Page 67 of Flaunt
“There’s a gala on Saturday night,” I say. “It’s a long and complicated and kind of ridiculous story, but I’m going. And this …” I sigh. “Well, it’s not my prettiest dress, but it’ll do. Just trying to figure out where the shoes are I brought to wear with it.”
I set it back on the bed, certain she got a good look at it.
“It’s lovely. I’m sure you’ll look beautiful.” She smiles. “You aren’t talking about the Petterson Label Gala, are you?”
“Yes, actually, I am.”
“I only know about it because our company, Laguna Homes, redid a house for the owner’s daughter earlier this year.”
“Are you going?” I ask.
“Oh, no.” She laughs. “We aren’t that fancy.”
“I’m not either. But I got an invite from Myles Petterson himself, and I kind of have to go because a guy is going to be there that I used to work for …” My face heats. “You don’t care. Ignore me.”
She gasps and gets to her feet. “I do care. I love tea. Spill it.”
Who is this woman?I chuckle. “Well, I worked with a guy who basically told me I’m not good enough to marry.”
Damaris tries to hide her shock.
“Which is fine,” I say. “I wouldn’t have ever married him anyway. It wasn’t like that. At all. But that same man told Mr. Petterson that I wasn’t able to attend the gala. So, Mr. Petterson reached out and personally invited me as his guest.”
“That’s an outstanding invitation.”
I smile. “So I’m going but the jerk will also be there with his fiancée. And maybe it’s pride or petty, I don’t know, but I really want to make a good showing for myself. I’m sure you can understand.”
“I do.” She presses her thumb to her lips and looks at my dress. “That dress is gorgeous, but—maybe you don’t want my input here.”
“Give it to me.” I laugh. “I’ll take all the help I can get.”
She turns to me. “Are we out to make him jealous? What’s our goal here?”
“Honestly? He said some nasty things to me, and I want him to eat his words. That’s all. I don’t care if he’s jealous. I just want him to know he’s wrong.”
“Okay. In that case, with your skin tone and hair, you need to wear red. Be bold. You are a gorgeous girl, sweetheart. Steal the show.”
I frown. “I have a great red dress. I’ll see if I can get it.”
“Where is it?”
“Oh, it’s at my stepmom’s. I’m storing my stuff over there until I get into my rental house. She’s great and all, but also … not. And I don’t want to go over there too much and rock the boat.”
“Bring your things to my house.”
“What? No. No, that’s not necessary. Thank you, though.”
She studies me for a long moment. “I don’t mean this in any way, and you can say no, and you won’t hurt my feeling. Honest. I have five sons. I don’t think youcanhurt my feelings.”
I laugh.
“But I have a closet full of dresses I’ve worn once or twice. There’s one red one in there with a red slit up the leg. It makes your cleavage look great.” She winks. “You may hate it, and that’s fine. But I’m happy to bring it over and let you take a look at it.”
“Oh, Damaris, you don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.”
I stutter, unsure what to say to her kindness.It’s so … authentic. She’s not just saying nice things. She’s offering herself sincerely.
