Beauty Secrets Cozy Mystery Boxed Set 1

by Stephanie Damore

  I joined them a few minutes later, sitting on the soft gray couch outside Aria’s fitting room, while Christina bossed the consultant, Mallory, around.

  “No, that’s not one of the dresses I requested. The bodice should be cut like this,” she ordered, demonstrating by making a V on her neckline. “This one is all wrong.”

  “I’m sorry. This is the style number listed in your email,” Mallory said.

  “I don’t care, it’s not the right one.” Christina brought up the dress she had wanted to see on her phone and showed it to the girl. “This one,” she pointed to her screen, “not that one,” and pointed to the dress on the rack. “See the difference?” Here we were, less than ten minutes into the appointment and the consultant was already being abused.

  “I’m sure whatever you selected is great,” I told Mallory while eying Christina as if to say, “Knock it off, psycho.”

  Christina rolled her eyes. “I can’t handle this. I’ll go find it.” She walked away, dismissing both of us.

  “Sorry about that. She’s a bit of a perfectionist.” Total control freak was more like it, but I was being polite. “Don’t worry though, I’ve got your back. I’ll keep her in check.”

  “Thanks, you have no idea how it can get,” Mallory replied.

  “Oh, I’ve watched enough reality TV to get the idea.”

  Aria came out in the first gown. Her scrunched-up face told it all. “Yeah, no,” I said before she even got up on the pedestal.

  Christina rushed right over. “But, look at the beading. The train. It’s gorgeous,” she insisted. The beading was ugly, the train way too long, and if by gorgeous she meant Aria looked like a marshmallow, then yeah, I could agree with her.

  “Next!” I shouted. Aria smiled. I told myself that I would be as honest as possible while still being supportive. The goal was not to just get any dress, but one that Aria would love. I was there to make sure the second dress was even better than the first.

  While Aria changed into another gown, I got up and peeked at the rest of the lineup Christina had personally selected. They all looked the same. All beaded, all fluffy, all white. All entirely wrong. This was going to be a disaster.

  I walked over and knocked on Aria’s door. “Hey girl, do you mind if I go pick out a few?”

  Aria stuck her head out. She had on another ball gown, this one with so much tulle it was like a tutu on steroids. Aria blew her bangs out of her face. “Please do.”

  “Okay, give me a couple minutes. Be right back.” My mission was clear. I pulled Mallory aside and asked her to show me something off the rack with color. That would be a start.

  Mallory lead me to exactly what I was looking for. I found Aria’s dress in a heartbeat. The form-fitting Marchesa mermaid gown was rose gold perfection with its gold embellishments laid over a blush dress and layer upon layer of soft, pleated tulle. Can you say dreamy? That dress was tulle done right. I had no doubt that Aria would look stunning in it. If I were getting married, that would be my dress. Aria would love it.

  The moment she walked out of that fitting room wearing my pick, I knew I’d been right.

  “I absolutely love it.” Aria looked at herself in the mirror and was seriously glowing. Her frazzled nerves and blotchy complexion were totally calm. Aria was the happiest I had seen her in a long time. Looking at her made me happy. I thought for a second that she might even cry and, for once in my life, I was totally okay with it, if that tells you anything. The only person who wasn’t feeling it was Christina.

  “But it’s pink!” she exclaimed as Aria said yes to the dress.

  “Rose gold,” I corrected her.

  “I thought you wanted white?” she asked Aria, completely bewildered.

  “Aria hates white.” I said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Come on, let’s go. Don’t we have a manicure or shopping to do?”

  Christina wasn’t giving up that easily and begged Aria to try on a couple more dresses, “just to be sure,” but Aria wasn’t having it. She had found the one. “You should be happy,” she was telling her, “I found my dress. Your plan worked, so thank you.”

  Christina perked up a bit at that and said in a smug voice, “Of course. After all, this whole day was my idea.” I rolled my eyes hard at that one.

  I treated Aria for her mani and pedi. I had been wanting to get her that gift certificate to the spa, which hadn’t happened yet. This was the least I could do. The afternoon pampering session was heavenly, because I was in a separate room from Christina. Every now and then I could hear her say something along the lines of, “Well I know that when I was in Europe…” or “Real estate development is exhausting work. It’s not easy counting millions!” I felt so sorry for her massage therapist. I’m not sure how much Christina tipped her, but it wasn’t enough.

  After the spa, I had been right: dinner was at the Rolling Hills Country Club, which was part of Aria’s uncle’s plantation. Christina had spent summers there playing tennis and lounging by the pool while Aria worked as a life guard and beer girl. It was one of those rich brother, poor brother scenarios, with Aria’s father being the poor one. No one could argue that Aria hadn’t worked hard to elevate herself, regardless of how well she had married. She was already somebody before she and her first husband, Raja, said, “I do.”

  “Christopher, so good to see you,” Christina said to the manager while we waited to be seated. Christopher was completely attentive to Christina, which she just ate up. Not saying he wasn’t a nice guy, but I highly doubted he cared what Christina’s summer travel plans were, especially to the extent Christina went on. Christopher’s job looked exhausting.

  The host came back and led us to our table.

  The Club’s dining room boasted dark woods, gold chandeliers, and burgundy carpeting. It was rich, and dark, and totally not my style. Give me natural light and bright whites any day.

  A gold menu card had been placed at each place setting. I took a closer look and saw that Christina had arranged for a six-course meal to be served, highlights of which included gruyere and parmesan beignets, lobster bisque, arugula salad, prime rib, a cheese plate and chocolate mousse.

  “My treat,” Christina said, pleased as punch at my shocked expression, but she had read my expression all wrong. This dinner was just the sort of thing I expected from her. It was the chocolate mousse that had me wide-eyed. Maybe we could skip to the dessert course first?

  It was close to nine PM by the time dinner was wrapping up. Once again, I was grateful to Inez for taking Captain Jack. No way my mom would’ve let him spend the night, well, not without giving me an earful first.

  I was licking the back of my spoon, eyeing up Aria’s mousse, wondering if she was going to eat it all, when a guy came over and tapped Aria on the shoulder.

  “Oh, my goodness, Mike? How are you?”

  Mike, who the heck is Mike? I thought to myself.

  “I haven’t seen you since what, college graduation?” Aria was saying.

  Oh, my goodness, that Mike. As in the guy who broke my bestie’s heart in college and who also stopped by my booth this past week at the farmers market. He had been the guy I hadn’t been able to place. He looked so much more, I don’t know, mature since the last time I saw him. Aria and Mike had been high school sweethearts turned college lovers, and it all went down in dramatic fashion when he called it quits. Aria and I had seen each other through a lot of different relationships and that breakup was brutal for her. I tried to help her find comfort in Ben & Jerry’s but, even then, she turned to meditation and yoga.

  “Ziva,” Mike said.

  “Long time no see.” Jerk. I wasn’t feeling as friendly now that I’d placed him.

  “What are you up to?” Aria asked.

  “Couple buddies are all in town. We just finished playing a round. Thought we’d grab a drink. Will you join us?”

  I was thinking we should be getting back. I knew Christina would agree, but when I looked at Aria, I saw that she was seriously considering
it. I wasn’t sure what that was all about, but if she wanted a chance to catch up, then I was going to give it to her.

  “Sure, why don’t we,” I said to Aria. Christina started to protest on cue, but we ignored her and followed Mike to the lounge.

  Of course, I would have absolutely said no if I had known that one of his buddies was Whip McGovern.

  “Ziva, did you follow me all the way here? I’m flattered.”

  “Whip, have you met Aria’s cousin, Christina?” I shoved Christina his way. She smiled, taking in his appearance. Whip was a handsome fella, and of course completely self-obsessed. Those two were made for one another.

  We ordered a round of drinks and Aria and Mike got caught up, while Christina and I chatted up Whip. Wait, who am I kidding? I didn’t chat with anyone. The conversation consisted of Whip talking about Whip while Christina talked about Christina. It was a case of anything you can do, I can do better. I could clearly see that I had been wrong. These two would never hit it off. The only difference was, where Whip claimed to have done something amazing like, “When I was in Nepal climbing Everest,” to which Christina replied, “Everest? That’s next on my list,” I knew she was telling the truth. I’d bet the only mountain Whip had climbed was Space Mountain at Disney World.

  I mentally checked out of their conversation and began to eavesdrop on Aria and Mike’s behind me. Wow, now that conversation had me all sorts of flustered inside. I was sure Aria was a mess too.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately,” Mike was saying.

  “You have?” Aria seemed genuinely surprised. She hadn’t said anything about Mike in a long time.

  “I saw your engagement in the paper,” Mike offered as way of explanation. Aria and Vince’s engagement had been Page Six worthy, so I wasn’t surprised it made the society pages in Atlanta.

  “I even drove up to Port Haven last weekend hoping to run into you.”

  “You did?”

  “I probably shouldn’t have said anything, makes me look like an idiot, but I saw you tonight and I couldn’t let it go. I think fate brought you here.”

  I thought it was a missing dress, but what did I know?

  “It’s just … I’m such an idiot. I never told you I loved you. Very much. I realized it a bit too late. I’m sorry I didn’t know it back then.” I would’ve given anything to turn around and see the expression on his face. In fact, both of their faces.

  “I loved you too. I told you that,” Aria replied.

  “I know, which is why I hate that I missed my chance. I’d do anything for another shot at us. Guess I shouldn’t have waited so long.”

  Aria was speechless. I couldn’t blame her.

  “Any chance I’m not too late?”

  I held my breath, honestly unsure what Aria would say. Yes, she loved Vince now, but it had to be hard to think straight when your ex-boyfriend, the one you had thought was “the one,” was standing in front of you spilling his heart out.

  I couldn’t resist and I had to turn around. I pretended to look at the television playing over their heads. Truthfully, I was staring at Mike’s puppy-dog eyes.

  Aria finally spoke, “That’s really sweet, Mike, but I’m really happy right now and can’t wait to marry my fiancé.” Aria shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry.”

  Mike looked defeated. “That’s okay. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to ask.”

  “It was nice seeing you though. Glad we got to catch up,” Aria said, trying to make light of the situation.

  “Yeah, me too. Congrats, then, I guess.”

  “Thanks.”

  A couple beats of awkward silence hung in the air.

  “Will you excuse me?” Aria said. Mike nodded of course and Aria walked away from him. I did the same, leaving my conversation and chasing after her.

  We met up in the ladies room.

  “You okay, girl? I was totally eavesdropping.”

  “Yeah, wow. I wasn’t expecting all that. Joining them hadn’t been a good idea.”

  “Sorry about that. I thought you wanted to.”

  “I had, but it wasn’t smart.”

  “He doesn’t have you second guessing Vince, does he?”

  “Maybe a little. I guess not so much second guessing, but more like playing the “what ifs.”

  I could see that.

  “But then honestly, I just think that if Mike and I hadn’t broken up, then I would’ve never met Raja and had Arjun. Thinking about my little boy makes Mike just a guy from my past.”

  “Girl, your head is in a better place than mine would be.”

  “I’ve had a long time to think about Mike and, since him, I’ve been shown what love truly is. I’m not sure Mike knows what that’s like.”

  “True. So, what now? You ready to bounce?” I asked.

  “Definitely. Let’s nab Christina and get the heck out of here.”

  17

  Thursday morning meant business. Since I lost yesterday, I’d have to work my tail off all day to get caught up. The security system I had ordered a couple of days ago was delivered first thing, and I planned to install it immediately. The system came with a camera, a couple window sensors, and a motion detector. It also synched with my phone, so I could keep an eye on my place when I wasn’t there and receive notifications if anything was triggered. My apartment wasn’t Fort Knox, but it would do. I was driving over to Inez’s to pick up Captain Jack and then headed home to install it when a county line rang.

  “Honey girl, what’s taking you so long?” Mrs. J. asked when I answered. You’d think I was late picking her up for church. I shouldn’t have been surprised; Mrs. J. was annoyed when her beauty products weren’t delivered on time. Sitting in a jail cell must have been driving her nuts.

  “Sorry, Mrs. J., I’m working on it.”

  “Well, work faster. If I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to organize one of them hunger strikes on account of the food being horrendous. Don’t even get me started on their pecan pie. Now that should be a crime.”

  Glad to hear she’s staying out of trouble. “Hey, what do you know about Bob McGovern or his son Whip?”

  “Bob was a fool. Talked a lot, but never got much done. Of course, he didn’t have to being he was a McGovern.”

  “Come again?”

  “Old money and plenty of it, or there used to be. Heard funds are low. What’s this got to do with getting me out of here?”

  “Just another angle I’m working. You know Whip’s running for mayor.”

  “And Bob hated Humphrey. That’s good ‘sug, real good.”

  “Thanks. I just don’t have any evidence yet, only motive.” Evidence seemed to be in short supply around here. I added “collect evidence” on my growing list of items to-do.

  Someone knocked at my front door and I told Mrs. J. that I’d check in with her later. I really should’ve tried out my new security camera before answering the door because when I did, I opened it to none other than Whip McGovern himself. He stood on my doorstep with a bouquet of white roses in one hand and an invitation in the other.

  “Oh, hi, I wasn’t expecting anyone.” I looked past him, expecting to see someone else with him, but he was alone. That surprised me. Knowing Whip and his ego, I wouldn’t put it past him to hire his own paparazzi. “What can I do for you?” I really didn’t want to invite him in.

  “You took off yesterday without saying goodbye. I figured that had to be a mistake,” he said, laughing at his own words as if they were a pun of a joke. We had taken off rather quickly last night. Christina had had no problem leaving once she mentally declared herself the winner. “He’s never even been to Spain!” She told us on the way home. That was all I had heard because, thankfully, I fell asleep shortly after that comment and slept the rest of the way home.

  “Not a mistake. So again, what can I do for you?”

  “Well, I was just thinking to myself, “Whip, you should have a date to Saturday’s Governor’s Ball and then I thought
, who would love to join me? And your name came right to mind. I’m sure you’d be honored.”

  No, no I would not. Good thing it was also Aria’s wedding day. I doubted he would’ve accepted that I was washing my hair, or more like, I’d rather eat dirt. “Aria’s wedding is on Saturday.”

  “You can’t skip it?” His face was totally serious.

  I looked at Whip like he had two heads. “She’s my best friend. Plus, I don’t think my boyfriend would appreciate it.”

  Whip waved that away. “He wouldn’t care. It’s not every night you get to have dinner with the governor.”

  “I wasn’t talking about the governor part.” Whip ignored me and proceeded to hand me both the flowers and envelope. “Here, why don’t you keep those, or better yet, give them to someone else who wants them,” I said.

  “I bought them for you. I insist.” He tried to hand the flowers to me once more.

  I grabbed my car keys off the hook by the front door and stepped out of my apartment, shutting the door behind me and forcing Whip to backup.

  “Sorry, but I really have to run.” I had promised Aria that I’d help her with wedding stuff today as well. The plan was that I’d meet her at Park Place Hotel this afternoon to survey the damage of her reception venue and go from there. Truth be told, I still had forty minutes until I was supposed to meet her, but that was irrelevant. Whip didn’t budge, but I didn’t care. I scooted past him and bounded down the stairs to my truck. I didn’t really care if he stood there all day. I had a security camera now. I’d know if he tried something fishy.