Page 65 of Hale Yes
Nicolette
I slide a coat of gloss over my ruby lips and pop them, checking my reflection in the mirror. All my makeup is from Hale Cosmetics, of course, and I look pretty fantastic, if I do say so myself. I pulled my hair up on one side with a small clip, and my curls look especially bouncy tonight.
Running my hands down the classic black Bouvier cocktail dress, I swivel to look at the back. It plunges daringly low, and a white satin bow rests just above my butt. I pull my black-and-white Bouvier heels from my suitcase and slip them on, giving me another four inches of height.
Helix got ready in our shared room and then headed downstairs while I was in the shower to give me some privacy. Holding onto the railing so I don’t bust my ass, I head down to the first floor.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I say, and Helix looks up from his position on the couch where he’d been scrolling through his phone. Hiseyes widen, and I can’t say I dislike the appreciation in his hot gaze.
“Whoa, damn,” he says, rising to his feet. “Nicolette, you look amazing.”
My eyes roam down his big body encased in solid black, from his pants to his jacket to the pressed shirt underneath. The only diversion from all the black is a pair of glasses I’ve never seen him wear before, these with tortoiseshell frames. It’s a smart look. And extremely sexy.
“You too. I like those glasses.”
His focus drags up my body like the touch of a feather before he focuses on my face. “Where are yours?”
“I have contact lenses I wear sometimes,” I explain, gesturing toward my spectacle-less face.
His bright blue eyes darken as he stares at me, and I wonder if Lehra was correct. Does Helix have a crush on me? Then he holds out his arm and smiles.
“Ready to go, girlfriend?”
I loop my hand in his elbow. The expensive fabric is like butter against my skin. “I’m ready, boyfriend.”
That really shouldn’t feel so good to say.
“Well, this place is swanky,” Helix says as we walk around the large open space.
“Very,” I say, my voice tight. Bridgewater Hall is part of the uber-exclusive Bridgewater Country Club.
“Are your parents members here?”
“No, they’d never be able to afford the membership fees here,” I tell him, worry creasing my forehead. “Pop said he hadto take out a loan for this party. Can you even imagine what the wedding will be like?”
“I’m sorry. It sounds like your father is in a hard spot with…” He waves his hand around. “All this.”
I blow out a frustrated gust of air as Helix guides me to the open bar. “If I ever get married, I’m paying for it all myself so I don’t put my family in debt.”
“Yeah, it’s ridiculous. Phoenix’s wedding was insane, but then again, so was his fiancée.”
We place our order, a whiskey and Coke for Helix and an appletini for me. “Phoenix is married?” I query. “I knew he had a daughter because you’ve mentioned her a couple times, but I was under the impression he was single.”
“Oh, he definitely is.” He takes a sip of his drink. “The wedding was called off at the last minute, but the week before was filled with events every day and night. It was way over the top. They even had a pre-wedding gala.”
My face pinches into a grimace. “That sounds miserable.”
Helix laughs. “It was. Were you one of those little girls who dreamed of her wedding day?”
A smile teases my lips. “I was. I always wanted a big wedding with a fancy dress where I was the most important person for just one day.”
The gap between his dark eyebrows narrows. “You deserve to be the most important person to someone, Nicolette. And not just for a day.”
I squirm a little under his intense gaze. So I put on my best smile and shift the conversation, looking around the high-ceilinged hall.
“I came to a quinceañera here once for my friend Muriel. Of course, I was only thirteen at the time since I went to high school early.”
“Was that weird? Being so young in high school, I mean.”
