Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I should have known these women weren’t just matchmakers, they were mind readers. “I had a crush on someone, but he doesn’t see me how I want to be seen, and I finally realized it was time to move on to someone who does. And doing this, taking control of my love life, will give me more confidence to do other things I need to do in my personal life.”
My whole reason for coming to Pilgrim was to meet my half brothers, Nate and Jase, without encroaching on their space in Tulip. It was close enough without having to see them often if they wanted nothing to do with me, which scares the crap out of me. Mara was the only one who knew that secret, and I wanted to keep it that way. For now.
“Oooh,” Olive cooed from the screen. “Who is it?”
“Olive,” Sophie admonished.
“What? You’re the nosy ones, but you forced me to ask, so whatever. Who is it Joss?”
“Ben,” I admitted quietly. “Principal Rutherford.”
“Oh, he is a cutie,” Olive said. “But clearly blind.”
“Thanks, Olive.” We both knew there was nothing wrong with those beautiful green eyes, but it was nice to hear anyway.
“If you want confidence,” Sophie said with a confident grin, “then there’s just one place to start.”
“The makeover,” all three women said at the same time.
A low groan escaped, and I flashed an apologetic look at the women who were just trying to help me. I’ve never been much into clothes or fashion, spending most of my life as an athlete or training, but I always secretly wanted to look as beautiful and put together as the women in this building. They each had their own distinctive styles, but they always looked incredible. Picture perfect. Runway ready.
I took a look down at the jeans that made my legs look a little less thick and my ass perfectly round, my windbreaker and worn sneakers and I shrugged. “You ladies have your work cut out for you.”
“Dressing you will be the easy part,” Eva assured me with a kind smile. “It’s making you comfortable with your new wardrobe that will very likely test my patience until I’m forced to threaten you.”
“Threaten me, and I’ll threaten your baby booties,” I told her as I folded my arms and arched a brow.
Sophie and Olive groaned at the same time, and Sophie shook her head. “Ankle booties. Baby booties are for babies, Joss.”
Oh. “Then you definitely have your work cut out for you,” I said with a laugh. “But the good news is that I’m a willing victim, so let’s do this.”
The makeover session took up the entire afternoon, but when it was all over, an eternity later, the reflection staring back at me was familiar, but way more fabulous.
And hotter.
Ben
Being in charge of a building full of hormonal teenagers required constant oversight, which is why I kept an open-door policy whenever possible. It wasn’t just to keep an eye on the students though, I wanted everyone in the building to know they could always come and talk to me, whether they had a problem to gnaw on, or a success to celebrate. It was all part of being principal of a school, but it was my favorite part of the job.
“Lookin’ good, Ms. Callahan.” The young voice was vaguely familiar, but the appreciation in his tone was unmistakable.
“Yeah, what a hottie!” That voice I knew well, and it belonged to a kid from a prominent family who wouldn’t tolerate such disrespectful behavior. I was on my feet in an instant, marching towards my office door to talk to the boys about the proper way to treat a lady.
“Boys,” I barked at the two of them. They leaned against the blue metal lockers, gazes locked on a familiar figure. Sort of.
Snickers sounded beside me, but I ignored them as I took in the sight. Long blond hair, decidedly not in a bouncy ponytail, but with touchable waves that cascaded around her shoulders.
“Yeah, he sees her.” I saw her all right, her being Joss, who had always been beautiful in that natural, girl-next-door way, but this version of her, she was stunning.
“Totally,” the boys’ laughter grew louder and I was vaguely aware that I was staring, but I couldn’t look away.
She had on one of those shirt dresses, blue and black plaid flannel-looking with tight pants that looked…were they leather? Joss turned as I took in the knee-high boots with the three, maybe four inch heel. And makeup. She was wearing makeup that made her blue eyes bluer and smoky, her lips pink and pouty, her cheeks sharp and pink.
“Ms. Callahan, are these boys bothering you?” My tone was harsher than I meant it to be, earning a frown from Joss.
“Not at all, Principal Rutherford.” She gifted me with a bland smile that wasn’t quite as bright as I was used to from her, and I wondered if she was still upset about the date confusion. “Thank you for the compliments boys, but maybe you should save those kind words for girls your own age.”