I smile and shake my head. "No."
He's staring at my lips. "Do you come here often?"
Persistent. I like that. "Thank you for the coffee," I say, then step around him.
I peer over my shoulder as I walk out of the coffee shop. Just like I expected, his gaze follows me until I'm out of his view.
I take a deep breath. He was intense, and I'm sure coffee with him tonight would end just as strong. But right now, with a twenty-page paper due in a few weeks and my potential new job that requires me to spread my legs, the last thing I need is a man.
* * *
I can't believe I'm going through with this.
"Okay, make me look like every man's wet dream."
Natalie chuckles. "That isn't hard. You're already a neck-breaker."
I smile. I never know what to say when someone says I'm pretty. Thank you? I'm not blind. I was blessed with the best parts of my parents—small mouth with pouty lips, big doe eyes that are a deep brown to almost black, and a creamy complexion. I know I'm pretty but wouldn't go as far as to say I'm gorgeous. That's just being extra.
"Thanks, girl," I say. "Now give me a shot."
My nerves are already worked up and we aren't leaving for at least an hour. Natalie hands me a shot in her favorite red Solo shot glass.
"This is like a double, you ass. I can't be drunk when I walk in there!"
She brushes it off. "You won't be drunk, trust me. You need to relax and this will do the trick. All the girls do it. No one walks in there straight and sober. It's impossible."
Natalie makes a good point, but that still doesn't loosen the knots in my stomach.
"Here's to getting my groove on." I toast, then take the shot.
Natalie gets to work, putting all this shit on my face I don't typically wear. She moves fast with a steady hand, winging my eyes, applying heavy mascara, and giving me rosy cheeks. She finishes me off with red, glossy lipstick.
"Really? Red lipstick," I say. It's the color of a fire hydrant. "All trick girls wear red."
"Yeah, because men fucking love it," she retorts, and I shrug. Fine. She would know more than me anyway.
I look alluring, yet still a little innocent, and it works for me. My skin appears flawless and I need to know what she used so I can buy it too. Natalie doesn’t do much to my hair, just straightens it and adds some soft curls at the ends. She applies some shiny stuff to it, making it look really healthy. I want to run my fingers through it but I know she'll only slap my hand away.
The vodka works its magic as I feel my body relaxing. My shoulders aren't as tense and I'm a tad more confident than before. I'm sure that will change when I step inside Sanctuary Cove.
"Jesus, Nat. If you ever decide to stop being a hooker, you should definitely look into the hair and makeup field, because you killed this. I look like a goddess."
I stare at my reflection in disbelief. I look like a sultry and dark version of myself. I have to say, if I wasn't so lazy with makeup, or cheap, then I'd rock this look all the time.
"You're welcome," she says proudly, and I just smile. I'm shocked by how I look. "Now, let's dress you up!"
Natalie pulls out a couple of dresses and places them on her bed. She studies each one, taking turns looking at me then the dresses. She finally decides on a black spaghetti strap, scrunched dress. She says something about it being a bodycon, but I just nod. It's a minidress made to stick to a body, and that's exactly what it does when I put it on.
"Your boobs look fantastic," she says.
I look at them in the mirror and silently agree. The top isn't anything special—it just sits straight across—but since I have full breasts, the dress makes me look insanely tempting. I love it so much. I actually feel sexy. She hands me a pair of peep toe nude heels, then brings my hair to my front so it drapes over my chest, twisting the ends to keep the curl.
"I'm impressed. I didn't think I was going to look like this, but I have to say, I would totally do myself."
Natalie giggles and slips into a V-neck dress and soft pink heels.
"Not for nothing. I just didn't expect escorts to dress so tastefully. It helps wash the grime away."