Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
My mother looks up at him in total shock. But she gets her wits together quickly enough.
My breath catches in my throat. I’m like a frozen rabbit, terrified of what will come next.
“How dare you speak to me like that in my own house? You’re fired!” She points dramatically toward the door. “Get out! Now! Or I’ll have you thrown off the premises.”
The arrow in my chest digs in further, robbing me of all breath now. Oh god, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. I don’t know what I’ll do without Isaak. He’s been the only anchor keeping me tethered to the ground this week.
“If I go, Kira goes.” Isaak calmly steps back and leans against the wall with his arms crossed. His eyes move from my mother’s to catch mine. He gives a small, meaningful nod, eyes intense. He’s not going anywhere.
Finally, I’m able to suck in a breath, and I nod back.
“If he goes,” I say, finally able to find my voice again, “I go.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Carol snaps. “It’s your engagement party.”
“Then why don’t you go check on the caterers to make sure everything’s in order while my make-up gets finished?” My voice gets firmer with every word. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
She makes a little squeak, eyes darting from me to Isaak to the make-up artist before she finally twirls on her foot and stomps from the room. “Your father’s going to hear about this!” she declares loudly before she pushes through the door, slamming it behind her.
“What a bitch,” the make-up artist mutters under her breath.
My gaze connects one more time with Isaak’s, and I try to convey all the gratitude I feel as relief slowly sweeps through my chest, the arrow finally dissolving.
“All right, relax, and keep your eyes closed, or we’ll never finish,” the make-up artist says, and dutifully, I close my eyes. But only because I know Isaak will still be there, protecting me.
FOURTEEN
ISAAK
Kira looks nothing like herself once the make-up artist is done with her.
It’s like the lady recontoured her face to make her look like a total stranger. All the freckles are gone. Her nose is straighter. Her lips are bigger.
She looks like every other Barbie in Dallas now, with her straight, flat hair.
And the dress they put her in… I mean, sure, she’s beautiful. But the look she flashes me as she tugs at the lace collar that’s buttoned with a million little pearl buttons up to her neck tells me she feels all but strangled in the damn thing. It’s some form-fitted beige lace thing that suctions to her body on the top and poofs out like a princess gown on the bottom. Beautiful, sure, if you’re into that untouchable ice-princess kinda thing.
And anyone who’s met Kira for even an afternoon would know it’s nothing like her.
Kira paces nervously back and forth in the room after the make-up artist packs up, leaving just me and her.
“Hey,” I say. “It’s going to go great. You look beautiful.”
She whips around and glares at me. “I look like a doll my mother dressed up.”
I shrug. “That too.”
She breathes out. “Good. Radical honesty, remember?”
“Well, if I’m being radically honest, you look uncomfortable and nervous but very nice. You’re strong, and your mom can’t corner you once you get out to dinner with all those people around you, right?”
She nods, fidgeting her hands together nervously. “That’s the hope.”
I walk to the window and peek out the front shade. “Everyone’s arriving, so she’ll be busy with them.” I’ve been looking out every so often, and it’s been a constant flow, first with all the catering trucks and now with folks as fancy-looking as Kira in her ballgown.
Kira breathes out again. “Okay. Okay. She likes to play happy family when other people are around. And she hasn’t tried to kick you out again, so Dad must have talked her down.”
I walk up behind her and squeeze her shoulders. “It’s going to be fine. Just try to stay calm, or as calm as possible with that shrew around. And after it’s all done, we can move into the hotel suite tonight. You’ll have a bed all to yourself.” I try to put a smirk in my voice. “Though I will miss waking up to you snuggling me.”
She whips around and smacks me on the chest, which has me grinning.
“What? I bet you’ll miss it, too.”
“I will miss no such thing.” It’s hard to tell through the pounds of make-up and something the make-up artist called bronzer, but I think she’s blushing. Never had so much fun making a woman blush. Though, now that I know how much fun it is, my mind immediately jumps to a thousand more inventive ways to make it happen.
I take a step back from her, but our gazes are still locked. Something about the way she’s looking back at me makes me think she’s reading my mind. Heat crackles between us. Damn, I haven’t had this much chemistry with a woman since, I don’t know when.