Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
The Sweet Summit Bakery smelled of freshly baked bread and cinnamon. Display cases showcased glistening pastries. And the gurgle of the espresso machine filled the air. Liv looked up from her half-eaten bear claw and waved at Laney. “I’m so excited you texted me! I’ve got the perfect plan for our shopping spree.” Her nerves eased a little seeing Liv’s friendly smile.
“Thank you for doing this. I really need an outfit for the festival.” Laney slid into the chair opposite Max’s sister, noticing how put-together Liv looked even in casual clothes. Liv pushed a cup of coffee toward Laney. “I’m not good at... fashion.” Laney wrapped her hands around the warm mug.
Liv waved dismissively. “Everyone says that until they find their style. You have gorgeous features—we just need to highlight them.”
Liv and Laney finished their coffees, then walked a few blocks to Evergreen Elegance, a boutique Liv had told her had trendy mountain-town fashion. The showroom had an open floor plan, with soft music playing. Mannequins draped in warm sweaters and stylish dresses lined the front display, while shelves of shoes and accessories occupied the back. They sorted through racks, Liv occasionally holding up items against Laney.
“These blues are totally your color. Trust me, your skin tone loves cool undertones,” Liv said.
Laney nodded apprehensively. “I’ve never tried anything like that.”
Her mind drifted to the upcoming festival and how she hoped to impress Max. The last time she’d seen him, she’d run away. He’d texted her several times, but she’d given him curt replies, unsure what to say after her impulsive behavior.
Liv pulled a long-sleeved mini dress off the rack and held it up to Laney. It was deep blue with a subtle V-neck. “This is the one for opening night,” Liv said with a wink.
“Really? Won’t this make me look even shorter?”
“No way. You need to show off those legs.”
Laney reluctantly took the dress and stepped into the changing room. She carefully removed her street clothes and pulled on the dress, tying the wrap at the waist. She stepped out to show Liv, feeling self-conscious and adjusting the dress’s neckline.
Liv gasped, clapping her hands. “Oh my gosh, you look stunning! Max will drop dead.”
Laney blushed. “You really think it’s not... too much?”
She’d never seen herself so dressed up, unsure whether she was betraying her usual understated style. Despite her unease, a thrill ran through her at how confident she looked. The woman in the mirror appeared sophisticated and attractive—nothing like the awkward scientist who had fled from Max’s embrace.
“It’s perfect,” Liv insisted. “Not too formal for the festival, but special enough to make an impression. We just need to find you the right shoes. How about these ankle boots? This stacked heel will give you a little extra height.”
“Okay…” Laney said, unsure if she could pull any of this off.
“Great! Now let’s find you some other pieces to update your wardrobe.”
Liv grabbed more outfits for Laney to try on. They ranged from date night dresses, to business casual, to activewear. Laney reluctantly agreed, letting Liv add them to the growing pile. The boutique’s cashier rang everything up while Liv hummed with satisfaction.
“I guess I do need more variety for work and weekends,” Laney said.
Liv nodded firmly. “Exactly. You’ll thank me later.”
Laney felt a pang of anxiety for spending so much money on clothes. But her job at the Bright Institute was paying her quite well. She’d never focused on clothing before. If she was going to be brave enough to face Max at the festival, she needed all the confidence she could get.
Liv and Laney drove across town to Mountain Muse Salon. They were greeted by a pair of stylists who gushed over Liv’s “client of the day,” ushering Laney into a swivel chair for a full makeover.
The salon smelled of floral shampoo and hair products, with large mirrors reflecting bright overhead lighting. Stations lined with brushes, bottles, and makeup palettes gave the space a lively, professional vibe.
One stylist said, “We’ll start with a trim and some face-framing layers, then talk about color if you’re ready.”
Liv winked at Laney. “You’re going to love this. Trust me.”
She was nervous, but Liv’s presence reassured her. She’d never had a group of people invest in making her look good. Part of her worried she was hiding her real self, but another part thrilled at the attention and care.
The stylist ran her fingers through Laney’s curly hair. “Your natural texture is gorgeous. We just need to shape it to enhance your face.”
Laney sat motionless as the stylist worked, watching inches of hair fall to the floor. Her fox stirred anxiously, unused to such dramatic changes. She breathed slowly, reminding herself that this was what she wanted—a fresh start, a confident appearance to match the mate of someone like Max.
“Have you always been a redhead?” the stylist asked, examining Laney’s natural color.
“Yes, it’s from my father’s side,” Laney said, thinking of her fox shifter heritage.
“It’s beautiful. I’m going to enhance it with some highlights—nothing dramatic, just to bring out the natural dimension.”
An hour later, another stylist laid out makeup shades, demonstrating how they complemented Laney’s complexion. Laney carefully copied the stylist’s application techniques, peering at her reflection in the mirror.
A rainbow of eyeshadow palettes covered the counter. Lipsticks in soft pinks and bold reds awaited her choice. Laney’s newly trimmed hair, shining from a fresh blowout, framed her face more flatteringly than she’d ever seen.
The makeup artist said, “A subtle, smoky eye will be gorgeous with your new dress. And these neutral lip colors will fit any occasion.”
Laney murmured, “I’ve never worn anything like this before. It’s so... beautiful.”
She stared at her reflection, barely recognizing the woman gazing back. A giddy sense of confidence filled her chest. The makeup artist showed her how to apply foundation that enhanced rather than covered her freckles, explaining that they added character to her look.
“Contour here, highlight there,” the makeup artist demonstrated. “You have excellent bone structure—we just need to emphasize it.”
Liv watched from a nearby chair, nodding approvingly. Laney absorbed every tip, determined to recreate this look for the festival. Her old insecurities whispered that she was fooling herself, that no amount of makeup could make her worthy of Max, but the woman in the mirror projected confidence she’d never possessed.
Liv and Laney stepped away from the salon chairs, turning toward the large wall mirror. Laney stood in awe, running a hand lightly through her styled hair. Warm overhead lights accentuated Laney’s transformed look. Her hair had more shape and shine, and her makeup tastefully highlighted her features. Liv grinned from ear to ear. “Girl, you look incredible. Max won’t know what hit him!”
“I can’t believe this is me,” Laney replied, voice trembling. For the first time, her appearance matched how she wanted to feel—confident, attractive, worthy of attention.
The stylist handed Laney a bag of products. “Everything we used today.”
“Thank you,” Laney said, still mesmerized by her reflection.
After paying, Laney and Liv gathered shopping bags and salon freebies, stepping outside into the late afternoon sun.
“I don’t know how to thank you. I’ve never felt this... put together,” Laney said.
Liv laughed, “Just promise me you’ll come to the festival dressed to kill. I want to see my brother’s jaw hit the floor.”
She felt a surge of warmth, thinking about the festival and how Max might react. But a flicker of doubt nagged at her. She still hadn’t told him about being a half-shifter. The makeover felt wonderful, but it didn’t change the fundamental fact she was hiding. Sooner or later, she’d need to tell Max the truth.
“I promise,” Laney said.
Liv pulled her into a quick hug. “This was fun. We should make it a regular thing.”
The casual offer of friendship caught Laney off guard. She’d moved to Fate Mountain for work, never expecting to find personal connections. Yet here was Liv, treating her like family already.