Page 25 of Her Holiday Heartthrobs

“But the agency I booked her through doesn’t have a replacement.” Another quick throwback to empty his glass. “That Iammad about.”

“Why do you need to pay for a date?” I blink at the dark look he shoots me.

“Because I scare off the investors when I go on my own.”

I giggle. I can’t help it. “Scary? You?”

He fully faces me, expression so stormy that I might need a raincoat. Or maybe more absorbent underwear?

Shrugging, I keep his gaze as I have another taste of the whiskey. I like the caramel tones far too much.

I see the idea as it springs into his mind, and now, I’m a bit scared.

“Do you have any formal wear?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “No.”

“What size are you?”

This isn’t where I thought this was going. “What?”

“Tell Sabrina to get you an address for the event.”

I wave my hand at him. “Wait. Wait. Wait. I have plans tonight.”

“Cancel them.”

PAIGE

Dressed and teetering on too-high heels, I suck in a breath and wait for Sabrina to give me her final verdict. Her elegant arms are crossed as she taps a finger against her mouth. She’s so much more refined than I am, and I swear a bead of sweat trickles down my back under her scrutiny.

“One last thing. Let’s freshen up your makeup. A little on the eyes and cheeks. Do you have an emergency tube of lipstick in that briefcase of yours?”

“What? No. I don’t wear?—”

“Never mind.” She sighs. “You can borrow mine.”

Sabrina riffles through her makeup bag and hands me items like I know what the heck to do with them. “Shadow, use that sparkly blue gray one at the top. It will bring out your eyes and still match the dress.”

I do as she says, leaning into the bathroom mirror and smearing the powder across my lids with my finger.

“God, you are a heathen.” Sabrina sets the tube of lipstick down on the counter and turns me toward her. “Just let me.”

She uses a small brush, then pats me with sweet smelling powder—over my cheeks and down my chest, which is far tooexposed in this dress. Another quick assessment, and she holds out a slender chain with a lone teardrop pearl the nestles just above my cleavage.

“Good.” Finally, she holds out the lipstick. “Apply. Blot. Reapply. Blot again. Got it?”

“Yeah.” I take the tube and do as she says.

Sabrina sighs with a smile and goes to the bathroom door. “I really do good work.”

I take one more glance at myself in the mirror. My mouth is a dark red, setting off the pale cream of my skin. My eyes shine bright and blue with the added soft color around them. And the dress…I’ve never been in something so beautiful, even though it’s heavy and restricting. Beaded white silk cups my waist and hips, flaring just enough to allow me free movement—mostly—and it shoves my boobs up like they’re being presented to the gods for a sacrifice.

But it also makes me feel older. Elegant. Sexy.

I follow Sabrina to the door and take a deep breath.

“I want to tell you that you’ll be fine. The investors will love you. No doubt. But…good luck with Jake Young. He’s been known to send women crying from whatever room he’s in.” Sabrina’s words don’t quite match the glint in her eyes.

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