Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“So I’ll wear a coat.” I twirl around and watch the skirt flow gracefully, accentuating my hips and legs. The silky fabric gently billows and catches the light as I move. The halter neckline frames my straight shoulders and emphasizes my neck, while the bodice fits snugly, highlighting my curves before flaring out into a full, pleated skirt. “This dress looks dazzling on me. You have a good eye, Dee.”
“Why is it so important that you look dazzling in the UK?”
I stop twirling. “You know I always like to look my best.”
Diana tilts her head. “Brianna, I got you that dress because you don’t have anything like it. You wear jeans and cowboy boots all the time.”
She’s not wrong. Diana has always been more feminine than I am. But if I’m going to catch Jesse Pike’s eye…
“Brianna, look at me.”
I take my gaze away from my own reflection and turn to my sister. “What?”
“You look beautiful. But I get the feeling…”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t try to be someone you’re not, Bree. It never works.”
Not only is Diana the smartest of all the Steel kids, she’s also the most intuitive. She always seems to know what I’m thinking before I do.
“Don’t be silly. I can enjoy a dress every now and then.”
“Of course you can. Why else would I have bought it for you? But my point is that you don’t have to be someone you’re not to impress anyone.”
“Who says I’m trying to impress anyone?” I ask innocently.
“No one’s saying that.” This time Diana’s feigning innocence.
I let out a heavy sigh. Diana’s the closest person in the world to me, and I have to confide in someone. “Listen, Dee, let me tell you a little secret.”
She smiles then. “I’m listening—”
A knock on the door interrupts us.
For crying out loud…
“Yeah? Come on in,” I say with exasperation.
Mom enters, wearing leggings and a sweatshirt. Our mother is still so beautiful, even nearing fifty-one. There’s hardly a wrinkle on her face, and only a few streaks of silver in her hair, which she keeps covered with hair color. Her figure is still stunning, and her eyes are magnificent. No wonder Dad calls her blue eyes.
“Bree, there’s someone here to see you.” Then she looks at me. “Is that the dress from Diana? You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say. “I absolutely love it.”
“Certainly not your usual style,” Mom says.
“Which is why I bought it for her,” Diana says. “She may only wear it once or twice a year, but it’s perfect for her body type.”
“Indeed it is,” Mom agrees. Then, “It’s Jesse Pike. He wants to see you for some reason. He wouldn’t say why.”
I widen my eyes, my heart pounding. “He’s here?”
“Yeah. He wants to see you. I assume it has something to do with the tour.”
“Yeah, that must be it.” I turn to Diana. “Unzip me, will you?”
Diana turns me around, makes me face her. “Why don’t you keep it on?”
I look down at my legs. I haven’t shaved in a few days, and dark stubble is starting to erupt.
“Oh, hell no. Unzip me.”
“I’ll tell him you’ll be right down.” Mom leaves, closing the door behind her.
Diana helps me out of the dress, and I throw on a pair of jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt. I keep my feet bare. My bronze polished toes still look good from my pedicure a few days ago.
“You seem nervous,” Diana says.
I try to still my fidgeting body. “Why would I be nervous?”
Diana curls her lips into a surly grin. “I don’t know, baby sis. Why don’t you tell me?”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“You may as well tell me now,” she says. “I’m pretty sure you were going to before Mom interrupted us. We both know you’re going to tell me at some point, and I have to leave soon. I’m meeting Ashley over at her and Dale’s house for dinner tonight.”
“Oh, she invited you?”
“Yeah. Since we had a big dinner on Christmas Eve, Ashley decided to do dinner tonight with just Dale and her mom, Willow. Since Ash and I are friends, she invited me.”
“Okay, sounds fun.” I attempt to look my sister in her eyes, even though I’m pretty sure I’m not fooling her. “But there’s nothing to tell, Diana. I swear.”
Lying to my sister is never a good look. She already knows it’s a big fake.
But I scurry down the hallway to the foyer where Jesse Pike stands, looking more handsome than ever.
“Jesse,” I gasp. “Did you cut your hair?”
His hair is normally around the same length as my brother Dale’s, but now it’s been cut and layered so it sits right above his shoulders.
And damn…he looks even better.
“It was time,” he says in his rich drawl.
“Why?”
“Easier to manage for the tour.”
“Right. That makes sense.” I clear my throat. “You wanted to see me?”
He points to the belt buckle that he’s wearing. It looks great against his medium-blue jeans.