“This is your high school graduation. How old do you have to be to get a tattoo?”
“Sixteen with your parents’ approval. My mom came with me,” Dominic said. “Ever been around someone with tattoos?”
Waverly sighed. “My first serious boyfriend had them. But since he was older, I assumed.”
“Okay,” Dominic said, blowing out a sigh in the universal manner of changing the subject. “I’ve proven you wrong and now it’s time to pay up.”
Excitement flashed within her. A date? The movies? “Sure,” Waverly replied in an even-keeled tone.
Dominic extracted something from the back pocket of his jeans. A folded envelope.
“While I was gone, I got this thing. My sister thinks I need it to fit in with the community better.”
“What thing?”
“The Miss Southwood Pageant. Have you heard of it?”
Dread loomed over her. Waverly nodded. “I have.”
“Plan on entering?”
The combs of her tiara dug into her scalp as she shook her head. “No. I haven’t been in Southwood long enough to have a sponsor.”
“Well, that’s what I’m saying. I need a beauty queen, and you look like you’d be good at it. You even come with your own crown and everything.”
* * *
Tuesday morning Dominic woke with a slight hangover, but given what he accomplished last night, he didn’t care. He secured himself a beauty queen and managed to pass himself off as a gentleman by not ripping off Waverly’s clothes and carrying her to the bedroom. She was so damn irresistible when she tried to back out of the pageant. He saved himself from eating Alisha’s idea of a pizza and still got back to his sister’s condo in time to feed Hamilton his carrots seconds before Alisha stumbled through the front door at one in the morning. He was in such a good mood, he didn’t care if Alisha banged on the guest bedroom door where he slept every time he came over there. The chain dangling from the ceiling fan rattled with each pound of her fist.
“I know you’re up.” Alisha rattled the door. “You’re not snoring.”
Damn, with everything he completed before going to bed, Dominic forgot to lock the room. “I don’t...” Before he got the words out, Alisha poked her head inside. “Alisha, I could have been naked.”
“You better not be naked in my house.” Alisha stepped forward and cringed. “Gross.”
“What do you want?” Dominic pulled himself up onto his elbows. Hamilton oinked at Alisha’s feet. Today he wore a rainbow tutu.
“Is there anything you want to tell me?” she asked.
“No.” Did she figure out he didn’t eat her pizza or was barely over here last night?
“Are you sure?”
“Just tell me what’s going on, Alisha,” Dominic growled. Hamilton, protective of his mother, oinked at him. Would it be wrong of him to eat a slice of bacon in front of the pig?
Alisha crossed her arms and kicked the edge of the bed. “You have a visitor.”
“Waverly?”
“Who?” Alisha’s upper lip curled. “Jesus, you’re back one day and you’ve got women coming out of the woodwork for you. This one is married, though.”
“Lexi,” Dominic said with a nod.
“Why is the pageant producer in my living room with a butt load of dresses? Have you decided you’re going to change up your wardrobe?” Alisha rambled on while Dominic grabbed his jeans he’d hung over the chair last night and went into the bathroom to change. She was still rattling on about dresses, so like any good big brother, Dominic patted her on the head and headed out of the bedroom and down the hall to greet Lexi Pendergrass Reyes.
Racks of ball gowns filled the living room, covering the messy pigsty Alisha lived in. The front door opened and closed while two men dressed in white smocks rolled in more racks of clothing. Hamilton’s feet scrambled down the hall and out the door. Alisha quickly followed but not before shooting an angry glare at her brother. Somewhere in the mix, Lexi’s blond head bobbed around. He heard her voice and another woman’s as well, but couldn’t see who the second person was.
“Good morning?” Dominic said to announce his presence. Lights spilled in from the opened curtains. The doors to the balcony were closed but the clear skies were welcome.
“Dominic,” Lexi exclaimed.
Dominic made his way through a row of dresses in every shade of yellow. “What’s all this?”
“These—” Lexi waved her arm over the racks “—are all dresses in Waverly’s size that are not mine.”
Everyone in town, male or female, understood the place to buy a dress was at Grits and Glam Gowns. For Alisha, the boutique was one of the bonuses of agreeing to move to Southwood. Lexi made one-of-a-kind dresses for proms, weddings and, most famously, pageants.
“Why wouldn’t she get any of your dresses?”
“Conflict of interest,” Lexi’s assistant answered.
“Sorry, let me make the introductions,” said Lexi. “Dominic, this is Kenzie Swayne. She’s my right-hand woman for the pageant.”
Kenzie, all of five-three, stepped forward and extended her hand for a firm shake. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Crowne. I’ve been meaning to stop by your garage. You realize it was once the city jail?”
“I did not,” said Dominic. He flexed his hand to revive the circulation. “You’ll have to tell me about it.”
“Just not today,” said Lexi. “I have a limited amount of time.”
Dominic glanced down at Lexi’s protruding pregnant belly. “How far along are you?”
“Seven months,” Lexi said with a shake of her blond head. “But that’s not why there’s no time. I’ve got to turn the reins over to Kenzie.”
“Because of Waverly?”
“Exactly,” Lexi and Kenzie chorused.
Scratching the back of his head, Dominic sighed. “I don’t understand. I didn’t mean for you to leave your duties as the pageant director, Lexi. I don’t understand what the big deal is.” He stood uncomfortably as Kenzie gave him a blank stare. After a half second or more, she blinked in disbelief. “What’d I say?” he asked.
Lexi pushed Kenzie playfully on the shoulder. “Kenzie is just in shock to find someone who clearly doesn’t know about Waverly Leverve.”
Leverve—that’s right. She did tell him her last name. Hell, it didn’t matter. Like he told Waverly last night, her last name would change soon enough. Dominic squared his shoulders, not sure how to take Kenzie’s question. “I know her now.”
“Then you know she was stripped of her crown a few weeks ago?” Kenzie asked.
“It was a misunderstanding,” Lexi countered. “It wouldn’t be ethical for me to stay on board if Waverly is going to enter my contest. Rumors would spread that I fixed it due to our closeness. I used to coach her, you see.”
“Like Little League?”
Kenzie scoffed. Her mouth dropped open. “You’ve seriously never heard of Waverly? The dethroning, the memes?”
“Oh my God, the memes,” Lexi reiterated with a shake of her head. “They’re getting worse,” she said to Kenzie, who nodded.
Maybe that’s what Waverly tried to show him last night. Dominic held his hand up. “Look, I’ve worked on cars my whole life. I can take one look at a piece of metal that’s been through the wringer and recreate it as a beautiful piece of art. I don’t need to see where Waverly came from. I know what I see now. I don’t need any memes.”
“Are you comparing Waverly to a hunk of junk?” Kenzie asked.
“Not at all.” Dominic chuckled. She was beyond just beautiful. She was captivating and breathtaking. “Whatever happened in her past, I will restore justice.”
Lexi offered Dominic a sweet smile, almost motherly. “And for that, I can’t be any more grateful, which is why I need to step
down, to make sure no one can question Waverly’s victorious return to the crown.”
While the three of them agreed their main focus was on Waverly, Alisha stood in her doorway, Hamilton in her arms. “Wait, am I to understand you’re doing this for someone other than Tiffani?”
“This is for Waverly,” Dominic said.
“Who the hell is Waverly?” Alisha asked. Anger filled her cheeks with a red tint. He knew he was in for a cursing out. Dominic glanced up at the dark oak ceiling to avoid her wrath.
“I am.”
Alisha turned. Lexi and Kenzie squealed. Without thinking, Dominic’s hand clutched his heart when he saw her standing behind Alisha. She wore her hair in a ball at the top of her head, no makeup and a tan turtleneck paired with what looked like a pair of denim overalls. Waverly glared at him with her dark eyes. If looks could kill...
“I’ve seen you around,” Alisha said. “I didn’t realize you and my brother were friends.”
Waverly blinked and glanced at everyone in the living room. “Apparently your brother has a lot of friends these days. Lexi? Kenzie? What’s going on in here?”
“Surprise!” Lexi cheered, followed by Kenzie pumping her fist in the air.
Chapter 3
A sticky, sweet smell of hair spray hugged the air behind the backstage curtains of the Miss Southwood Beauty Pageant, masking the stench of fear as well as envy. Waverly sat in her black swivel chair as her makeup artist, Titus, applied a fresh layer of foundation on her face, hopefully covering the embarrassment of the last five days of pure pageant torment since she’d entered.
The moment Waverly arrived at the Magnolia Palace, where the pageant would take place, she knew Tiffani had abandoned her. Tiffani took one look at her and Waverly knew not to step foot in The Cupcakery for a while. It was clear to Waverly from the beginning that no one appreciated her being there. So much for the friendly Southern hospitality she had grown used to.
On the first day of rehearsals, she’d been accidently tripped by a girl who claimed to be a virgin stiletto walker. The women Waverly practiced the opening number with told her to go in the wrong direction, so Waverly ended up bumping into everyone when they all gathered together. The dance instructor and director of the pageant talent team at Grits and Glam Studios, Chantal Hairston, took mercy on her and gave Waverly a few pointers—which didn’t help the camaraderie from the contestant girls. Waverly tried to remember her cause. For everyone else, this was just a title and a crown to wear around town. For Waverly, this was her last shot at staying on task for her lifelong dream at a shot of becoming Miss Georgia. Pageanting was the only thing she knew how to do.
As the pageant neared its end, at the head of the pack were Tiffani, a girl from the teen division and Waverly. Waverly steadied her breathing. Surprisingly, she made it through the top five—beating the odds stacked against her. Not only did Waverly lack support from the other contestants, but she didn’t have any fans with the judges, either. At least not with one. The current Miss South Georgia, Lexi’s successor had been a thorn in Waverly’s side for as long as she could remember. Before opening Grits and Glam Gowns, Lexi had worked as a private pageant coach for Vera Laing. As children, Waverly and Vera often competed for the same crowns. Waverly always got the win. Waverly blew out the nervousness in the pit of her stomach.
“You all right, chérie?” Titus asked. Her makeup artist stood at least six feet five inches tall and towered over her in the chair.
“I’m good,” Waverly lied. “How are you doing? I heard a lot is at stake for you.”
Titus pressed his lips together, took a step backward and kissed his fingers. “Girl, it’s more than just a stake. My job is on the line.” He leaned closer, nodded and whispered, “Against that heifer right there.”
Ravens Cosmetics, one of the longest-running black-owned cosmetic companies catering to women of color, sponsored the event. This year the executives decided to take the opportunity during the pageant to choose their next employee. Titus and the other makeup artists vied for the creative design director position. Titus’s work on Waverly had got her this far. There was one other person giving him competition. The renowned makeup artist Zoe Baldwin worked on Tiffani’s touch-up. Titus was equally talented. Waverly just had a penchant for anything eighties and Zoe’s makeup brought back a lot of the bright colors. Titus and Waverly looked over at Zoe’s station. Tension hung in the air. Thankfully the lights dimmed.
No matter how many pageants, sashes and titles she won, nervousness washed over her. All it took was for someone to not like her dramatic eye makeup or the song she sang or the way her body jiggled after weeks of a steady diet of pizza, beer and cupcakes. Waverly’s heart raced. Why did she bother entering? Was she so desperate to get the Miss Georgia crown?
“Next time I see you,” said Titus, helping Waverly to her feet, “you’ll have the Miss Southwood tiara on your head.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Waverly said with a weak smile. She gathered the hem of her buttercup-yellow gown—not designed by Lexi. The deep V-neck might be the reason she lost. In the past she’d won only with a Grits and Glam gown.
Panic set in again. Waverly lined up behind the curtain with Tiffani and the other girl. Surprisingly, Tiffani reached for Waverly’s hand and gave it a squeeze. The crowd clapped when they took the stage. Waverly glanced into the crowd out of habit for her mother. Jillian didn’t even know she’d entered. Bright lights blinded her. Did Lexi show? Was anyone out there cheering for her?
Consumed with doubt and fear, Waverly moved on autopilot. She smiled and answered her questions. Even though she couldn’t see them, Waverly felt Vera’s daggers. Knowing the hatred her nemesis had for her motivated Waverly. The judges narrowed their choices, and then there were two—Tiffani and Waverly. Standing close together, Waverly and Tiffani held hands again. She searched the crowd for the spot where she last spotted Dominic. His smile and gentle, encouraging nod calmed her soul.
“No matter what happens,” Tiffani whispered, “I am kinda glad to be standing next to you.”
Waverly blinked back a threatening tear. “Tiffani, I am really sorry for the way things turned out. I don’t want you to think I underhanded you.”
“I don’t,” Tiffani said with a toothy smile. “At least, not anymore. Being up here with you means I am with the best of the best.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee announced into a silver microphone, “it is now time to present to you the second runner-up, Miss Frosting. Congratulations, Tiffani.”
The crowd erupted into what Waverly deciphered as cheers. Tiffani hugged Waverly’s neck, then stepped backward for Waverly to take her walk to the front of the stage. The former Miss Southwood placed a seven-inch, diamond tiara on top of Waverly’s head. Welcome to the family, she said silently to the tiara. With her head held high she walked forward on the stage, blowing kisses and mouthing “thank you” to the judges. The triumphant walk refueled her dreams of Miss Georgia.
Titus grabbed Waverly by the hand and swung her around in the air. “We did it!” he cried.
“Thank you so much,” said Waverly. She touched just under her right eye to make sure her mascara didn’t run.
“It ain’t going anywhere—you’re wearing Ravens Reign-Proof mascara,” Titus reassured her with a wink.
A man in a dark suit approached them with a bright smile across his handsome face. “Ah, a man who knows his products,” he said, extending his hand to Titus.
“Waverly, allow me to introduce you to Charles Ravens.”
Waverly wasn’t sure if she needed to curtsy for the heir to makeup royalty.
“May I say what an honor it is to meet you?” Waverly settled on a handshake.
Mr. Ravens clapped his soft hands over hers. “The honor is all mine, Miss Southwood. You wear our products well.”
&nb
sp; The tiara tilted when she nodded in appreciation. Mr. Ravens went on to congratulate Titus on his new appointment as creative design director at Ravens Cosmetics. Zoe Baldwin came over and congratulated Waverly. Honor filled Waverly. As the executive spoke with Titus and Zoe, reality sank in for Waverly. All this started from a silly wager over pizza. How different would things be right now, if her original thought of the wager had been a simple kiss? She and Dominic might be in bed together. Rehearsal this week left little time for Dominic. She owed him everything. Dominic reset her track to becoming Miss Georgia. Hell, she still couldn’t believe she’d won.
“I knew you’d win.” Dominic’s deep voice whispered as he stepped up to Waverly, causing a chill down her spine when his large hand wrapped around the curve of her waist. Waverly shifted the dozen roses in her arms and realized another man had come over with Dominic. Dominic made the introductions. “Waverly,” he said against her ear, “I want to introduce you to my brother Will Ravens.”
“Brother?” Waverly looked back and forth at the two of them. The judge, Will Ravens, was the CEO of Ravens Cosmetics. When Dominic wanted to look sharp in a suit, he definitely looked the part of a business mogul...even standing next to one.
“Frat brother,” Dominic explained. “We went to college together.”
For some reason it surprised Waverly to learn Dominic joined a fraternity in college. She pictured him as a loner, honing his mechanic skills on his car. But then again, Dominic did say over dinner that he hated being referred to as a mechanic. He was an engineer.
“Yes,” said Charles, “Will was one of the judges today.”
“That’s right.” Waverly nodded and recalled the introduction. The contestants had been sequestered in downtown Southwood and kept away from the judges just to lower the odds of fraternization. The judges weren’t revealed until the pageant. Turning slightly to her side, Waverly came face-to-face with Dominic with the help of her four-inch strappy sandals. Dominic pressed his lips against her temple. A warm and fuzzy feeling washed over her.
A Tiara Under the Tree Page 4