Lipstick and Lies (Murder In Style Book 2)

by Gina LaManna

  Chapter 9

  An hour and a half later, the three of us were dressed and primped and curled and blushed and shimmered. Allie was even self-tanned to a shade that looked more like khaki than a natural skin color, but since she’d only done her legs, I managed to hide most of it with her dress and a touch of shimmer lotion.

  May looked beautiful in a light blue dress that extended to her knees and slid tightly over her figure, displaying the first signs of her new baby bump. Her dark hair had been whipped into a low, loose chignon. A few stray pieces had been allowed to trickle down her neck, over the sides of her face. She hadn’t needed more than a few swipes of mascara, a touch of blush, and some strong-colored lipstick to complete her outfit. She was a natural, exotic beauty.

  While Allie could also be considered a natural beauty in a girl-next-door sort of way, she preferred to enhance it more than most. Her hair had been looped into a complicated updo over her head complete with braids and curls and a bit of glitter spray. Her dress, one we’d chosen together, was a bright and sunny reflection of her personality.

  Allie had chosen a modified sundress with some fluff to the lower layers, billowing the fabric out around her knees. It was sunflower yellow in color and held together by a skinny, halter-top strap that showed off pale skin. I’d helped her with the accessories, selecting a fun pop of red shoes and earrings as accents.

  She’d added her own shade of red lipstick and way too much makeup. My makeover for Allie had consisted of mostly wiping off thick foundation with a cleansing pad. Once I’d released her natural beauty, I added the subtlest touches of eyeshadow and blush. The end result was a dewy-faced woman who was sure to catch the eye of Harry Hart—along with the rest of the policemen and firefighters opening their wallets in a bidding war.

  “Now you,” May demanded. “We have to get going soon. You’re not even dressed.”

  “You’ve been hiding the goods from me,” I said, peeking over at the plastic-covered dress hanging against the closet. “I’m ready when you are.”

  “Close your eyes,” May instructed. “Let me get it out of the packaging. You’re going to love it.”

  I did as she instructed, tempering my hopes to Blueberry Lake size. After a short lifetime spent in Los Angeles, especially a stint spent on red carpets and movie sets, dolling up one client after the next, I was somewhat hard to impress when it came to fashion. Sure, I loved all fashion—I adored my job styling women on a budget at the thrift store—but I’d been lucky enough to wear some of the biggest names in fashion.

  So when I opened my eyes and saw the dress May had ordered for me, I was genuinely shocked. My mouth parted in surprise.

  “That’s—” I hesitated. “That’s for me?”

  May nodded, grinned. “Call it your Welcome to Blueberry Lake gown,” she said. “You missed the Christmas Ball, so this is your first initiation into the wildly important social event calendar of Blueberry Lake.”

  May removed the protective plastic covering of the dress to reveal a truly stunning gown. Inlaid with sparkling, faux-diamond gems, the dress was made from a silky, silver material that shone when the light from my bedroom hit the fabric.

  I reached for it, rubbed the dress between my fingers. It felt cool and soft. Touchable and beautiful. I could already envision sliding into it, the slinky fabric draping over my body and shimmering as I moved.

  “Where’d you find this?” I asked, aware my voice was a bit squeaky with awe. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “No matter,” May said. “It’s time for you to get dressed. I promised I’d pick Joe up before the ball, so I have to get going, and I want to see the finished product that is Jenna McGovern before I take off.”

  I grabbed the gown, shimmied into it while the other two women put the finishing touches on themselves. Once I had it on, I stood before them.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “Oh, Jenna,” May said.

  “Hot damn,” Allie said.

  “Turn around,” May instructed, “and look at yourself in the mirror.”

  I turned slowly, my eyes coming to rest on the beautiful gown. There was no way not to notice this dress.

  “It’s a good thing you’re not going up on stage to participate in the auction,” Allie said. “Otherwise Harry—and all the rest of ’em—would be bidding on you.”

  “Yeah, right,” I snorted. “The auction isn’t all about looks. I’m still new in town. People are skeptical of me.”

  “They’re not gonna be skeptical of much with you wearing that dress,” Allie said. “You look like a Disney princess. Plus, with that hair?”

  May gave a stiff nod of approval. “You look beautiful, Jenna. I hope you don’t mind I took the initiative and picked out your dress? I figured you might not have something for the occasion, and a girl always needs to wear a gown to a ball.”

  “It’s perfect,” I said. “In fact, I suspect I might lose my job at my mother’s shop after tonight, once people find out you’re responsible for the styling of this attire.”

  “Oh, quiet now,” May said, but her eyes sparkled with pride. “Get yourself finished up. I’m going to take off—Allie, you can drive Jenna to the ball, yes?”

  “I’m her fairy godmother,” Allie said. “Or her horse and carriage. Whatever. Yes, I can drive her.”

  May took off to dress and retrieve her husband from home while Allie and I finished off our hair and makeup. Once we each deemed the other ready, we slipped on our shoes and made our way out to Allie’s spray-painted carriage.

  “Thank you so much for the ride,” I told Allie as we cruised across town. “Are you excited for your date with Harry? I’m sure he’ll bid on you.”

  “I’m sure he will too,” she said with a frown, looking closer at her dashboard. “What’s not to like about me? You know, except for the fact that I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know I exist.”

  “Didn’t you both grow up here?”

  “He’s a few years older than me. He probably hasn’t noticed me, and if he did, he probably thinks of me like a younger sister or something.”

  “He won’t be thinking you’re anybody’s younger sister in that,” I said, glancing at Allie’s beautiful dress, which showed off a good bit of cleavage. “I don’t think he’ll be having wholesome thoughts at all.”

  “Good,” Allie said, frowning deeper.

  She looked concerned, but somehow, I suspected it wasn’t about Harry opening his wallet to bid on her during the auction. She leaned closer to the front of the vehicle and studied the lit-up numbers on the display before her.

  “Crap,” she said. “I think I forgot to fill up on gas.”

  “Oh. That sounds like it’s important.”

  “It is.” Allie heaved a huge sigh. “I normally fill up every Monday, but I guess I drove more last week than usual.”

  “Shouldn’t you have a little dial thingy to tell you that?”

  “I should,” Allie said. “But it doesn’t work.”

  “That seems like a major design flaw.”

  “It is,” Allie said, “but when you buy a car from Eddie, you don’t ask questions. Nor do you complain. I also don’t have functional airbags or a gas cap. If I roll the passenger’s window down, it’ll never roll back up again. And the seatbelts in the back are like spaghetti noodles. They don’t even snap right.”

  “Oh, my. And you spent a lot more money than I have in my vehicle budget.”

  “Good luck,” Allie said. “My friend got a car that didn’t even have a door.”

  My lips tightened in a straight line. Maybe I didn’t need a car so bad. Wasn’t mooching rides better than cruising around in a door-less car? I supposed it was a bit Jeep-esque, but it was also mailman-esque, and that wasn’t a good look on a Camry.

  “Don’t be discouraged,” Allie said. “I bet if you wear your hair like that and a nice, lowcut top, Eddie will give you a deal.”

  “Did you use that tactic?”

  “How do you think I got a fu
nctioning speedometer?”

  I wanted to laugh, but it seemed Allie wasn’t making a joke. So, I kept my lips zipped as the car puttered off to the side of the road and wheezed to a stop.

  “Whoops,” she said. “I guess this horse-drawn carriage just ran out of gas and turned into a pumpkin. You think we can call May?”

  “She’s already home, I’ll bet,” I said. “And we can’t make her come back this way.”

  “Your mother?”

  “She’s probably at the ball already helping to get set up. And Sid will be there with her.”

  “Well, maybe we don’t have to call anyone,” Allie said. “Because it seems you’ve got a knight in shining armor headed this way.”

  I saw what she meant as I looked up in the rearview mirror. “Oh. Great.”

  Pulling over behind us was none other than Cooper Dear in his patrol car. He switched off his lights and stepped out of the vehicle. But instead of wearing his typical cop uniform, he was wearing a suit and tie. And he looked fantastic.

  “I could eat him alive,” Allie said. “He looks delicious.”

  I scrunched up my face. “He’s not who I would have chosen to find us here.”

  “Yeah, well, better him than a serial killer.”

  “You have a point.”

  Cooper knocked on Allie’s window. She tried to roll it down but was unsuccessful thanks to Eddie’s lack of functionality in vehicles. Allie pushed open the door, gestured for him to back up.

  “Power windows are wonky,” she said in explanation. “What can I do for you, officer?”

  “Just checking on two women who appear to be stranded in ball gowns,” Cooper said. “Can I offer you a ride?”

  “We’re not stranded.” I bent my head and leaned over the center console to better see Cooper. “We’re just taking a hiatus. The car needed a halftime breather.”

  “And it also probably needs some halftime fuel,” Allie said. “You know how they feed kids oranges in the middle of a soccer game? Yeah, it’s like that. Except this car would like to munch on some gas. Any chance you could help us out with that?”

  Cooper appeared to be doing his best holding back a smirk. “How about we worry about this after the ball? I, for one, would be happy to miss the auction, but I suspect I’d get reamed out by half the town if I did. We’ve only got twenty minutes before the bidding starts—not enough time to get this thing filled up with gas and on her way.”

  Allie flung the door open wider. “Fine by me. You can be the horse and carriage now.”

  “What?” Cooper asked.

  “Man,” I whimpered. “I can’t seem to stay away from you.”

  Cooper came around and tried to open the door for me. Apparently, however, Allie’s car lost all functionality without gas. The door was locked tight. I eventually shifted over the console and slid out the driver’s side door—a major feat in my new Georgi Jones stilettos and the glossy silver dress. Cooper was waiting for me by the time I got one shaky foot on the ground.

  “You’re quite limber in that dress,” Cooper said, reaching for a hand and helping me out. “I’m impressed.”

  “Yeah, thanks. It comes with the territory.”

  “What territory?”

  “Having no money for nice things,” I said. “You get used to climbing over seats to crawl out of windows in cars.”

  To my surprise, Cooper didn’t have a witty retort as I rose to my full height and shifted the dress so that it settled around my body in a smooth, natural sort of way. Cooper’s hand was still on one of my wrists, and he didn’t seem to be letting go.

  “You like what you see?” I retorted. “A picture lasts longer.”

  Instead of playing my game of snarky banter, Cooper just loosened his grip on my wrist slightly and raised it above my head. Eventually, I caught on. He spun me around in a circle like a slow dance, his eyes fixed on me and my shiny new dress as the ends fluttered around my ankles.

  He let out a low whistle. “Jenna McGovern, you look incredible.”

  “Well, thank you, Cooper Dear,” I acknowledged politely. “You look very nice yourself.”

  “No, I mean it. You look... beautiful.”

  The way Cooper’s eyes fixed on me had my heart pounding like a wild animal. It leapt through my chest, fast and furious, under his gaze. His eyes had darkened, his expression turning into a hungry sort of appreciation. Despite our ups and downs since I’d moved to town, there was no question how he was feeling about me tonight.

  Which was a very good thing, seeing as I’d imagined he’d try to get me in trouble for impersonating a lawyer at the precinct. The dress not only fit me like a glove, but it was aiding in getting me out of trouble. I’d really owe May one after this.

  However, once again, I’d underestimated the chief of police. He leaned in, his lips brushing against my cheek. “If you think the way this dress looks on you is going to distract me from the little chat we’re going to have about you visiting the precinct, think again.”

  “What precinct?” I asked innocently. “What chat? I’ve been getting ready all day. It ain’t easy to get this dolled up.”

  “For some reason, I highly suspect it comes naturally to you.” Cooper gave a smile. “It ain’t the dress making you look that good, sweetheart.”

  I patted my hair. “Maybe my new ’do?”

  “Not that either,” he said with a grin. “Nor is it that red lipstick you’ve got on.”

  “Well, I suppose that’s very nice of you,” I said, stumbling over my words as I wormed my hand out of Cooper’s. “So, I take it you’ll give us a ride then?”

  Cooper just raised an eyebrow. “Get in the car.”

  We made our way back to the cruiser. Allie had already made herself comfortable in the backseat, so I took the front. There was one of those shield thingies between us.

  “For privacy,” Allie said, tapping on the glass. “It’s like you guys are on a date, and I’m just your little sister or something. Ignore me.”

  “Who goes on a date with their little sister?” I retorted. “Speaking of dates, Cooper, who are you planning to bid on tonight?”

  “I’m not bidding.”

  “You have to bid,” I said. “It’s for charity.”

  “By that same logic, I should expect you to participate.”

  “I get stage fright.”

  He laughed. “Right. I think you’re just scared.”

  “Of what?”

  He shot me a look brimming with amusement. “Of the fact that I just might win.”

  From the back, Allie gave a low whistle. “I’m up for grabs, Cooper. You know, seeing as your first choice isn’t running. Maybe if you start the bidding on me, Harry Hart will get the picture.”

  “You’ve got a thing for Harry Hart?” Cooper asked with a glance in the rearview mirror. “Does he know it?”

  “Probably not. Unless he’s got some psychic powers,” Allie said. “I never told him. I’m hoping he’ll see me tonight and be swooped right off his feet.”

  Cooper nodded. “I can bid on you. But if I win, no kissing. No getting handsy. We’re going to dinner and a movie and that’s it.”

  “Fine.” Allie sighed. “I suppose that’s fair. Thanks, Coop.”

  I tried not to let it show that I thought Cooper’s generosity was sweet. I only hoped for his sake that Harry Hart got the picture and pulled out his wallet before Cooper ended up taking Allie out to the movies in his cruiser. For some reason, I didn’t like the idea of him on a date with someone else, even as friends.

  “What are you thinking about?” Cooper asked as he drove toward the local theater where the auction would be held. “You got quiet. Looking serious.”

  “Er, nothing.”

  “You’re not thinking about the case?”

  I latched onto his suggestion. It was a safer topic than what I’d been actually thinking about. Giving a wry smile, I shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe a little.”

  “Why’d you pretend to be a l
awyer? You could have asked me whatever questions were burning on your mind.”

  “Would you have told me everything I wanted to know?”

  “Probably not.”

  “There you go.”

  “It’s because you two are poking your noses where they don’t belong once again. It’s dangerous, and I’d hate to see anyone else get hurt.”

  “There’s no sign anyone else will get hurt,” I argued. “It seems like it was a very personal case.”

  “If you get too close, the killer might have a different perspective,” Cooper said. “This morning you were at the salon, this afternoon at the precinct. It’s pretty obvious what the two of you are doing, and if you’re not careful, the killer will catch on, too.”

  “How do you feel about joining me tomorrow for a drive down to Eddie’s?” I asked. “I could use a buddy for the road trip.”

  Cooper was silent for a long beat. “Are you talking to me?”

  “Yeah, you. I need a ride, and Allie’s car can’t make it.”

  “I, uh—okay,” Cooper said. “I can pick you up at ten.”

  “Great,” I said. “Thanks. And just a heads up, you’ll probably have to wait outside once we get to Eddie’s.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because Allie said that a low-cut top and a bit of eyelash fluttering will make my three hundred bucks go extra far,” I said. “And no offense, but I don’t think she was talking about you.”

  “Nope,” Allie confirmed. “Eddie’s not into cop cleavage.”

  We pulled up before the theater. Cooper stopped at the front stoop. A few local high school kids loitered around the entrance in black slacks and white shirts. They’d obviously been hired on as valets and looked bored out of their minds. Though a couple of them looked interested in driving Cooper’s cop car.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Cooper announced as he stepped out of the car. “I’m just letting the ladies out.”

  The kids’ expressions sank. One of them stepped forward and opened the back door for Allie. “But what about a tip?”

  “A tip?” Cooper grimaced at the kid. “Pull your pants up. There are ladies present.”