CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Nadine
“What’s wrong with it?” I liked the miniskirt and halter top I was wearing.
Madeline sighed and sank into the plush wingback chair to the side of the dressing rooms.
“How do you not know this by now? We’ve been over this Nadine. Unless you’re onstage and about to strip…”
A middle-aged woman shopping at a rack near us gasped.
“What?” Madeline asked loudly and stared at her.
The lady grabbed whatever she was looking at and hurried away from us.
“Nosy bitch,” Madeline sniffed. “Anyway, unless you’re onstage, you want to hint at the body underneath the clothes. You don’t want to show everything off, you know? It’s sexier to leave something to the imagination.”
“I’m not sure my ex-boyfriend would agree with that.”
Madeline stood up and walked over to me. “And that’s why he’s still in Puckins, even if he is married to that rich girl.” She smoothed her hand over her skirt. “Look at what I’m wearing.”
I looked. Madeline always looked perfect.
She was dressed nicely without looking stuffy or boring.
She had on a blue dress that matched the color of her eyes.
She somehow made her very large breasts seem less huge.
They were tucked away just right. Like, I could tell she had big tits, but it wasn’t the only thing I saw about her.
Her long blonde hair swished around her shoulders and down her back in shiny, loose waves.
Her makeup was just right. It wasn’t too much, but it was clear she was wearing some.
She was wearing cute, heeled sandals and carried an amazing designer purse.
“You look… perfect.”
She gave me a little curtsy. “Thank you. It takes work to look like this. Every woman with a nice body and a pretty face can look like they’ll spread their legs for the right guy.”
I made a face.
“It’s true! Anyway, it takes work to look classy and sexy at the same time. That’s what we’re going for.”
I looked at my reflection. I looked… not classy. Just sexy. “Okay. I think I’m starting to get it.” This wasn’t the first time Madeline had tried to get me to pick out my own clothes instead of her doing it for me. It was, though, the first time I truly grasped exactly what she meant.
Madeline beamed at me like I was a student, and she was my proud teacher.
“Great. Until you can pick out the right clothes for yourself, I can’t graduate you from my little fashion course.
But you’re getting there, sweetie. Now, go put this on.
” She handed over a dress. “We need to get to high tea with Carmen and Lonnie Maitland soon.”
“Not again,” I groaned. I had been epically bad during most of my etiquette lessons.
It wasn’t until recently that Lonnie Maitland had declared me ready to interact in social situations where I would be around the upper echelon of society.
Finally, she seemed to be almost satisfied with me.
Not satisfied enough to say that our lessons were over, but I sensed that was coming. I hoped it was, anyway.
“Yes, again. And then we have our spa appointment. Look at me.” She turned me to face her and held me by the shoulders.
She smoothed a hand over my hair, and I winced.
I’d barely spent any time straightening it at all that morning.
“Hmm. You need another lesson on straightening your hair. It’s fine to wear it all wild and sexy at the beach,” she lowered her voice, “or in bed, or at the club, but you want it to be smooth and sleek everywhere else.”
“Fine,” I groaned and stomped off to the fitting room.
This time when I put the dress on, I really analyzed how I looked in the mirror.
The Nadine who stared back at me looked…
different. I looked classy, but not as classy as Madeline.
I could tell I still had some work to do.
But I was well on my way. I smiled at myself.
I definitely thought I’d have it down and be ready to go it alone when my contract with Reynolds was up.
That thought made the smile drop from my face. I didn’t want to think about that.
“Let’s go, Nadine,” Madeline bellowed from outside the dressing room door. I jumped.
“Damn, Madeline! You didn’t have to shout,” I griped as I opened the door.
“Sorry. I thought you couldn’t hear me. Oh! You look good. This is much better. I think Lonnie, Carmen, and Gloria are going to love this look on you.”
“Gloria?”
“Gloria Salazar. You know. Carmen’s mom? The queen of West Bay society?”
“Oh my God.” I put a hand to my abdomen in an attempt to quell the sudden fluttering of nerves. “I can’t eat in front of Gloria Salazar. I can’t do anything in front of her. I’ll make a fool of myself.”
Madeline just laughed. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I wanted to run the other way, but I followed Madeline out of the boutique and into the bright sunlight.
***
Gloria Salazar had to be sixty but looked forty.
She was beautiful, with platinum blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a killer figure.
She also had a regal air about her, and I could see why people called her the queen of West Bay.
It was clear she was in charge of any room she walked into.
The entire restaurant was watching her, but pretending they weren’t.
I was glad she wasn’t my mama. I’d be scared of her.
And that was saying something considering most people were scared of my mama.
I looked at Carmen, with her jet black hair, dark brown eyes, and olive skin. Her features didn’t match Gloria’s at all. She was also shorter and curvier than Gloria. Carmen was equally gorgeous, but no one would ever think the two of them were related, much less mother and daughter.
I could see, though, where Leo’s features had come from. He was the spitting image of his mama.
I had just taken a small bite of my Caesar salad when Gloria turned to me.
“Tell me about yourself, Nadine.”
Oh, shit. I stared across the table at Carmen and Madeline. They both looked like they wanted to laugh. Lonnie Maitland looked nervous. And I was terrified.
I quickly finished chewing and swallowed. “Um… do you want to know the truth or what Ms. Maitland wants me to tell people?”
It got quiet at the table. Everyone stared at me, and I knew I’d fucked up. At least, that’s what I thought until Gloria Salazar burst out laughing.
Carmen stared at her mother in shock, then she and Madeline both started laughing, too. Only Lonnie Maitland looked worried.
“The truth, dear. It’s always more interesting. Save whatever life Lonnie made up for you for dinner parties and galas.”
“Well, okay. You asked for it,” I laughed.
And so, I told her. I told her how Mama had raised me on her own after Daddy left us.
I told her everything, including how Mark cheated on me for two years and then married Jessica Huber because she was rich.
I told her how I’d never tried very hard in school and broke Mama’s heart by not getting into college and then flunking out of beauty school.
I told her how Carmen had saved me. Then I told her about me not being a great hostess, but that I had been a pretty good stripper.
I told her about the auction and Reynolds.
I mentioned that Carmen had plans for me.
I told her Madeline and Lonnie were helping me fit into society. I told her everything.
It was only when I had finished talking that I realized I’d given her my entire life history.
I looked around and saw that everyone was finished eating except for me.
I took a gulp of my sweet tea and felt Lonnie’s eyes on me.
I should have taken a sophisticated sip, but fuck that. I was freaking out.
Gloria looked at me, and it felt like she was about to decide the trajectory of my future. That’s how serious her face was. I stole a glance at Carmen, and it didn’t help. She looked nervous, too.
Then Gloria reached over and covered my hand with hers. “You’ve been through a lot in a short time, young lady. And I think you’re going to be just fine.” She winked at me, and I smiled.
“Good job, Carmen. You found a true diamond in the rough.” Gloria took a delicate sip of her tea, and Lonnie side-eyed me as if to say, ‘see, that’s how it’s done.’ “I think she’ll be a perfect fit at Salazar Real Estate.”
Carmen grinned and stopped just short of giving me a thumbs up.
“I’m also aware my Leo is quite infatuated with you. I see why.”
My mouth dropped open, and, for once, I had no idea what to say.
“But,” Gloria continued, and I thought she’d say something about me not being good enough for her son or something, but she didn’t.
“I have to warn you about Leo, my dear. He’s not ready to settle down.
He might think he is, but he’s not. So, if you do choose to date him after you’re…
er… finished with Reynolds Taylor, guard your heart. ”
I nodded. I mean, what do you say to that?
Besides, I wasn’t about to tell her I wasn’t really interested in Leo.
I’d been hurt by Mark, and I could tell it was going to happen again with Reynolds.
Everyone had tried to warn me to not to get attached, but I just wasn’t made that way.
I couldn’t share all of this intimacy with a man and not feel something for him.
After the contract with him was up, I would be very, very careful about letting someone in again.
And I had to be careful what I said about Reynolds, anyway. Carmen suspected I had developed feelings for him. So did Madeline. But I hadn’t confirmed those suspicions, and I wasn’t planning on it.