Chapter 19
danielle
Cynda put the finishing touches on my hair and stepped back. “Okay, you can take a look now.” She handed me a mirror and spun the stool around so I could check out the back in the large vanity mirror in her and Jason’s spacious en suite bathroom.
She had piled my hair on top of my head in big, soft curls that spilled down in a feminine cascade, showing off my neck and the dip in the back of my dress. And she’d put a little rhinestone clip on the side that sparkled when it caught the light.
“Oh my god, Cynda! How did you learn to do hair like this?” I gasped when I saw it.
She shrugged. “My mom was a beautician,” she said. “She taught me a few things.”
“It’s absolutely stunning!” I couldn’t get over how perfect it looked. It didn’t even look like my plain, boring straight brown hair. Right now it looked shiny and glowing from within. Like magic.
I stood up on shaky legs. I couldn’t believe what a crazy week it had been. Had it really only been a week? Talk about a whirlwind. I went from a first date to moving in with the guy, breaking my leg, losing my lead role, and questioning all my life choices all in one week?!
I guess it’s time to put on my dress and get this show on the road.
Before I could hobble into Cynda’s bedroom, there was a knock at the door, and Jason poked his head in. I was wearing a robe—but, again, being a theater chick, having someone see me half naked wasn’t a problem.
“Hey, Raine is here to see you off. Can she come in?”
“Yes, of course, thanks, Jason!”
I noticed he had Sushi in his arms. That cat, who was so skittish a week ago, was now letting him carry her around like a baby. How crazy was that? She wasn’t the only one who’d undergone huge changes this week!
Raine burst through the door and actually froze in her tracks when she spotted my hair. Her hands flew to her mouth, and she squeezed out, “Oh my god, Dani! Your hair is gorgeous. Now that’s what it should have looked like when you were in Hello, Dolly! Did you do her makeup too, Cynda?”
Cynda shrugged. “Just added a bit to her natural beauty.”
“That smoky eye is to die for!” Raine exclaimed. “If you ever want a job at the theater, let me know. I’m doing my costuming final in May, and we sure could use a hair and makeup artist like you.”
“Happy to help wherever I’m needed,” Cynda said graciously as she swept out of the room, leaving behind her positive energy.
Raine handed me my crutches so I could get into the bedroom. “Is that your dress?” She pointed to the garment bag hanging from the curtain rod on the far side of the room.
“Yes, would you mind getting it out of the bag for me?” I was glad she was here to help me get ready.
“Of course. So…how are things going with you and Aris? He’s okay with you going as Noah’s date tonight?”
“Yes, of course.” I grinned. “He helped me pick out this dress, and he even fucked me in the dressing room.”
If Raine had been sipping a drink when I tossed that little tidbit out there, she would have choked on it and sprayed it all over the place. “What happened to the demure Miss Goody Two Shoes Danielle I’ve known since our junior year of undergrad?”
I laughed. “I think Aris has corrupted me.”
“You think?” Her gaze swept down the dress as she drew it out of the bag. “My god, Danielle…a fire-engine-red dress, too? Who are you?!”
I cocked my head. “I’m not a shrinking violet, I’ll tell you that.”
“Of course not. You’ve always been leading lady material, girl.” Raine fingered the dress’s silky material. “This is gorgeous.”
“I just didn’t believe I was leading lady material, you know?” I sighed as she brought the dress over to me and helped me step into it. “I know my voice is there. And my acting skills are top-notch. But I’ve always had casting directors pass me up because of my size. To combat that, I’ve learned to project confidence. I’ve done everything I could to compensate, except one thing…”
“What’s that?” She waited as I wiggled my hips, pulling the dress up so she could zip it.
“I don’t think I really believed in myself, believed I deserved it,” I admitted. “I always thought someday I’d get the weight off, and then I’d be able to get all the roles I’ve ever wanted because my voice is good enough. But you know what?”
“What?”
“I deserve it now,” I said with resolve. “Yes, I’m a bigger girl, but bigger girls deserve to be represented in the theater. And who says that every female love interest has to be a skinny minnie? Nothing, that’s what.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Raine agreed as she worked the zipper Aris had already loosened. This time it slid right up my back, and the fabric hugged my curves.
I slowly turned, letting the skirt of the dress curve around my legs in a beautiful swirl. “Well, what do you think?”
“My god, Danielle—you’re gonna knock ‘em dead tonight.” She clapped her hands. “Standing O for sure!”
I heard the master suite bedroom door open and straightened to my full height. Aris leaned over and adjusted my black tie. “You look smokin’ hot in that tux,” he whispered in my ear as he pinched my ass cheek hard enough to make me wince.
Then both of our gazes were riveted on the hallway as Danielle made her way—albeit slowly—toward us.
“Tada!” Raine jumped out of the hallway first and did a dramatic Vanna White-type flourish to showcase the diamond of the evening.
“I feel really silly in this cast and one black flat,” were the first words out of Danielle’s mouth.
“You can’t see your shoes with the dress that long,” Darth helpfully pointed out from the sofa, just barely looking up from his phone.
“You look stunning!” Cynda rushed in, taking photos with her phone. “Now, you two go pose by the fireplace. C’mon now.”
She was just like a mom on prom night, wanting to get pics of her kid and his date all dressed up. We humored her, my arm around Danielle as we posed. I leaned in toward her, my hand on the small of her back. This close, her intoxicating fragrance wafted into my nose.
I hadn’t been this close to a woman since Emma—other than in a professional capacity, of course. I didn’t date during college or medical school, but I’d had a couple of longer-term girlfriends since I earned my M.D., the last of whom was Emma. None of them could really “see the light at the end of the tunnel” when it came to what they viewed as me prioritizing my career over them. I was building up my practice and creating a positive reputation for myself.
Now Alexandra Bagby was trying to destroy everything I’d worked for.
Well, not if I had anything to say about it.
After Cynda was done with her barrage of photos, she took off her paparazzi hat and put her mom one back on. “Well, kids, are we all ready for tonight?”
Danielle stood up straight, her shoulders squaring as she looked me in the eye. “We’re playing roles tonight. I’m Danielle Delacroix, newly engaged to Dr. Noah Evans. We’ve been dating for six months, and we met at a local antiques club,” she verified our story.
“Oh, the ring!” Aris remembered.
“Yes, I meant to have you try it on yesterday, but it was so crazy, I forgot.” I nodded toward Aris. “Do you mind grabbing it off the dresser?”
“Ring?” She batted her eyelashes and looked down at her left hand. “I was just going to use this cheap costume piece. It’s not a diamond, but the ruby matches my dress, right?”
Aris returned with the black velvet box and presented it to me. Danielle’s brow arched as she looked at the box and then at me. “What’s that?”
“It’s a wedding ring set,” I said. “It belonged to my mother. If the engagement ring fits, you can wear it tonight. If not, you can wear the ruby one.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
I opened the box, and revealed the diamond solitaire ring.
“Wow, that is gorgeous!” she squealed, reaching in to pry it out of its little satin nest. She appeared to hold her breath as she slid it down onto her left ring finger. “Perfect fit. Wow!” She admired the way it sparkled in the light before turning toward me. “Are you sure I should wear it? I’m so afraid something might happen to it, and?—”
I held out a hand to stop her. “I’m not emotionally attached to it. If it fits, and you think it helps the story, then, by all means, wear it.”
“Wow, okay. Thank you.” She held her hand up again to admire it. “It just looks so good there. Like it belongs.”
I didn’t miss the look Cynda flashed to Jason. Darth stood up and stretched. “Where are you guys going again?”
“The charity ball for the leukemia research society,” I told him before glancing at the clock on the living room wall. “And we’re running a little late. Raine, were you able to get the wheelchair for us?”
“Yes, of course. It’s on the porch.” She had access to the university’s vast costume and prop warehouse and was able to sign it out for the weekend. Aris or I could have gotten one through the hospital network, but we didn’t want that somehow coming back to Alexandra or her father.
I turned toward Danielle with a smile. “Ready to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, darling.” She winked. “Now, remember, the most important rule of acting, especially improv—meaning there’s no script—is to follow your fellow actors’ leads. If they introduce something new, run with it. The key to successful improv is to always say yes.”
I nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
* * *
Aris offered to be our driver to and from the event so we wouldn’t have to order a rideshare service. I theorized he also just wanted to keep an eye on Danielle and me, plus feel like he was somehow contributing. The way he was so protective of her was really sweet.
She probably wouldn’t like being my date now that she was used to Aris because I wasn’t anywhere near as sweet and thoughtful as he was. But we were both playing roles tonight, so maybe I could channel my inner Aris and show her a good time by behaving the way a doting fiancé would.
Aris pulled my Acura up to the curb outside the venue, which was all lit up with luminaria and strands of white lights in the trees outside the building. The windows of the conference center were aglow with light from the massive modern-looking chandeliers that hung in a neat row in the lobby area, where people were already mingling during the cocktail hour. There was a red carpet to walk to get into the event.
I was not expecting that.
And the red carpet was lined with photographers and members of the press. I wondered if the reporter who was writing the story about the malpractice suit was in attendance. I didn’t know what she looked like, but Maggie had given me her name.
“Ready?” I leaned over to press a kiss to Danielle’s cheek, and she stiffened under my touch. “Everything okay?”
“Sorry, yes. I’m just…not in character yet. I wasn’t expecting you to be either.” She gave a nervous giggle.
“Aris, can you get the wheelchair set up? And I’ll come around and help Danielle out of the car.”
“I’m on it.” He threw the car into park and opened the door. Seconds later, he was rolling the wheelchair to her side of the car and helping her out. He made sure her long red dress wouldn’t get caught in the wheels and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
I wasn’t sure if anyone saw that, but I flashed him a glare. Just what I needed, some more rumors—ones that wouldn’t help my image. Ugh. Being a public figure under constant scrutiny was not my cup of tea. I was sure Aris would deal perfectly well with fame—he’d make a great rock star or actor or professional athlete.
I just wanted to cut people open and fix their noses and throats.
Huh, that didn’t come out quite right, but you know what I mean. I didn’t need any fanfare or attention. I just wanted happy patients.
I bent down to be eye level with my beautiful date. “Ready for this?”
She had a fierce but determined smile affixed to her face. All the reporters’ eyes snapped to us as we rolled along the red carpet, the flashes from their cameras temporarily blinding me. But when I looked down, I noticed Danielle was waving to them all, completely in control like she owned the place.
I sucked in a deep breath. It was going to be a long night. As we rolled up to a table of volunteers so we could check in, a security guard ambled over to us. “Do you need any assistance, ma’am?” he asked Danielle.
“Oh, no, sir. Thank you. I’m sure Dr. Evans can handle it.” She looked up at me with her wide doe eyes, her natural beauty enhanced by Cynda’s artistry. A sultry confidence emanated from them, making me feel a little weak in the knees.
Whoa, was not expecting that either.
I checked in with the volunteers and received our table number and drink tickets. They pointed me toward a glass box at the end of the room where I could make my donation. It sparkled on a round red velvet-draped table under an elegant chandelier.
“Let me take care of this really quickly, and then I’ll get us some drinks. Where would you like me to take you?” I asked, once again bending down so I could talk to Danielle face-to-face.
She maintained her smile while she spoke to me, “If you could just wheel me over to the side for a moment, I’ll get the lay of the land while you make your donation. And if you see Alexandra or her dad, make sure to point them out to me.”
“Will do,” I assured her.
Then she unexpectantly grabbed my hand. “And, listen, if this is going to work—we need to be noticeably into each other, you know, grab people’s attention. If we go on like this, so politely and stiffly, no one is going to pay any attention to us or believe we’re madly in love.”
I scoffed. “Well, those reporters were definitely checking us out.”
“Yes, but they were photographing everyone walking the carpet. We want them to pursue us in here too, hopefully catch us in an intimate moment.” Her eyebrows waggled suggestively.
“You act like you’ve done this before.” I licked my lower lip as I guided us past the volunteer table and a few cocktail tables to where the donation table was.
“I haven’t,” she insisted, “but we’re playing roles tonight, remember? You’re the successful doctor who is showing off his new fiancée. And I’m the doting fiancée who always wants to make her man look good. We need to act like we’re in love, right?”
“Gotcha. Yes, of course you’re right. Let me slip this envelope into the box, and I’ll be right back.”
I headed toward the glass box while pulling my donation check out of my inner suit pocket. As I slipped the check into the slot and watched it slide down on top of the other donations, I took a deep, cleansing breath. I didn’t know if there was such a thing as a patron saint for actors, but I needed to pray to them tonight…