leaving me momentarily unsettled. But I quickly shook off the feeling.

“What the hell was that?” Sebastian asked, smacking Pasha in the chest with an open palm.

Without a single ounce of concern for his own well-being, he answered, and with a lie to boot. “I told her to relax. She will be in excellent hands. Her appointment is with one of the best, so it will be more awkward than painful.”

“How do you know who’s waxing my sister?” he seethed.

“Easy. I’m assuming the love Kinsley and Tori have for her made sure she was booked with the best. Nadine. You remember her, right? Doesn’t she do yours, too? Keep it in the family, that’s what we do around here. Am I right, ladies, in my guess?” He didn’t break eye contact with Bash.

There was some definite tension between the two of them, and I wanted to smack my brother upside the head for being so weird and obvious. The girls responded with a resounding yes, and that satisfied my brother.

Thankfully, Marcel announced he was taking Declan to school, and the rest of the guys rose to leave. Ivan gave Kinsley some extra hugs, leaving me and Tori by ourselves for a moment.

“Well, that was interesting,” Victoria said. “Is that really what he said?”

“Of course. Pasha isn’t a liar,” I lied.

“Uh, huh. Then why did your eyes go so wide and dilate?”

“Hush,” I exclaimed before asking. “So Geraldine’s. You really think she’ll have something for me?”

“You know she will,” Kinsley said, sliding back into her chair next to me. “Tell me true, Isabella. Do you have the hots for my Pasha?”

I choked on my water to the point where Ivan popped his head back into the dining room to check on me. I waved him away and blotted my eyes with my napkin. Kinsley’s question hung in the air.

“I like him as much as a person likes to get a root canal.”

“Is that with or without Novocain?”

“With, of course, he’s tolerable.”

She studied me for a second and then, thankfully, let the topic drop.

Not an hour later, we were arriving at Geraldine’s. Tori, knowing that I was going to be nervous trying on dresses, was thoughtful enough to book a two-hour time slot so that it was only the three of us with Geraldine.

Marcus dropped us off and went to run a few errands. We stepped inside. The soft chime of the bell had Geraldine’s head whipping up. Her face lit up. She was striking, and confidence radiated from her.

If I could have an ounce of that, I’d be golden. Instead, all I had was sarcasm. I sighed and looked around. The interior was bathed in warm lighting, and the dresses looked—exquisite—fancy, and not me.

“Welcome, ladies,” Geraldine greeted us. “It’s good to see you again, Isabella.”

While I’d been in before, this was my first time being a shopper. She towered over all of us in her death-defying heels. I couldn’t help but smile and remind myself to just enjoy the experience.

“I understand we’re looking for something for a beach wedding.” Geraldine turned to me.

I nodded in response, unable to say a word. Dress shopping was as much uncharted territory as my upcoming waxing appointment. This whole realm of femininity and elegance wasn’t something I’d ventured into. Ever.