Page 103 of Wallflower in Bloom

“We’ll be watching the fancast and ordering a mountain of room service, charging it to one Mr. Jack Grant.” Shay giggled with Aaron.

“Did somebody say my name?” Jack said, coming around the corner. He looked down at his wrist as he walked in. “I need help with these cufflinks.”

He was an absolute smoke show in a fitted black tux, crisp white shirt, and simple bowtie. It showed the broad expanse of his chest but tapered down into a crisp fitted waist. It was like staring at a kind, smiling secret spy.

He glanced up, and his mouth fell open looking at Violet. “Holy fuck.” His eyes roamed the length of her body and stopped for a solid three seconds on her breasts.

“My face is up here, dear.” She laughed. The term of endearment had slipped out, but she liked it. Dear. He was so dear to her.

He jerked his head upward and smirked. “I want to buy you that dress in every color and have you wear it for the rest of your life.” He walked around her, taking her in.

“I’ve never seen you look more handsome, even at last year’s event.” She took in his long, muscular build in the classic tux. His hair was swept to the side, reminding her of every expensive bridal ad she’d ever seen.

“Am I allowed one kiss?”

“Not on her face!” Aaron said. The makeup artist had worked wonders and set everything with a setting spray to last several hours.

“I think you’ll both need to leave the room in that case,” he joked with a simmering smile and kissed her bare shoulder instead. “You look breathtaking, love. Ready?”

Violet turned back around, her eyes panicked, looking for Aaron.

“You got this, sweetie,” he said, handing over her purse. “Be the queen little Violet and little Aaron needed to see crushing it on the runway, okay?” Goosebumps covered her arms at the thought. “Do it for them.”

“Okay,” she whispered. Her throat suddenly constricted, and her eyes blinked away tears.

She’d do it for herself, for the little girl inside her who never saw a gorgeous, confident, plus-size woman in the arms of her dream man. She’d do it for all the girls who still needed to see it.

“Back straight. Take up space,” Shay said, giving her a quick, light hug, careful not to mess anything up. “We need every inch,” she whispered in her ear. “Every inch.”

Violet willed her eyes to stop tearing up, picked up her skirt, and walked through the door into the biggest, scariest night of her life.

As she exited the limo on wobbly, nervous legs, she regretted past Violet’s bravado. The throng of the Hearts and Roses Film Festival backstage energy hummed around her, and she coached herself to breathe.

Don’t. Freak. Out.

Jack gripped her hand and winked as they stood at the talent entrance. He’d spent the five-minute ride reassuring her how gorgeous she looked and how much she would kill the short walk across the red carpet.

They walked through the waiting area, dodging and weaving between frenzied crew members and talent. Glamorous, gorgeous men and women prepped to walk the red carpet, checking their makeup and guzzling water in the summer heat.

Violet recognized every third face, either a starlet or a supporting cast member from her favorite shows and holiday movies. She marveled at how short everyone was in real life. Jack kept waving at friends and fellow cast members.

“There’s a man chocka block with handsome looks,” a chipper voice said behind them in a New Zealand accent. A familiar tiny blonde woman approached Jack and wrapped herself around him.

“Holy crap,” Violet whispered, throwing a hand over her mouth. It was Missy Barnbrick, Jack’s love interest from Beyond the Manor Walls. She was such a fan.

Jack happily introduced them.

“Oh, hello.” Missy turned her blinding smile on Violet. “I adore your videos.”

“My videos?” Violet said, shocked.

“I watch everything this one does.” Missy squeezed Jack’s side. “Your store is a stunner. I ordered one of the mugs.” She beamed a thousand-watt smile back at Violet as if they were already friends.

Violet blurted out a loud laugh. “Wow,” she said, unable to form coherent thoughts. Missy Barnbrick knows who I am.

“I’ve got to find Robert so we can get through this and go home to the kids. You know I hate this stuff. Catch up when you’re back before we shoot?” Missy squeezed Jack’s hand with a look of old friendship.

“You know it.”

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