“Why so early?”
“Some of the guests are quite elderly and will want to leave by nine. That’s when the party will really get started. You’ll have the rest of the day to relax. Why don’t you get a massage and a facial?”
The talk eventually turned to the concert, and Regan admitted she was a little starstruck.
“Xavier is wonderful, isn’t he?” Isabel said.
“Yes, he is, but I was talking about you. When you walked onstage, you...”
“I what?”
“You took over. Isabel, you were fantastic, and you looked so at ease. The audience loved you.”
Isabel shook her head. “At ease? I was worried the entire time that I would throw up.”
Isabel was glad she had been able to convince people she was totally comfortable onstage, but their perception couldn’t be further from the truth. Singing with Xavier in front of thousands of people had been a thrill of a lifetime; however, it wasn’t a thrill she wanted to repeat. And after all these years of suppressing music, this was a revelation she would never have expected. Maybe she was finally discovering who she was.
After breakfast Regan left to go down to the business office, where it was quiet and she could get some work done without distractions. Having the rest of the day to herself, Isabel decided to take Regan’s suggestion. She spent a long while at the fitness center, even did some laps in the pool, then showered and ordered a snack. In the mood to pamper herself, she then put on baggy sweats and went down to the spa. She was hoping she could beg someone to do her hair and makeup, but she didn’t have to beg at all. Everyone there knew who she was, and the same stylist—a sweet man about her age named Curtis, who had applied her makeup for the concert—couldn’t wait to get his hands on her again.
The hairstylist got hold of Isabel first, and while he washed and dried her hair, he told her all about his wife’s interfering sisters. Then Curtis stepped forward to do her makeup. He wasn’t as heavy-handed as he’d been for the concert, and as he worked, he confided in great detail that his fiancée’s mother didn’t approve of him. He continued his narrative about the woman for a while, then paused and stepped back with a makeup brush in hand, silently pondering his situation and finally nodding to her. “Right, Isabel. Maybe I should stop calling her a bitch.”
Isabel was pleased he agreed with her suggestion.
By the time Curtis finished with her, a crowd surrounded her, and all of them wanted to know every little detail she could remember about Xavier. Answering all their questions took another hour, and she didn’t leave the salon until late afternoon.
With all the distractions, Isabel lost count of the number of times she checked her phone to see if Michael had called. She guessed she wanted some kind of acknowledgment that their night together had been memorable. But then, for Michael, maybe it hadn’t been.
Since it was a dress-up affair tonight, she decided to wear the black fitted dress Regan and Kate had insisted she get. The crossover straps at the neck and racerback showed off her tanned shoulders. If a dress could be both modest and sexy as hell, this was it. She slipped into her high-heeled sandals and dabbed on her favorite perfume.
Regan arrived promptly at five. She had changed into a soft peach dress that looked lovely on her. With her dark hair, the color was spectacular.
“We’re going to take the service elevator to the garage,” she explained.
“Why?” Isabel asked. She took her phone and room card from the table and put them in her small wristlet with her lipstick.
“It’s quicker,” Regan told her.
Isabel accepted the explanation until she opened the door and saw two security guards dressed in black suits, waiting for them.
“What’s going on, Regan?”
“There were some photographers out front. Security has ordered them off the property, but if we go out the circle drive, we’ll be trapped. There are also quite a few young men and women hanging around.”
“They must think XO is here.”
“Don’t be so sure he’s the one they’re waiting for. You’ve become quite a sensation yourself. It could be your autograph they’re wanting.”
Isabel was shocked. She couldn’t comprehend why anyone would wait just to get her autograph.
“You should go without me,” Isabel said. “They might surround the car...”
“Oh, I’m not driving. Alec is waiting downstairs for us. All we have to do is step off the elevator and get in the car.” She took Isabel’s hand and pulled her along.
Once they were in the elevator with the guards in front of them, Isabel asked, “What about your car?”
“I rented it through the hotel, so no worries. I’ve already given the keys to the concierge.”
“I’ve made this such an inconvenience for Alec and you. I’m sorry.”