CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Nadine
On Monday, after Reynolds left following a weekend of marathon sex, I tried to lie to myself about how I felt.
I wanted to be all casual about it. But that’s not how I felt at all.
I sighed and flung myself on the comfy leather couch.
There was a soft and pretty throw blanket on the back of the couch that I pulled over myself.
Maybe I could just sleep away my mixed feelings.
I mean, what was wrong with me? I’d been warned by Carmen, Mama, Madeline and the rest of the girls at Cinnamon House.
Yet here I was, sad. It’s just that Reynolds was so perfect.
He was so handsome and had an amazing body.
But it wasn’t just how he looked. He was also nice and funny and caring.
And he was amazing in bed. Like, whatever I’d had with Mark was ridiculous and juvenile compared to this.
Sex was so much more than I’d ever thought it could be.
Maybe I’d be crazy if I didn’t develop feelings for him. Despite that, I couldn’t. I didn’t want to be devastated at the end of these six months.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
I hurried over, halfway hoping it was Reynolds back for one more kiss or round of sex before he went to work.
It was Carmen. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She was wearing a beautiful burgundy skirt and blouse that looked wonderful with her coloring.
It also hugged her figure just right. Her hair and makeup were perfect, too.
I looked down at the old T-shirt and shorts I was wearing. God. I looked like a troll next to her.
She agreed.
“What the fuck are you wearing? And why is your hair not done? What about your makeup?”
My eyes went wide as I blinked at her. “It’s early, Carmen.”
“Did Reynolds see you looking like this?”
I made a guilty face. “Maybe?”
“Unacceptable. He paid three million dollars for you, Nadine. You need to look like a perfect, fuckable, princess. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I said, chastened.
“Good.” She looked around the condo. “Do you have anything for breakfast?”
“Um…” I didn’t know. Reynolds and I had spent so much time in bed and ordering out that I hadn’t examined what all was in the fridge.
Carmen had already walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Oh, good. I love these.” She pulled out two cups of yogurt and handed one to me. Then she opened the pantry.
“What are you looking for…”
Before I could finish my question, she was already handing me a cup of granola. She got one for herself, grabbed two spoons from a drawer, then went and sat at the booth-style table in the breakfast nook.
“Come on, Nadine. We have a lot to talk about.”
I followed her. “How do you know where everything is?”
“You know the building is called Salazar Heights, right? As in my family owns it.”
“Well, yeah.”
“This is where we put up most of the Cinnamon Girls during their contracts. All the condos are laid out the same. And I handle all the arrangements for getting everything set up. Plus, Nico lives on the penthouse floor.” She grabbed my yogurt, opened the plastic lid that was on the cup, and poured the granola in.
She stirred it around then handed it to me. “Sit down.”
I sat.
She did the same to her own yogurt and granola. We were quiet for a moment while we ate breakfast.
“Did you catch feelings for Reynolds yet?”
My eyes shot up to hers, and I almost choked on a piece of granola. “No,” I said defensively.
She looked skeptical. “I hope not. If you have, you’ve got to fight that shit off. Seriously. He will walk away from your ass so fast in six months it’ll make your head spin.”
Well. Okay. I swallowed hard.
“But,” she continued, pointing her spoon at me. “We’ll be ready for that. I have plans for you.”
Why did that scare me?
Carmen laughed. “You don’t have to look scared, Nadine. The plans are all good. You’ll see.”
“Will I think they’re good?”
She shrugged. “Okay. First, I have a career plan for you.”
My eyebrows shot up. “A career plan?”
She nodded and looked excited.
“Why are you helping me?” I already knew from the other girls that Carmen was nice enough to them but had never gotten involved in any of their lives.
“I don’t know. Not really.” She looked out the window at the water. “I guess I just see something special in you. And I can tell you’re smart. And you’re good with people.”
“I am?”
She nodded. “You’re not dumb, Nadine. I know you think you are. I think you just have to be very interested in something to pay attention to it. I’ve seen you very focused when reading those smutty books you like.” She grinned, as if waiting for me to defend myself.
“Half the female population likes those kinds of books.”
“I agree. I’m just messing with you. I like them, too. Anyway, something else I’ve noticed is that people like you pretty much immediately. That’s an outstanding quality, and I want to take advantage of it.”
I frowned. What did that mean?
“I want you to get your real estate license. It will take about four months to get your salesperson’s license, and then you can be on staff with Salazar Real Estate. You can be one of Javy or Enzo’s assistants.”
My mouth was hanging open. “Seriously?”
“Don’t get too excited. They each have, like, fifty assistants. But they agree with me. You have what it takes to be a broker on your own one day. And when I say on your own, I mean a broker for Salazar Real Estate.”
“But isn’t there a test? I’ve heard it’s hard. Maybelle Dickens failed it three times before she gave up and started her catering company.”
“You can handle it, Nadine. Besides, I’ve already signed you up for the course. You’ll start next week.”
I gave her a doubtful look, but said nothing.
“But first, you need some work.” She looked me over. “We sometimes hire a lady that helps with etiquette. I hired her for you. You’re going to meet her sometime soon.”
“God. She’s going to hate me.”
“Probably,” Carmen nodded. “But that’s okay. She’ll teach you what you need to know to make it in society.”
“What happened to using Madeline for that? She was helping me with grammar.”
“Madeline’s busy. Plus, I’ve hired her to help you with presentation instead.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Presentation?”
“How you present yourself.”
I huffed out a breath. “I knew what it meant. I just wondered why I need help with it.”
“Because you’re not in Puckins anymore. And you’re going to need to look like a West Bay career woman—sophisticated, elegant, classy, and understated—to succeed in this town. Right now, you’re none of those things.”
Ouch. I nodded.
“So, can I relax today?” I was tired from the marathon sex sessions with Reynolds. Not that I was complaining. It was wonderful. I stretched as I thought about him, his fabulous body, gorgeous face, and talented hands, tongue, and…other parts.
“Nope.” Carmen had finished her yogurt. “Are there any blueberries in the fridge?”
“Yes.” I got up to go get them. I’d seen them when I’d tried to set up the charcuterie board for Reynolds.
“Madeline is coming over tomorrow. She’s taking you shopping this week. Did Reynolds give you a credit card?”
I nodded.
“Good. Use the hell out of it.” When she saw the look on my face, she laughed. “Oh, he can afford it, Nadine. Trust me.”
“Every Friday you’ll have a spa day. It’s to keep you waxed and perfect for Reynolds. But,” she held up a finger, “it’s also for you to learn hair and makeup.”
“Hold up. I can do hair and makeup…”
“Society woman style,” she interrupted.
I deflated. That wasn’t the style I had mastered. Mine was more the big hair, thick makeup, small town pageant queen style. “I have something every day, huh?”
“Yep.” She popped a blueberry in her mouth and chewed. “Then next week you’re going to driver’s ed. I know you can’t drive. Your Mama told me.”
I stared at her. “You’ve been talking to Mama? Every time I try to call, she doesn’t answer.”
“Yes. And, yeah, she’s screening your calls. She’s afraid you’re going to call her and beg to come home.”
I rolled my eyes. I wouldn’t do that. “Well, how’s she doing?”
“Great. I got all her debts taken care of and bought her a car, courtesy of Reynolds. She’s moving to West Bay in a few months. I’m going to help find her house.”
My eyes widened. “She doesn’t want me to help her with that?”
Carmen shook her head. “It’s not that. She and I both agreed that it would be better for you if the two of you have little contact during your contract with Reynolds.”
Jeez. That made me feel lonely and homesick.
Carmen must’ve realized. “Okay, get ready. I’m taking you to enroll in the real estate school. There are things that need to be done in person that I couldn’t do online.”
I blinked. Then I finished my last bit of yogurt mixed with granola. I started to clear the table, but Carmen stopped me. “I’ll take care of that. Just go make yourself beautiful. There won’t be time for you to fix yourself up again before Reynolds comes over after work.”
“Oh, I’m not sure he’s coming over today…”
Carmen laughed. “I am.”
***
Things were moving fast.
I spent every weekend and every evening in bed with Reynolds. He never spent the night like he had on that first weekend. And we always ordered in. I was never with him outside the walls of the condo. He was following the rules he put in place to a T.
Then Madeline had shown up this morning to take me shopping. Again. We’d already been a few times. If she and I had been close before, we were heading towards best friend status at this point.
And here I was in a fancy boutique downtown with her.
I watched as Madeline pulled garment after garment off the racks.
“I don’t understand why I need so much…”