Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
TINSLEY
Istare at myself in the mirror and pull from my past theater experience to try and give the performance of my life.
“Oh!” I gasp, making my eyes wide with surprise.
No, not that. I should be more dramatic. I try it again, but this time I jump back a step. Now I wonder if I’m overplaying it. Katherine has had this surprise party in the works for a few months now. I keep telling her I don't want to do anything.
If I did, she'd freak out and think I would make plans that would mess with hers. So I've been going along. I'm excited for it. I haven't been back long and haven't gotten the chance to catch up with everyone. I'll be able to do that tonight.
I'm going to put all thoughts of this stupid resort and piece of crap Biff out of my mind.
I'll handle it tomorrow. The only way I knew I could keep this promise to myself was to not reach out to Betty and find out Pierce's full name.
Once I have it, I'll fall headfirst into his life and find everything I need to on him.
I know how I can get obsessive over situations like this.
"Those freckles are adorable," my mom says, coming up behind me.
"They're fun." As much as I love doing nails, I also love makeup. You can have fun with it. I consider style to be an art of its own. My face is like a blank canvas every time.
“Big plans tonight?” Mom smirks in the mirror over my shoulder, knowing I know.
“What are you talking about?” I gasp, spinning around to face her.
“Pretty good.” She laughs.
“What about you? Going down to Winter’s Kiss to neck with Dad?” Mom throws back her head and laughs.
“Is it bothering you?”
“No, Mom, I’m only teasing,” I tell her. “I think I might be jealous.” Mom grabs my hand, locking our fingers.
“Your time will come.” She gives me a squeeze. “It’s going to take someone special to sweep you off your feet. You wouldn’t want it any other way. My little girl is one of a kind.” Mom smirks. “Who can also be a lot to handle.”
“Hey.”
“It’s a good thing, honey. If he can’t handle you, he’s not the one for you.”
"I know." I knock my chin up. "It's worth the wait if I can have the kind of love you and Dad have."
"There you go." She kisses my cheek. "Have fun, and I love you."
"Love you, too," I tell her before I finish getting ready.
I pull out a dress I've had for a while but was saving. I think tonight’s the night to show it off. There’s not a ton of events in our small town that we go all out for, so I’m going to take advantage of this one.
It's a dusty rose. The top is a corset, fitting snugly enough that I don't need a bra.
At the waist, the dress flares out with extra puffiness created by the tulle.
It falls mid-thigh. It's cold out, but when you grow up here, you're used to it.
We have snow year-round. Plus, I'll be in and out of the car, so I know I won’t be cold.
I grab a pair of strappy, glittery red heels that match my lip stain.
These heels contrast with the dress, making them stand out even more.
I love the way they make my legs look. My final touch is a glittery vanilla cake body spray before I make my way over to Nevicare, the Italian restaurant in town, to meet the girls for dinner.
The girls exclaim, "Happy Birthday!" as I step into the private dining room area. I let out a small scream when I'm hit with a couple of confetti cannons. Pink confetti bursts all around me before raining down.
"Bet you weren't expecting that!" Katherine does a little dance in her celebration of actually surprising me. It might not have been the party, but mission accomplished.
"I wasn’t." I laugh with her before going around and giving all the girls hugs. I really have missed everyone. It's nice to hang out and have a few drinks with girl friends with a side of extra carbs. This is why I love this town. The closeness between everyone.
I try out a few different martinis throughout dinner.
"Careful." Kindred knocks her shoulder into mine, a knowing glint in her eye. Yeah, there has been talk about me being in Pierce’s room.
It's annoying but not the worst thing. If the local girls think he's mine, they'll stay away from him and his tattoos and thick thighs.
"I know I'll have a hangover. I spent the day hydrating."
"If you say so." She clinks her glass to mine. All through dinner, my mind drifts to Pierce. He was spotted outside the B it's hard and possessive, his tongue thrusting into my mouth and dominating it. A whimper of need leaves me, and I start to kiss him back, whipping my tongue around his, my fingers digging into the front of his shirt.
A wave of heat rolls through my body; his hand that I'd forgotten was on the back of my neck as he dipped me tightens, his other now on my ass. Still, I can't find the will to push him away.
My body forbids it. He tastes too good, like a sweet Starburst, the pink ones, and it's making me dizzy. Or that might be the drinks. Who knows or cares? It's my birthday. I can enjoy this momentarily. It’s a little present I’m giving to myself.
I gasp when his mouth releases mine, my eyes fluttering open to see a touch of my lipstain stuck on his mouth. I marked him. Why is that ridiculously hot?
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do here!
" Katherine shouts, holding her hands out in front of her.
"Do I smack him or, I don't know?!" I glance around and notice a shit ton of people watching us as he brings me back fully to a standing position, his body pressed against mine, and I feel the hard outline of his cock pressed into my stomach.
“Bathroom!” I announce and start to wiggle free from Pierce's hold, but I am trapped in his giant manly paws. Ones I can’t seem to stop imagining touching me everywhere. A low, sexy grown leaves him. Pierce leans down, his mouth coming to my ear.
“You keep wiggling on me that way and I’m going to embarrass myself in front of everyone.” He kisses the shell of my ear. “It’ll be worth it, but the first time I come with you, I’d rather have you alone and naked.”
“Pierce,” I whisper his name. His words only heighten the ache between my thighs.
“Right here, spitfire.”
“Abort! Abort!” Katherine snaps me back to reality.
“Bathroom,” I repeat again.
“Run and I’ll chase, birthday girl. There’s nowhere you’ll be able to hide.” He releases his hold on me, and I stare at him. What voodoo magic does he have over me?
“Cover up those arms!” I snap, not knowing where that came from.
Katherine grabs my forearm and pulls me toward the hallway and down to the bathroom. When we enter, she closes the door and flips the lock.
“What was that?!”
“Are you drunk?”
“Am I drunk?!” Katherine bursts into laughter. “You’re the one kissing the lawyer.”
“Well, ah…” I lick my lips, still tasting him there. “I have come up with a new plan.”
“And what’s that?” She folds her arms over her chest, waiting for what I’m going to come up with on the fly.
“Seduction,” I announce. “I’m going to make him fall in love with me, and then”—I hit my fist into the palm of my hand—“bam! He’s obsessed with me and will do my bidding.” Biff's plan will blow up right in his face. Sucker.
"Okay." Katherine nods along. "I like the bam part." Her nose scrunches. "But what if you fall for him?"
"Oh, gross." I roll my eyes. "That would never happen."
"Right." Katherine's expression turns skeptical.
"Right," I say with more force. Won't ever happen.
"Famous last words," Katherine mutters.
But I know myself. I've got this under control. I have mastered the art of seduction. It might be through a computer screen, but how different could it be? Only one way to find out…. Now, those might be my famous last words.