Hair styling was never my forte. My hair is thick and there’s too much of it. I usually brush it and wear it in a bun or ponytail. Pippa wasn’t kidding. She’s an expert. Using only my round brush and the hair dryer, she turns my wild mane into beach waves, all in less than half an hour.
I do the makeup myself. A little something on my eyes, but I put on red lipstick.
“Oh, shucks,” Pippa says.
“You don’t like it?”
“I do, but I’m afraid the two of you won’t make it out of the room at all tonight.”
“Oh, we will.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ava
After Pippa leaves, I take a picture of myself then text it to Nadine. Instead of replying, she calls me.
“Yum, you look fabulous. Taking out the big guns tonight?”
“Yep. I figured go big or go home.” I laugh into the phone as I slip my lipstick into my tiny purse.
“He’s sold on you already.”
“I don’t know about that, but I can barely think straight around him.”
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
Straightening up, I stammer, “I—it’s too early.”
“Too early to fall or too early to admit it?”
“Both?”
“I’ve always loved your honesty.”
That’s when I hear a knock at the door.
“Listen, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“You better. I want every dirty detail.”
I snicker. “Like I ever give you those.” Shaking my head, I end the call. Nadine always tries to fish every detail out of me. She was half-cheerful, half-jealous as I told her about everything that’s happened over the past weeks.
The second I open the door, the air between us sizzles. Sebastian says nothing, his eyes raking over me. This man can make me shiver with his gaze alone.
His fingers tug at mine and he pushes me inside, hoisting me up against the wall as the door bangs closed. His hands are tight on my waist, his forehead pressed against mine. “You look fucking gorgeous.”
With one strong hand, he pushes my tight dress up around my waist, reducing me to a puddle of need when his fingers graze my thigh. “Your skin is so smooth,” he growls. I grin with satisfaction. Point for the skin-removal kit.
“And these lips. You know where I want them?”
“Yeah,” I tease. “I want you to think about it all night while we’re at the restaurant.”
“Going to the restaurant seems like a very bad idea right now.” His voice is low and throaty, arousing me further.
“Pippa predicted this.”
“What?”