Page 102 of Wallflower in Bloom

She would need a lot of fairy Shay-mother magic to pull this off.

Shay started playing with Violet’s hair. “Come on. It’ll look fucking hot. We’ll set a few in the front with big rollers and let your natural volume do the rest of the work.”

There was a sharp knock on the door. Violet ran to grab it, hoping it was Jack back from a workout. Instead, it was a bottle of champagne on ice with three glasses and a note.

Have fun my love. I’ll be out for a few hours. ?? Jack.

Violet’s heart melted. Was this her life? Did she really deserve all of this?

She made a mental snapshot of the feeling of fullness and warmth in her heart right then. It felt exactly like all the love she had for Jack.

After hours of buzzed giggling and hair and makeup, Jack opened the hotel suite’s door. “Hey, hey!”

She was still in her robe, but she turned around. “Makeup done, hair done.”

“You look gorgeous.” He kissed her temple.

“We have to leave soon.” Violet nervously glanced at the time.

He started slipping out of his shoes. “A shower will take me two minutes.”

“Don’t forget to parade around in your towel first,” Aaron yelled from the suite’s living room area. Jack threw his head back with laughter as he walked to the shower.

“How come it’s taking me all day to get ready?” Violet looked in the mirror.

“The patriarchy, dear,” Shay said, hands on her shoulders. “The patriarchy.” Aaron and Violet both nodded their heads in agreement.

“But it also means he loses the opportunity to wear sparkly eyeshadow,” Aaron said as he flipped through the dresses Violet was deciding between.

They’d narrowed it down to the top two dresses. One was a basic black gown Shay almost vetoed, but it fit like a glove.

“I will pay you not to wear that black dress,” Shay said, sipping her third glass of champagne. Her heels had been toed off an hour ago.

“But it hides my tummy.”

“What’s wrong with a tummy? Just another curve to rock,” Aaron said. “Seize your moment, Cinderella. Own it in that purple gorgeousness.”

Violet eyed the dazzling purple gown next to the black one.

Shay pointed to it. “This looks like it was made for you, hugging your delicious curves.”

“But—” Violet said.

“But?” Shay sent her an arched eyebrow, daring contradiction.

All the insecurities Violet thought she’d laid to rest clawed their way back to the surface. “People might look at me.”

Aaron threw his head back in frustration. “Of course people will look at you. You’re a drop-dead gorgeous redhead standing next to one of the biggest stars on the network. They’re going to stare at you regardless. Do you want to look like a fucking queen, or do you want to look like part of the crew?”

“Like a fucking queen?” she asked with a grimace.

“Winner winner, chicken dinner,” Shay toasted her and downed the rest of her champagne.

A few minutes later, they had secured and snugged her into her most comfortable corset. Aaron zipped her up into the silky purple dress.

The lining of the dress felt like water against her skin. She took in the moment with the sweetheart neckline showing off her ample cleavage. The dreamy, sweeping off-the-shoulder sleeves lay on her arms, making her feel more comfortable with her muscular arms and her slight farmer’s tan from working outside.

“Shay, I can’t thank you enough,” she said, blinking over her shoulder. Not fully able to believe this was real life. “What will you do tonight?”

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