Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“How did you know?”
“I caught him looking at your picture on his phone a few times. Plus, you were on a very short list of people Walsh always wanted to have access to him no matter what.” Trisha fixed her eyes on the road ahead. “So was Cam, of course. And I’ve seen how not having you both in his life has affected Walsh.”
The Mercedes purred along, adding no sound to the uncomfortable silence filling the car.
“Trisha, Cam and I—”
“I’m not judging you, Kerris. You’re separated, and if you ask me, based on what I’ve seen, this is how it should have always been.” Trisha pulled into a parking space and put the car in park. “Come on. We’re here.”
“Here” turned out to be an isolated section of riverbank, deserted except for a lone houseboat floating near the water’s edge.
“What’s going on?”
“I like you, Kerris, but you’re not worth losing my job.” Trisha zipped her mouth. “My lips are sealed. Come on. We have work to do.”
“What kind of work?”
Over the next hour, Kerris found out that beauty was indeed work. The houseboat might look unassuming from the outside, but it was tricked out with every modern convenience, including hardwood floors, gorgeous paneling, and a large bedroom suite.
One bedroom suite.
As soon as she entered the room, her breath caught. Not from how luxuriously decorated the room was, but from the dress spread on the bed. It was so simple and perfect. Some mixture of blush and nude, the A-line minidress would not overwhelm her petite frame. Kerris picked it up and checked the tag. Stella McCartney and her size. She grinned and held the dress against her chest.
“You got my size right.”
“I didn’t. Walsh did.”
Kerris nearly dropped the dress, though her jaw did drop.
“Walsh chose this for me?”
“Yes. He has planned everything down to the last detail, so don’t thank the messenger.” Trish reached for the phone that was ringing in her purse. “Yes, we’re already onboard. Hurry. We’ve got plenty to do in just a little time.”
Kerris was admiring the nude heels on the floor in front of the bed when two girls walked in, loaded down with cases of products—makeup, conditioner, shampoo, wax, hair dryers, and flat irons. Trisha showed them through to the marble-tiled bathroom just off the bedroom.
“Most of your work will be done in here.” Trisha gave both girls a smile and extended her hand, palm up. “As we discussed, I’ll take your phones now. You’ll get them back once you’re done.”
Kerris gave Trisha a puzzled look.
“Can’t be too careful.” Trisha slipped both phones into the pockets of her linen slacks. “The tabloids are always looking for any little morsel about Walsh’s private life. You can understand why this…situation requires discretion.”
Because Walsh lived a life people wanted to know about. In Hong Kong one day and back in his four-million-dollar New York apartment the next. Kerris wondered for a moment at her own audacity to think she could do this. That she might be able to occupy this world with him. Her? No money? No parents? A past littered with dirty details she never wanted anyone digging into. Just as she was about to flee the houseboat and hitchhike home if she had to, Dr. Stein’s guidance reminded her of all the mistakes this kind of thinking had led her to make the first time.
That nagging voice in her head telling her she wasn’t good enough? Telling her TJ had ruined her for someone like Walsh? Telling her she should settle for something less because she was damaged goods?
That voice lied.
And the truth was in the mirror two hours later, shining from her eyes. The truth was she loved Walsh. That girl staring back at her with the freshly washed shiny curls and the high-end dress and the new manicure and everything waxed and plucked and exfoliated? She was the case, but the jewel was inside of her. The man she loved, loved her back. Thought of her as a miracle. And would go out of his way to make their first date this special.
“Thank you, ladies,” Trisha said to the beauty battalion, as Kerris had come to think of them. “Great work. You’ll get your phones once you’re back on dry land.”
“So what’s next?” Kerris hoped it involved Walsh, because as much as she had enjoyed the beauty regimen and the pretty clothes, he was what she wanted.
“I’m leaving and Walsh will take it from here.” Trisha gave the room one last glance, all business, but her eyes went personal when they landed on Kerris. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Kerris ran her eyes down the dress and heels, then touched the hair spilling over her shoulders and down her back. She looked back to Trisha, whose hand was already on the doorknob. “Thanks for everything.”
“Enjoy tonight. Come on out when you’re ready.”