“Enough time for what?”
The other woman tilted her head like a confused teacup poodle. “To get you ready?”
Each question spawned ten more.
“Get me ready for what? What in the world is going on?”
Hunter tapped his fingers against the doorjamb. “It’s like I said before about getting you out of the house.”
My hands whipped up to my hips. “Which part of the push and pull is this, huh?”
“Most definitely the pull.” He ducked his head and backed up. “If you need anything, let me know.” His chin lifted and his gaze lingered on me, leaving an electrifying trail tingling from the tips of my fingers to my toes. “Have fun, Sabrina.”
“I’m Beth. Let’s do this.”
They walked past me with suitcases and a garment bag and full-on mobile clothing rack into my room like I wasn’t even standing there. Spinning, I followed them inside. “What exactly are we doing?”
Zippers unzipped, case latches clicked, and an efficient cascade of beautifying products took over the desk where my computer and monitor were set up.
“Oh, check out this bathroom. I call dibs for hair in here.” The other woman walked past me, gathering up her cases from my bedroom floor. On her way back, she stopped. “I’m Lina. With this exhaust fan and these outlets, the bathroom will be perfect for hair, okay?” She turned to walk back into the bathroom.
Shooting my hands out to my sides, I shouted, “What is going on?”
They all stopped what they were doing and snapped up straight.
Beth walked toward me. “Didn’t Hunter tell you?”
“No, hence my complete and total confusion.”
She set down the twenty makeup brushes in her hand and crossed the room to me. “Beth, Lina, and that’s Franco. We’re your hair and makeup team for the night. Hunter said you’re going with him to Siren Song and wanted us to make sure you had everything you needed.” She waved her hands in the direction of the team. My team.
“Oh.” I stared at the gray carpet, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why was Hunter doing all this? He wanted me as his date tonight. He’d brought in three people to surprise me with a makeover and a night out on his arm. Maybe it meant something more. Or maybe he knew that I’d be here with nowhere to go and would make an easy and convenient date.
Either way, I was putting it in my fuck it bucket. I could do with some leg stretching, and who was I to turn down getting my hair and makeup done? Besides, the dresses on the rack were showstoppingly gorgeous. Most probably wouldn’t fit me, but if nothing else, they made my fingers itch with inspiration.
She tried to catch my gaze. “Are we a go? Or did you want to talk it over with Hunter first?”
My head snapped up. “No, I’m good. Where do you want me?”
Nothing other than mascara had been on my face for over a month—okay, maybe a few months. August. It had been August since I’d worn makeup. I’d only realized it now. With Seth, I’d always felt like I needed to be done up, at least as much as I could. I’d thought it would change how much time he spent with me. But none of that had been because of me.
Once I’d moved out, there wasn’t a need. I certainly hadn’t been trying to impress Hunter, so it seemed pointless. But a bit of pampering and professionals doing their thing? Turning that down felt silly, even if I had no idea what the hell Hunter was planning.
For the next hour, I was at the mercy of the Glam Squad. Tweezing, plucking, and waxing all took place in the bathroom Lina had transformed into a mobile aesthetician’s space. After a quick trim and roller setting, which seemed like a lot of work for them to put it all into intricate braids, I was handed off to Franco for wardrobe.
Shockingly, everything fit. I glanced at my closed door when the first dress zipped perfectly. How had he known my size? Also, how scary was it that he knew my size? That was generally a closely guarded secret, not that a number mattered when, you know, he had eyes, but it took away one of the many things that I always felt like I needed to keep under lock and key.
After five dresses, we finally found the perfect one. The light blue knee-length dress had a lower back than I’d normally wear, but since when was anything I was doing normal? With three-quarter-length sleeves and a high neckline, it didn’t feel too over-the-top with detailing and beading all over the bodice and hem. This one didn’t scratch or itch. Lavish, iridescent, and slimming, it was gorgeous and nothing like anything I’d ever had the balls to wear before.
“Off it goes until your hair and makeup are finished. Lina will get to work on your nails while Beth handles the makeup.”
A director’s chair appeared out of one of the suitcases, and I was set up, feeling like I was headed for an awards-show red carpet. Five minutes to the three-hour deadline Hunter had given them, I slipped my feet into the navy heels.
“Are you ready to see the whole look?” Beth held the floor-length mirror that had been relegated to the closet in her hands. They’d begun packing their supplies up and stacking them by the front door.
I looked down at myself and smoothed my hands over the dress, my fingers running against the tightly packed beading. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
The three of them stood on either side of the mirror, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Chancing a peek through one eye, I prayed I didn’t feel like a complete and total idiot. I caught sight of my reflection, and my chin lifted.
Beth held up the mirror. “What do you think?”
I opened my eyes and did a double take the second I looked into the mirror. “That’s not me.”
“It damn well is.” Lina settled her hands on both my shoulders.
“Wow.”
“You stole the words right out of my mouth.”
I jolted and looked over my shoulder at the man in the reflection standing in the open doorway. Looking back at myself, I couldn’t help the streak of self-consciousness slamming into me. I went to tuck my hair behind my ear, only to be blocked by the dangling earrings brushing the tops of my shoulders.
“Thank you. You clean up pretty nicely yourself.” Hunter was the epitome of a man poured into a suit. It was fitted where it should fit and loose where it was meant to be loose. Just enough pull in certain spots to indicate what kind of body he had underneath. Not muscled but powerful. Capable of throwing you into bed. Capable of throwing me into bed. Those old memories came back to me, sending the sexy shivers tracing their way down my spine much like he had that night.
Taking a breath, I looked back at myself.
I cleaned up all right as well, if I did say so myself. I needed to remember that. I turned and checked out my profile, twisting the shoes to get a better look at my legs. The heels were gorgeous and probably cost as much as rent had been on my old apartment.
“We will let you two get on with your evening.” The three of them rushed out of the room with furtive, smirking glances.
Silence reigned in the room.
“You didn’t have to do all this if you needed a plus one for tonight. I swear, I could’ve pulled myself together if you’d given me a little notice.” Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, the perfect hair and makeup staring back at me looked like me, but not me at all. “Okay, maybe not like this, but…”