Page 17 of Hit the Ground
“We will?” I asked.
“We will. Are you in, Margot?”
Margot rolled her eyes. “Obviously. An artist can’t let her masterpiece go unfinished.”
The two of them seemed more excited about my makeover than I was, but if they wanted to help me, I couldn’t think of a reason to tell them no.
By the time Margot finished curling my hair into glossy waves and brushed the final sweep of peach blush across my cheeks, I hardly recognized the woman in the mirror.
My hair was no longer a long, dark sheet. Margot’s team had brought it to life with golden-caramel and honey highlights, layered to frame my face and skim my shoulders. When I moved my head, itbounced. She gave me a tutorial on how to style it myself, and I was hopeful I could do it.
My brows had been shaped into clean arches for the first time in my life, opening up my eyes. My makeup was subtle, a hint of shimmery eyeshadow, a flick of brown liner, and a sheer pink gloss that made my lips look full and soft.
When it was all finished, Margot stepped back, hands on her hips. “Well,” she said, her voice brimming with satisfaction. “I think you’re my magnum opus.”
Elena stood behind her, arms folded, appraising me with a discerning smile. “You look beautiful, Alice. You’ve always had fantastic hair, but it was so long and thick, it overwhelmed your frame. Now, I see you first then your hair.”
I blinked at my reflection, feeling a sudden tightness in my throat. “Thank you,” I managed. “I don’t even know what to say. I…I’ve never looked like this before.”
Margot squeezed my shoulder. “This is all you. I made a few minor adjustments.”
Elena cocked her head, her silver earrings catching the light. “So, tell me, Alice. What made you want to make a change? Please don’t say a man.”
I let out a surprised little laugh. In a way, she was startlingly close to the truth. Not that I’d ever tell her about my disaster of a nondate with her son. And anyway, he wasn’t the reason I was doing this. I was moving on from him.
“Not exactly. There was a man I liked…but it didn’t work out. He doesn’t feel the same.” I drew in a deep breath. “I’m moving on now. I’m going to date.”
Elena’s brows rose. “Tell me more.”
“I was thinking I’d try online dating.” I rubbed my lips together, startled by the gloss on them. That would take some getting used to. “The pool here is small, and I’m not one to hang out in bars on my own. So…I guess that’s what I’m going to do.”
Margot wagged her finger. “You need good pictures for your profile.”
“Probably,” I agreed, though I hadn’t gotten that far in my planning yet.
“Well, let’s go.” She held out her hand. “No time like the present. Give me your phone and let’s give those men something to drool over.”
Elena chuckled. “They will absolutely drool over you, sweetheart, and you deserve every drop.” She scrunched her nose. “Oh, that was gross. Never mind the drool. You deserve a man who’ll ignite for you.”
I couldn’t imagine a man ever burning for me, but I’d settle for a little drool. With my new hair and makeup, I felt good enough to think I might get a little of that if I put myself out there.
“All right.” I smiled. “Let’s do it.”
Margot shook her head and whispered, “Magnum opus.”
Elena rested her hand lightly on my shoulder. “Smile like that, and you'll make the app crash from all the guys trying to message you.”
As Margot held up my phone and Elena angled the salon lights just right, I sat up straighter, lifted my chin, and smiled.
I wasn’t quite ready to crash apps…but putting myself out there didn’t seem so daunting anymore.
Chapter Seven
Caleb
Ididn’tknowwhatwas up with me, but I’d been in a consistently foul mood the last couple weeks. It’d begun with Shelby’s bullshit visit to the ranch, and I hadn’t been able to kick it. Not even a week with my boy had done the job.
He was back with his mom, and I was at loose ends, so I took a trip into town to have dinner with my brother, Cormac. We both worked at the ranch, but he managed the resort side, so it was rare we got to spend solid time together during the day.
