Bona Fide Beauty

by Landra Graf

  “I take it you’re supposed to report back if you found me alive?”

  “Yes, and I was told to deliver a message. If you’re not at dinner Sunday night, our mother makes no promises about not showing up here with lunch, whether your schedule is clear or not.”

  Dev walked around the desk and approached the smaller woman. She’d never gotten the tall genes from their father’s side of the family. Nope, she stood a little over five feet, similar height to their mother, a tiny, fierce creature he’d do anything for. He’d been one of those over-protective brothers. She’d expressed disdain for his antics to scare off boyfriends and the usual anger at his teasing.

  “I’ll be there. Now, what else made you volunteer for this mission? Because last time I checked, you hated being Mom and Dad’s message service.” He pulled her into a big bear hug, wrapping his arms around her small body and letting her sink into him.

  She gave him approximately five seconds before she stepped back and leveled a serious, furrowed-brow look at him. “Just wanted to see you, and maybe a certain secretary messaged me and said she was worried about you. Thought I might be able to pry some secrets out, starting with who in the hell did you expect to walk through that door? Because it wasn’t me.”

  He stared at the wall past her, gathered his thoughts, and debated on whether he should lie or not. The problem with being close to a sibling, a person who knew all the dirty secrets and challenges, including his crap with Pru, was it made it damn near impossible to lie to her. To lie to his hermanita would be equivalent to betraying the foundation of who he was. So, he told the truth.

  “I thought you might be Kat.”

  “Kat? Who is she?”

  “Have a seat and give me a minute. Maybe I can explain this without you thinking the worst of me.”

  “When you put it like that, you don’t inspire confidence.” She sat down in an office chair, and he perched on the edge of his desk.

  Before he could stop himself or think better of it, the whole story came out. It sounded a bit like an episode of a crazy reality show, maybe one of those pranking, comedic acts. He shared how his ex was attacking his partner’s cousin, trying to steal her house and that she was coincidently the same person he’d taken on as a pro bono client.

  He left out the part about being attracted to her, and that the sexual tension was difficult to avoid. Not to mention, Kat’s blatant announcement that she was completely cool with them pursuing whatever this thing was between them.

  On some strange level, coming clean to someone lifted a burden from his shoulders and a heavy dose of tension he’d failed to recognize building over the past several weeks.

  “Pru and her project are going to take this woman’s house, and you’re helping her save it?”

  He nodded, pursing his lips and waiting for her judgment. His high-school-teaching sister heard crazy stories all the time; angst-filled teenagers bred them like a fish laid eggs. She could put everything in perspective for him.

  “How do you get yourself mixed up in this shit?”

  “I stumbled into it. This was supposed to be about getting my ‘mojo’ back, according to Mark.”

  “Mark’s an idiot, but I won’t even touch that subject with a ten-foot pole. Besides all those points you mentioned, you haven’t told me why you’re attracted to her yet.”

  He nearly choked on a swallow of water. “What are you talking about?”

  “Brother, you’re talking to me. The look on your face when I came through the door was not a look of my-client-is-here. No, you possessed a bit of the doe-eyed look I catch sight of between my students who suffer from cases of Bambi twitterpated.”

  “And? Does it matter? I’m not making the same mistakes as I did with Pru. Nope, I’m keeping this business-related if it kills me.”

  “Then you like her?”

  “I do. If it weren’t for her being a client, I’d want to date her, or at least see where things go.”

  “Sounds like you’re almost to the point.” Juanita cocked her head to the side and gave him a grin. The one she often gave when she’d solved the world’s problems without lifting a finger.

  “Come again?”

  “She’s technically your client until she’s completed the makeover, and this party is her big reveal on all the conversation tips, the hairstyling, and the new wardrobe she’s been breaking in. If she survives the night, she’s done. The client portion will be wrapped, and you can see where things lead. She does like you, right?”

  Dev laughed. “Yes, I think so. She kissed me, which gives me the impression we have something.”

  “You didn’t mention that before.”

  “It wasn’t any of your business, and I thought we both agreed not to talk about those kinds of things, which saves me from wanting to hurt someone.”

  His sister had said all the right things, reassured him, and shown him the path to simple freedom. All he needed to do was last another forty-eight hours, and the cherry on top of their sundae would be possible.

  Then doubt crept in, thanks to the same voice with the winning plan. “What’s in it for her, though, besides the house? I mean, it’s kind of silly that she needed a makeover if she’s been trying to get her house up to code.”

  “Good question, and I’ve got no clue.”

  14

  Kat pulled up to Beauty Magicians on Thursday afternoon still debating on whether she wanted Chad to work on her hair or take a flying leap. Since Tuesday night she’d heard nothing from Dev, except for a dismissal text on Wednesday.

  Family thing came up, will have to skip tonight’s review session.

  Maybe she’d scared him away with her startling confession about fearing the party. Combined with her statement and actions in the days prior, she probably looked a bit psychotic. Sure, she kept challenging her fears, ideas, and negative thoughts with Dev’s positive affirmations.

  Outside of that, Betty had commented on the spontaneous combustion she was sure they’d experience in the bedroom if the looks they kept trading were any indication. For fuck’s sake. Her friend picked up on the attraction; she obviously sucked at hiding her lust glazed thoughts.

  The memory of his gaze burned a path on her mind and the longing in his eyes made her want to call her cousin Mark and tell him to take his contract and shove it. If she and Dev wanted to rip their clothes off like born-again nudists and fornicate in every position ever invented, Mark couldn’t stop them. They were adults, damn it.

  At the same time, thoughts like that scared the shit out of her. She’d cooled toward the idea whenever her mind leaned toward the next steps. A true fear boiled in her brain of him wanting more from her than hot, wild sex between the sheets. More meant opening up, sharing parts of herself she’d rather keep safe. She’d admit to a growing respect for her hotter-than-hell image consultant, but to trust him with everything emotional? Insanity.

  Not to mention, he’d backed down against the wave of desire she’d been ready to surrender to the other night. While it was pretty impressive to see him hold back and not react to the crazy tension between them, it was maddening too. Maybe he wasn’t as affected by their attraction, or this truly was a case of being addicted to a damsel in distress like Mark had predicted. No way to know without asking, and she’d decided somewhere in the last twenty-four hours she was too chicken to find out.

  A knock on her window and she turned her head, coming face to face with Betty and her blond hair in those familiar chopsticks, with magical makeup and a grin on her face.

  “We’re five minutes late.” Her voice came through the window muffled, but understandable.

  Taking the keys out of the ignition, Kat committed to the appointment. If only she hadn’t told Betty about it Tuesday. Betty had a weakness, and it involved the dreaded word “pamper.” In fact, Kat earned another compliment again as she got out of the car.

  “Your hair still floors me. A perfect trim. My stylist can’t even do that. Thanks for letting me tag along. I
want to meet this master genius of hair.”

  “No problem, as long as you promise to leave me out of any future visits.”

  Betty gave a light chuckle. “I think it’s funny you’re so against the process of beauty on the outside. It’s okay to like those things, to enjoy looking good.”

  “I know it’s okay, but I don’t like them. It doesn’t make me feel right.”

  “How would you know if you never really tried?” Betty took the lead then, walking into the salon without another word.

  Her comment stung a bit since she judged Kat for not doing the makeup, the nails, the hair, and all the things. In her opinion, she’d tried multiple times, and each attempt had left her with a hole inside her. The few minutes where she thought she looked good dissolved into a mess when the eyeshadow got in the corner of her eyes or when her face broke out into a dozen zits. Nails and hair required upkeep, and she didn’t want to deal with it or the associated cost.

  Still, she walked through the door determined to give up control over her hair, at least for one day, especially since it meant saving her house.

  Chad greeted them within minutes, Ace not manning her post at the front desk. “Hello, Kind Kat. See, I can come with nicknames too.”

  An elbow to her side and Betty whispered, “Introduce me.”

  “Chad, this is my friend Betty. She’s real impressed with the trim you gave me last weekend.”

  Her stylist blushed, surprisingly, at the attention paid to him. “Thank you, but it’s the hair, not the artist.”

  Betty grew shy standing beside her too. “Still, I’d like to see you work your magic.”

  “Then, by all means, let’s get started on my miraculous idea. I’ve been thinking about it for days.”

  Escorted to the chair, Kat sat down and waited as the drop cloth was put over her. Chad excused himself to get a few supplies he seemed to be missing, and that’s when Betty pounced. “All right, I’ve got the notecards you gave me, and I’m ready to start the review, but first, what about that guy?”

  “Clarify?”

  “The dirt, the down low, his life story… give me something.” The girl had the hots for her hunky hair stylist if the look in her eyes said anything.

  “I know nothing. This is the second time I’ve been around him. His orientation, no clue. Aspirations, no clue. In the market for a date or a fling, no clue.”

  “You’re not very helpful.”

  Kat laughed at the look of exasperation on Betty’s face. Her friend let out a small huff, which blew a loose strand of hair away from her eyes.

  “I’m not helpful, but I agreed to let you come because you said you’d quiz me.”

  Chad came back then, hands full with a bottle of hair product, a packet of combs, hair ties, and clips. “Somebody raided my station while I was away, so I had to steal a few things back.”

  “No worries, I’m working up the courage.”

  Immediately Chad put a hand to his chest and pulled off a stricken, wounded look Kat could see, thanks to the mirror. “You don’t trust me.”

  “I trust you too much. My friend is going to quiz me on things I need to know for tonight. Will that be all right?”

  “Yes, as long as you turn your head when I say to and no comments on the hair until I’m done.”

  “Will it be that bad?”

  “I want it to be a surprise.”

  “Ooh, I love surprises,” Betty said, clapping her hands together.

  “You, fact cards.”

  Betty nodded. “Right.”

  She reached into her purse and pulled the index cards out. Chad had started combing her hair out by the time Betty called out, “Richard.”

  Thirty minutes later, her scalp felt like she should have no hair left, and she’d successfully rattled off details to three of the four board members. Now to get the last one, Colton Kinyon. She’d blundered the first two passes, horribly so. “He made his money in gas and then sold off the majority of his company to a co-op. Did some investing in, wait, um—”

  “Don’t tax yourself it’s—”

  “Hush, I’ll get it. Investing in commodities trading.”

  Chad stepped in front of her, blocking the mirror, and sprayed something in her hair. “Give the girl a gold star. Even I know that’s right.”

  “Friends with the millionaire, Charming?”

  Leaning down, he grinned at her. “As a matter of fact, I’m his barber.”

  “Can you be both friend and barber?” Betty inquired.

  “I certainly can, if needed,” he replied as he pulled away from Kat, looking over his creation. “My masterpiece is complete. What do you think?” He stepped out of the path of the mirror and she took her first good look at her hairdo.

  “It’s amazing.” Betty’s words were spoken softly with reverence. Kat took in the braids lining the sides of her head, the top ponytail with its small braids, and “poofed up” top. It wasn’t a style she’d pick out for a swanky get-together.

  “Are you both sure this is the right look for me?”

  “Yes.” They both spoke in unison.

  Then Chad whirled her chair around to face him. “Think Viking queen, the warrior woman. You’re entering a lion’s den; this hairstyle gives you strength. Shows you’re willing to step out of your element. It’s still an updo, but with a little heathen, a little wild.”

  “Betty?”

  “I agree, and with the dress, plus those heels you have, it will be perfect—edgy and a completely different fashion. They won’t know what to think of you, but everyone will want to talk to you.”

  Too bad she didn’t want to talk to anyone. For the house, this is for the house.

  The mantra is what kept her going, helped drown out the fear.

  “Then let’s do it.”

  Betty and Chad shared a high five and a moment of something else, but Kat vowed to stay out of it. If her friend wanted to know more about the guy doing her hair, by all means, more power to her. She rocked her body so the chair faced the mirror again. The person staring back at her appeared stronger, fiercer than anything she could’ve cooked up. In a way the hairstyle gave her power, confidence like Chad promised.

  Is Dev going to like this? Only one way to find out.

  “Betty, quit chatting my stylist up and take a photo of my hair, with my phone.”

  Her friend did as requested and then handed the phone back over before she started gathering their things. Kat quickly sent it off with a short message about Charming’s selected style for the evening.

  His response proved equally short and left room for plenty of doubt. See you at seven.

  Dev parked the car outside Kat’s house and took a deep breath. He wasn’t ready for tonight, not since he’d seen the photo Kat texted him of her hairdo. She’d looked regal and fierce; Chad had promised a transformation and delivered. The man truly worked miracles.

  He didn’t want to remember the other thoughts he’d had, but they came back regardless. How her hair would feel wrapped around his hand while he kissed her. Things he didn’t need to do. Somewhere between the last time he’d been with her and now she’d become temptation personified. He knew the price but still couldn’t erase the thoughts from his mind. His sister’s advice, stirred with fears, trickled into the mixture as well.

  Refusing to wallow or debate about them all night, he got out of the car, straightened his suit jacket, buttoned it up, and marched to the front door, determined to keep his mind from the gutter. Doorbell successfully pressed, he waited, hearing the familiar clack of heels on the other side. But, when the door opened, it revealed Betty.

  She frowned at him. “You look fabulous, but we have a problem.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “She won’t come out, something about embarrassing herself.”

  “Is this about her shoes?”

  Her friend shrugged her shoulders. “No idea.”

  “Take me to her.”

  Leading the way, Betty guided Dev
back to Kat’s bedroom. He couldn’t help but notice the whole house ablaze, lights on in every room. Her bedroom looked different from the last time he’d been in here; clothes tossed all over her bed, boxes filled with papers on the floor. Kat wasn’t to be found anywhere. “Where is she?”

  “In the bathroom,” Betty replied, pointing to a closed door he hadn’t paid close attention to last time. She knocked on it. “Kat, Dev’s here. It’s time to go.”

  “I can’t go. I feel like I’m going to be sick.” Her voice filtered through the door, sounding awful.

  Dev motioned to Betty to give him a shot, and they switched places. “Kat, can I come in? I think I can make that nausea go away.”

  The lock disengaged, and he tried the knob. It gave easily. His first look at her as the door swung open was more erotic than he’d imagined possible. Kat had her arms braced against her vanity, lower half thrust out. The little black dress Sam had picked out shimmered and accentuated her gorgeous curves, including her fine-looking rear end. Plenty for a man to grab a hold of in the heat of the moment. Coupled with the black heels they’d both agreed on at Nude, she was breathtaking. Add in the hair, and she’d become a seductress, a no-panty-hose, bare-legged siren. Thank goodness the October night ran warmer than most.

  The look she gave him was pained and vulnerable as she held up a stick of eyeliner in her hand. “I look awful, a mismatched mess.”

  “You look fabulous and are going to turn everyone’s head. They won’t know what to do or think. Your ensemble is perfect.”

  She let go of the vanity. “You meant that.” Her words were not a question but an acknowledgment of his statement.

  “I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

  “I know... but it doesn’t stop me from asking.” She turned, and the dress let out a little swish, the skirt flowing with her. “Now, how do I get rid of this queasy stomach?”

  Dev smiled, unable to help himself. Even when she didn’t feel good, Kat still kept herself matter-of-fact, all business. If she truly were using him, this wouldn’t be the way to go about it by standing here in a state of weakness and trying to be strong, but accepting her need for help. He lost himself a bit and took a deep breath before responding to the first direction. “Close your eyes.”