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I inspected the blue dress again. Attending such events required dressing up for show, and it was a good excuse to treat myself to a gorgeous designer dress. My phone kept distracting me. I had a new message.
Carter: Ready for tomorrow?
My stomach flipped.
Val: I’m shopping for it right now. Buying an outfit. Dress to impress.
Carter: I’ll wait for you at the entrance. I’m going to be the one in a tux ;)
I grinned. Every man there would be wearing a tux. I tried on every dress, deciding on one that was bright yellow, with a thin belt made of black velvet around my waist. The dress barely brushed my knees and had wide straps over my shoulders. The bodice was more of a corset, pushing my breasts together. Sexy, but not over the top. Just what I needed. I glanced at the price tag and tried not to feel so guilty. It was about 20 percent more expensive than what I’d intended to spend, but what the hell? I worked hard. I deserved to treat myself to this beauty. I waged this inner battle whenever I was splurging. I supposed the guilty feelings were baggage I carried from the time when we were pinching pennies, after we took over Dad’s pub.
I snapped a picture of myself in the yellow dress, sending it to Hailey. We usually shopped together, because sharing the experience and commenting on each other’s outfits was half the fun, but she couldn’t swing it this time.
Carter: I’m impressed.
GOD. NO. WHY?
How had I mixed up the senders? My face heated up. The pose was a little silly and a lot sexy. The dress had a slit on one side, which wasn’t visible unless I showed off one leg. And show off I did. I was also pushing up a boob with one hand and winking in an exaggerated manner. It was the kind of picture I’d never send to anyone but my sisters.
Val: That was meant for my sister. So she could vote on her favorite.
Carter: Haven’t seen the other options, but... HELL, YES!
Well, that was embarrassing. I debated typing a reply, then decided I’d pretend this hadn’t happened.
Next evening, my palms were sweating a little as I climbed out of the cab in front of the venue where the reception was taking place. I was comfortable with a large range of people, from salesmen to scientists. The latter were my favorite, since I’d majored in chemistry. But thanks to Hailey, a good-sized group of stars had shown up, and the Hollywood crowd was another story altogether. Which was why, I told myself, I was relieved when I noticed Carter at the bottom of the staircase leading up to the main entrance of the villa. My stomach flipped like it was trying to win a gold medal at the Olympics. He was waiting for me, as he’d promised, and wearing a tux.
His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at me. I didn’t know where to look first. Those hypnotizing dark eyes or the delicious way he filled out the tux.
“Just as gorgeous as I remember.” He surveyed me from head to foot before we climbed the staircase. “Yellow becomes you.”
I blushed. Well, there was the flaw in my plan. I couldn’t pretend the picture incident hadn’t happened unless he played along.
“Can we forget about the picture?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. Oh, boy. He wasn’t going to let this go.
“Only if you promise to show me the others too.”
It took me a second to realize he meant the pictures of the other dresses I’d tried on.
“Absolutely not,” I said heatedly as we stepped inside.
“Why? Were they even sexier? Tell me.” He leaned his head in, as if beckoning me to whisper in his ear. I pushed him firmly away by the shoulder, then pointed my forefinger at him.
“I didn’t intend to send it to you.”
He tilted his head, smiling even wider. “Well, the effect it had on me was lasting even if it was... unintended.”
I had no reply for that, so I just pretended to inspect our surroundings. My head was turned in the opposite direction when I felt Carter inch closer.
“You’re the most beautiful woman here tonight, Valentina.”
I waved a hand dismissively. I didn’t fall for such lines anymore, especially after my last dating fiasco reminded me that LA was the city where the most beautiful women gathered to try their luck in acting, singing, or modeling. But when I turned to look straight at Carter, something in his expression told me it wasn’t a line.
Or maybe I was just too naive.
One of the organizers noticed me and motioned that she needed to talk to me. Carter saw her too.
