AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My friend in the store. She helps me with my clothes.”
“You tell Margaret to give my perfect little princess whatever she desires and put it on my tab. I’ll settle up later.”
‘Thanks, Daddy,” she said. A huge grin lit up her face. Then she was out the door, the sounds of her rapidly retreating feet echoing in my small living space. Soon I’d be trading up, but in New York, or here was still to be determined.
Chapter 16
Harmony
The woman facing the mirror was not the same one who had left New York a month ago. The one staring back at me I knew better than the one behind the expensive mask. But I liked her, too. She had kept me going when all other hope seemed lost to me.
“You look amazing, Harmony.”
Behind me was Priscilla, who was helping me get ready for my video call with my parents. I really liked Priscilla, and we had grown into an easy friendship. She admired my costume acumen, as she called it, and I was envious of her path of study. She was taking erotic literature with Professor Dalton Rogers.
“I think you need more glitter.”
She sprinkled some across my nose and cheeks. My hair was down and free and natural—my preferred hairstyle these days. Back home I was at the salon every other week getting highlights and styled in the latest trends. Here at Rawhide, my hair could bounce down my back in thick luxurious waves.
“You look gorgeous, H.”
“Thanks, P, and thank you so much for all of your help.”
She nodded at my reflection in the mirror. “So have you given it any more thought?”
My reflection looked puzzled. “About what?”
“OMG, seriously woman. About joining me in the erotic literature course. I showed your short story to Dalton, and he thought you have the makings to be an erotic romance writer. All this,” she waved at my get up, “is your imagination, Harmony, and like your stories, both are really good.”
I blushed at her compliment. Never having had a girlfriend other than Veronica, who never left the house, was new to me, and I really liked having another woman in my life I could gossip with.
“I was going to talk to Gray about it, but then this happened, and I can’t think about two stressful things at once. But we are planning a trip up the mountain tomorrow and that will be the perfect time to find out what’s next for us. I really want to stay, P, but his position will soon end, and I want to go where he does… if he’ll let me, that is.”
She nodded her head sagely.
“Okay, but make sure you tell him we’ll be together, and I’ll keep you out of trouble when he’s busy.”
We both burst out laughing. “Yeah, I’m not telling him that. I wouldn’t be able to say that with a straight face.”
Priscilla giggled and I joined her. A knock at the door interrupted us.
“Almost ready, sweet pea?”
Ever since our mountain-top session, Gray had been calling me by all kinds of nicknames and all of them were adorable.
“Just a moment, Daddy Bear,” I called back. Then I hid my mouth with my hand to stifle my giggle.
But it was no use; both of us broke out in loud peals of laughter. We could hear Gray muttering under his breath as he walked away, causing us to laugh harder.
P was the first to recover. “I’ll grab your Valentinos, and then you can make your entrance, but only after I introduce you.”
I ran over my image in the mirror. I loved my Oscar de la Renta fairy-inspired georgette wrap dress. The long daisy chain hung around my neck, with a matching crown over my golden hair. My makeup was something out of a dark fantasy, and I loved how the dark outline made my eyes pop. I looked regal, powerful, and in charge.
Priscilla was back and bade me to step into the four-inch heels. I leaned on the counter while she made adjustments, tucking and pulling here and there as she slowly stood up.
“You look amazing, girlfriend! Like a runaway model if you weren’t so short.”
I took a deep breath. “Am I ready?”
