Page 9 of Saved By the SEAL

“Actually, it’s better because we aren’t narrowed down. It means we can take a look at everything on offer to see what you’ll like. It gives you more options.”

“Yeah, I think I’m going to like that. It means I can reinvent myself in every single way. I can be whoever.”

She heads back behind that curtain, leaving me wondering what I would do if I were going to reinvent myself. Who would I become? I don’t know if I need to, really, because I’ve never really worked on who I am right now. Not enough to need to change myself at all. I guess I would just like more fulfillment, more people surrounding me. A love, a family, so much more.

Hmm, I never expected Michelle to make me think so much about my own life. I didn’t think that working for Max, working with Michelle, would make me look so inward. That’s probably a good thing, though, because it’s got to be done. I find myself smiling in anticipation as I wait for her to come back out. I can’t wait to lay my eyes on her once more.

“Oh, wow…” Michelle appears in a dress which clings so tightly to her curves, I can’t breathe. “That’s nice…”

Oh, my God, she looks like she’s up for going out on a date, and I ache to be the person taking her out. Even after everything I’vetold myself about not falling for her, I’m doing so, anyway. I’m sucked in by her beauty, helpless, yearning to hold her. I don’t even realize that I’m on my feet until I’m practically walking toward her as if I’m going to take her in my arms.

“You like it?” She wiggles her hips playfully, her eyes twinkling naughtily as she does. “I don’t know what I would wear it for, but I kinda like it. It fits nice and covers me up a hell of a lot more than anything that I have at the moment. I love it.”

“I think you’ll find an excuse to wear it,” I declare while trying to keep myself away. “It looks gorgeous on you.”

“Yeah, you never know, I might get invited out to some fancy dinner or something. It’s possible, who knows?”

Our eyes lock, and I feel a tightness in my chest. It’s almost like I don’t knowwhatI’m going to do next. I’ve lost all control over myself and I can’t claw it back, however hard I try. I almost lean in toward her, but a loud noise stops me. Thank God. A magic surrounded the pair of us for a moment, and I nearly allowed myself to get dragged in, which could have been a real issue.

“Oh, that was my phone.” I let out a weird little chuckle. “I'd better get it. It’ll probably be Max. He’s going to check in.”

Michelle’s eyes pop wide and she steps backward. It seems like she was caught up in the moment there too. It’s not a phone call, though, it’s a message, so I need to refocus my eyes on the screen to see what Max wants from me.

“Michelle, Max has sent me a list of some hairdressers too,” I call out to where she’s hidden herself once more. “He wants us to sort this out today. I’ll show you all of them when you come out, and you can pick a preference.”

She whips the curtain open and gasps loudly. “I don’t know if I can do that. I don’t think I can go to the hairdresser. I would rather do it at home. Do you think we could do that instead? Would you help me with that?”

“Erm… I’ll admit hair dye isn’t exactly my strongest suit…” Her face falls, which makes me wish I could shove my words back into my mouth. “But I’ll give it a go. I’m sure I can do it. Together, we can figure it out, right? It’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, I’m sure we can make it happen.” She purses her lips thoughtfully. “I just need to decide which color I want to go.”

Oh, God, I have no idea what I’m letting myself in for here. I don’t know anything about this. Working with Michelle is really opening my mind to all kinds of new experiences. Hopefully, I don’t totally mess it up. I get the feeling that Michelle’s hair is really important to her, and I don’t want to upset this woman now. Less so now, after seeing her inthatdress. Wow!

8

MICHELLE

Ilaugh as we head back toward the apartment. “Wow, I have so many bags.” I glance at the endless ones in my arms and the ones that Jordan is carrying for me too, wondering where I’m going to store it all. “I think I went overboard.”

“Nah, you can never get too much,” Jordan responds easily, not judging me at all. “There wasn’t anything you could leave behind. It all looked so freaking good on you. Plus, it takes a lot of clothing to fill a wardrobe. You can toss everything else out.”

“Ooh, yeah, I like the idea of that!” I declare excitedly. “I can have a little party while I get rid of all that horrible stuff.”

Oh, my God, the idea of shredding all that shit and tossing away everything that links me to my past is a godsend. I can’t wait. I really think it’ll help me get over the fear that’s threatening to crush me with every step I take. Ineedto get over that.

My mood is light. It’s been getting bouncier all day long. I feel like I could be flying. I could skip along the road if it wouldn’t make me look so incredibly stupid. I do keep darting my eyes toward Jordan, though, and grinning at him like I’m a schoolgirlwith a crush. Things have shifted between us today. There’s a new mood in the air, and it makes me warm and happy.

Actually, it’s more than just everything shifting into something positive. There was something in the way that he ran his eyes all over my body as I showed him each outfit that made me feel alive. I sparkled and glittered. There was something sizzling there. By covering up my body more, I feel a whole lot sexier than in any of those skimpy things Alexander wanted me to wear.

There could be something serious and intense between us. I can’t quite tell, but as long as we don’t act on it, it’ll be fine.

“Are you going to do my hair tonight, then?” I ask Jordan with a slight tremor to my tone. “Max wants me to become a brunette sooner rather than later, right? I’m nervous about it, but I’m more than happy to give it a try… I think.”

Jordan chuckles and nods. “Yeah, and I really think it’ll be fine. I think you’ll suit raven-colored hair.”

“They do say blondes have more fun, though, right? I guess I’m about to find out. I hope the clothes still look good.”

As Jordan catches my gaze, I can feel a hunger coming from him, desire. Iknowhe’s thinking about me in my outfits once more and that he likes what he saw. Is this tension going to lie between us every day if I dress up like this? Oh, God, why do I kinda want that? I guess because when he looks at me with those eyes, I can’t help but feel intensely beautiful.

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