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"Absolutely not," he said, glaring at the dress. "I'm rethinking this entire thing."
"Lighten up, Evan," Analise chided, rolling her eyes. "You're not going to play your role well if you're going to be a grump about it the whole time. She won’t believe you for a second.”
"Analise is right," I chimed in. We couldn’t step foot in her office if Evan was going to act like this. “We just need to get through the interview and then everything can go back to normal."
"Right," Evan said, still looking like he might bite someone’s head off if they said the wrong thing. I recalled what Sebastian said about Evan’s dragon growing impatient. How much worse was this going to get? This possessive mate thing was on another level. Maybe I needed to tone the dress back if we had any chance of pulling one over on Caterina.
But before I could say anything, Evan said, “We'll take that last dress."
Analise grinned at me. “Now we’re talking. I’ve always wanted to dress you up.”
I laughed. “Am I your own personal Barbie now?”
Sabine took my hand and led me off the pedestal. “Time for hair and makeup.”
"Are you sure about this?" I said nervously, still eyeing my reflection in the mirror. The black cutout clung to every curve of my body, showcasing far more skin than I was used to, but if it helped us complete our mission, I was willing to do whatever it took.
"Absolument,” she said confidently. "By the time I'm done with you, no one will be able to resist your charms.”
I eyed Evan at that comment, but Analise was already dragging him into the kitchen.
Sabine got to work on my hair and makeup, and I looked in the mirror, marveling at her skill. I knew how to do the basics, but this was incredible. She’d deftly applied makeup to enhance my features, blending shades and colors I never would’ve thought to use myself. It was as if she were painting a masterpiece, and I was her canvas, just like she’d said. I had to admit, it was pretty fun to be pampered like this.
"I hardly recognize myself," I whispered, awed when she finally stepped back to survey her work. My brown eyes seemed bigger, my lips fuller, and my cheekbones were sharper. It was like looking at an entirely different person.
"See? I told you!" Analise beamed. “You’re sexy as hell, girl. Evan,” she said as she called upstairs. “The new and improved Mariah is ready for you.”
“I don’t know about that,” I said with a laugh as I got out of the chair.
When Evan appeared at the top of the stairs once more, his dark eyes flared in surprise. For a moment, he seemed unable to speak, and I could see the hot need in his eyes warring with the possessive snarl forming on his lips.
“Sabine, you've outdone yourself," Evan said stiffly, still eyeing me like a feral beast. "You'll see a bonus on your invoice.”
"Thank you, Mr. Guerrero," Sabine said smoothly, and then she and her assistants gathered supplies, carting them out and clearing the room as quickly as they’d come in. She turned to me at the door, her harsh expression softening slightly. “You are really lovely, dear.”
Then she was gone.
“That was a compliment coming from her,” Analise chortled. “But she’s not wrong. You look like a walking advertisement for sex.”
Evan growled loudly at that, not holding back anymore.
I rested a hand on his arm. “You really do have to work on that.”
Ana ignored him, turning me to face her. "Just promise you’ll be safe, Mariah. Be smart. I'll be waiting here for you when it's over."
"Of course, Ana," I said, hugging her tightly.
“And you.” She whirled and pointed at Evan. “If you let anything happen to her, you’ll have me to answer to.”
From the look on Evan’s face, I wondered if he dreaded that more than facing Tomas Hawthorne himself. “Thank you for everything,” he said begrudgingly. “Your support here means the world to Mariah. And to me.” It looked like he had to force the words out.
Analise excused herself while I looked back at Evan. His eyes hadn't wavered from me the entire time, and now that we were alone, he seemed to drink me in even more hungrily.
"Mariah," he breathed, stepping closer, looking like he might devour me whole. “You look incredible. So fucking sexy. So tempting.” He groaned. “You have no idea how much I want to just claim you right here and now."
The passion in his words took me by surprise. “Evan, you can’t act like this when we meet Caterina,” I said gently. “We have to focus on the task at hand."
"Right," he said. "But once this is all done, just know that I plan to ravish you like never before."
