Page 33 of Her Beastly Billionaire Rock Star
“And your piercings? You took most of them out!”
He flicked his gaze to Tiffany and back to Charlotte. Charlotte seemed to get the silent communication and wrapped her arms around his bicep. “We’ll talk in the car.”
“Thanks.” He leaned back and took her in. “And you look simply incredible.”
More than that. A sparkling pale-lavender one-shoulder dress accented the delicate curves of her collarbone, tapering at the waist. It stopped just above her knees and showed off her incredible legs and little heels. If perfection had a picture, it was Charlotte Gooding in a formal dress with little to no makeup, big green eyes, and softly curled hair sweeping along her shoulders.
She palmed her stomach. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I still say the dark red backless dress would work better,” Tiffany said.
Ignoring Tiffany, Malakai held Charlotte’s gaze. “I like the dress Charlotte’s wearing. It fits her personality. Short and sweet.”
Charlotte elbowed him and caught her bottom lip in her teeth. “Stop.”
Malakai cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb across it. “You ready?”
“If I say no, can we stay home?” She chuckled.
“I wish.”
“You have twenty minutes to be there, and Octavia just texted me that there’s a seventeen-car pileup on the freeway. You need to go now if you plan to make even a late entrance,” Tiffany said. Her gaze flicked from Charlotte to Malakai. More than likely, Octavia had asked the woman to report back whether their relationship felt genuine or not.
Charlotte hesitated a moment and waved her hand down her dress. “Thank you for helping me get ready and for this dress. It felt nice being pampered.”
Blinking, Tiffany’s eyebrows knitted together like she’d never had anyone actually appreciate what she did. She lifted her nose a fraction. “You look fantastic, even if it’s not what I would’ve chosen.” Her posture softened. “Knock’em dead.”
Malakai gave her a two-finger salute and covered Charlotte’s hand with his as they took the stairs. When they reached the first-floor landing, Emilia was waiting for them with her mouth dropped open. She pulled out her phone to take a picture.
Malakai jerked his attention to the second floor and back to Emilia, silently asking her what she was doing.
Proof, she mouthed. A deep line ran between her eyebrows, and she tugged on her hair. Emilia wanted answers, and it was likely she’d be pelting him with questions when he got home.
Later, he mouthed back. He waved her to go back into hiding and then held the front door for Charlotte.
As they approached the limo, the driver who stood by the back door opened it and held it as they got in. Once they were on the road, Charlotte turned to him and held his gaze long enough that he pulled at his collar.
“The hair is okay?” he asked, hoping she hadn’t been saying it just because Tiffany was there.
“I thought your hair was beautiful, but you look fantastic like this too. There’s no chance of you looking bad no matter what you do, but…” She stopped short and rolled her lips in. “I mean just what I said. You’re hot and you know it.”
He tipped his head back and laughed at the admission. How many times had women said that to him? Way more than he could count, but knowing Charlotte thought so made the compliment worth something. “I’ve had long hair for so long…I guess I was afraid you wouldn’t like it…and all the piercings. They’re no longer hidden by my hair.”
She ran her fingers along his temple and into his hair. “Are you happy with it?”
“I feel exposed.” That was the best way to describe it. He shrugged. “I just…I didn’t know how to make people see me differently. This was the only thing I could think of. Maybe if they see the outward change, they’ll give me a chance to show it’s deeper than appearances.”
Turning in her seat, she kneeled facing him. “Maybe you weren’t trying to showpeopleyou were different. Maybe it was yourself?”
Malakai exhaled long and slow as he thought about it. Did he feel different and that was the reason behind the physical change? “There might be some truth to that.”
Her lips quirked up at the corners. “I think we need to check on that dying rose. I have a feeling it’s perking up.”
Holding her gaze, Malakai saw his life flash before his eyes. He’d never wanted a woman more in his life. He liked the standard she held him to and not just when she was around either. She’d given him a bar, and he liked the man he was when he reached for it.
“Maybe so, and I think you have a lot to do with that.” He slid his fingers through her hair and cupped her bare shoulders. “Thank you.”
Shrugging, she replied, “I didn’t do much.”
