by Bex Dane
Cyan spoke quickly and added shoes to her cart without even trying them on. "You never know when you might need pink heels, or purple gym shoes, or golden sandals, and you always need killer boots. Oh, look, these are on sale!"
Tori nodded her agreement as she followed behind Cyan like Cyan was speaking the gospel.
"Let's get new makeup," Tori declared as if women got new makeup every time they went shopping.
"I don't, I mean, I don't really wear much makeup."
"And you don't need it. You're so pretty. But, let's do it anyway. For fun."
Cyan and Tori marched into Sephora and purchased a complete set of all the "must haves" of the season, unaware this was my first season ever.
"Can I do a free makeup application for you?" the attractive girl at the counter asked me.
"Sure."
I watched as she dabbed foundation on my face making me look paler than I already was. Then she slowly stenciled brown liquid eyeliner, dusted rose on my cheeks with a soft fluffy brush, and applied three layers of light pink color on my lips. "You have gorgeous big blue eyes. I'm just outlining them with a little smoke. Your cheekbones are exceptional. Just add bronzer here to accentuate them."
When she was done, I tried not to act surprised, but I didn't recognize the girl in the mirror. She hadn't gone too extreme or dark. I was still me, but fresh and light and happy and colorful.
Cyan's smile held mischief, as if she knew how much this meant to me. She hugged me like my sisters used to hug me, loving and warm. "You look incredible."
They took me through the jewelry department at Neiman Marcus. "Ooh, Tessa. Look at these." Cyan held up a set of chandelier earrings with blooms of dainty rubies and diamonds dangling from invisible chains. The price tag said twenty-five hundred dollars.
"Wow, so beautiful." I rubbed my earlobe. I couldn't imagine wearing crafted art like the earrings Cyan held up. They looked like something a princess should wear. "I don't have pierced ears."
"What? Do you wear clip-ons?"
"No."
"You mean you've never worn earrings?" Tori asked.
I shook my head.
"Do you want to?" Cyan asked with her eyebrows pulled together.
Did I accidentally say something to tip them off about me? Was getting your ears pierced a rite of passage in the outside world?
"I don't know. Yes. I think so."
Cyan marched me straight to a piercing counter.
"It'll hurt initially, but after a few days, you won't feel it at all. You wanna do it?"
"Yes."
"What kind of earrings would you like?" The technician pointed to a display of silver and gold balls and rings, but my eyes glued to the colored gems.
"These are birthstones. What month is your birthday?"
My real birthday or my fake birthday? Fake, of course. "July."
"July is ruby." She pointed to two sparkling red stones rounded with silver edges.
"Then I'll take ruby, please."
Cyan and Tori smiled with anticipation like I was their child getting her first piercing.
The technician marked my earlobes with black dots and showed them to me in a mirror. "Like that?"
"Yes, looks good."
She loaded the rubies into a device that looked like a staple gun. "I'll put some alcohol and a little numbing gel. It'll sting for a moment."
"Okay."
She pressed the cold metal to my ear. With a snap, a sharp pinch struck my ear, and I squeezed Cyan's hand.
"One more."
I anticipated the pinch on the other ear and didn't flinch as hard.
"All done."
She held up a mirror, and my fingers rubbed the sensitive skin on my lobe and the hard stone now residing there. This color was mine and I was free to wear it. I felt the sting of tears before my eyes started blinking.
"Aww. What's wrong? Does it hurt?"
"Huh?" I dropped my hand from my ear and focused on Cyan. "No. I'm just happy."
"You always remember your first earrings."
I nodded and dabbed at the corner of my eye, trying not to mess up my makeup. I'd never forget this moment.
"I remember mine because I slipped them in my purse and walked out of the store without paying," she said matter-of-factly.
"You stole them?"
"Mmm-hmm. Got caught. The store manager said she wouldn't call the cops if I promised to leave and never come back. I felt terrible."
Oh, Cyan. I took a necklace. I know how you feel.
I held my words in. I couldn't give away more than I already had by not wearing makeup, or earrings, or knowing how to shop.
We passed a hair salon. "Want to get your hair cut?"
I imagined the tears I'd cry through the cutting of these locks I'd been forced to wear my entire lifetime. "Not today."
At Victoria's Secret, Cyan bought garters and stockings that looked uncomfortable and useless. She explained most women don't wear stockings anymore but she liked them because they're sexy—and her husband was crazy about them. I splurged on thong underwear, nighties, and colorful bra and panty sets.
My final purchase of the day was for my dad. To piss him off, I bought the shortest pair of cutoff jeans I could find with bright red sparkles on the pockets. I tried them on with heels, but I was too wobbly to walk in the mall, and I didn't want Cyan and Tori to see my lack of experience, so I wore a pair of chocolate suede boots with a low heel and strutted out of the store with a smile on my face.
Come get me, Satan.
"Oh, girl. Those shorts are to die for on you," Tori said as we walked to lunch.
Ha! If she only knew my father would actually kill me for wearing them.
***
"He's not going to join us?" I pointed my thumb at Lux who stood at the bar of the sports themed restaurant Cyan had chosen for lunch.
"No. He likes to watch hockey from the TV in the bar," Cyan answered.
I glanced over my shoulder at Lux. He stood with his back to the screen and scanned the restaurant with the same alert caution I'd seen in Rogan's eyes so many times.
"Why do you have a bodyguard?" I asked Cyan.
She shared a look with Tori before leaning forward. "My husband is a little, uh, overprotective," she whispered.
Tori chuckled and exchanged a knowing grin with Cyan.
"Are you comfortable with that?" Was she under the thumb of some tyrannical dictator like my father?
She shrugged and peeked over at Lux before returning her attention to me. "It took some getting used to. I've been alone most of my life, now I have constant company. But Dallas feels it's necessary to protect me and it eases his mind. It's a small concession on my part compared to all he gives me in return." She twirled the rocks on her left ring finger.
"Can I ask you another question?"
"Of course. What's on your mind?"
"Is he faithful?"
Her eyebrows rose, and she shared another look with Tori. "Yes. We hit a few bumps in the beginning, but he's proven his trustworthiness to me. There's no one else for either of us. It's easy with the right person."
"I'm excited to meet him on Monday."
"Now his brother, on the other hand, is another story."
"His brother?"
"Brock."
Hmm. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to tell Cyan I'd met Brock already. Probably not. "He's not faithful?"
"He has so many women, he doesn't know which way to turn. I bet if he had a chance, he'd legalize bigamy just so he wouldn't have to choose one woman for a wife."
They'd laugh more if I shared the inside joke with them, but Rogan trusted me, so I kept my mouth shut.
"So how was it with Rogan at his place? Seemed awkward," Cyan asked Tori.
"A little weird seeing him for the first time since your wedding."
A green haze blurred my vision. Tori dated Rogan? She didn't seem like his type. I guess I didn't know him very well.
"Did he call you or say anything?"
"He sent a get well card after I got shot, but I don't expect Rogan to talk about us. He's not that kind of guy."
The waiter arrived and served us our drinks with a big basket full of breadsticks. I took a sip of my iced tea and swallowed my jealousy. Rogan wasn't mine anyway.
"You seem over it," Cyan said.
Tori nodded. "I learned my lesson and moved on."
So it was over between them? "What lesson?" I asked Tori.
"If a man is into you, he lets you know. I'm not chasing anyone around who doesn't want me like crazy." She narrowed her eyes at me and looked down at my hands fidgeting with my napkin. "So, Tessa. Tell me about you. You're cousins with a friend of Rogan's?"
Oh no, Tori had me on the hot seat. "Yes, Falcon's my cousin. Our mothers are sisters." There, that was convincing, right?
"Interesting." Tori's gaze remained focused on me while I glanced around the restaurant to avoid eye contact. "Why're you staying with Rogan? Couldn't get into the dorms?"
"Uh... This was a last minute decision."
"What about off-campus housing? You couldn't get an apartment?" She was clearly savvy and smart, and her tone conveyed she wasn't falling for any of my bullpucky.
"I'm looking… now. I just..." When the waiter arrived with our lunch, I caught Cyan's eyes and cleared my throat, giving her my please help me look.
Cyan sat up straight in her chair and reached for my hand. "You'll have to excuse my friend. Tori's an attorney, always digging for a juicy hidden angle. Even if there isn't one to be found."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interrogated you like that." Tori finally pulled her sleuthhound eyes off me and turned her attention to her food.
"It's fine. Honestly, I sort of fell into this situation, and I'm not exactly sure what will happen next."
"I totally understand." Cyan gave my hand a squeeze. "When I first came to Boston, I was a mess. I'd gotten myself arrested for prostitution in Atlanta and owed some bad dudes a lot of money. I ended up at Siege in a failed attempt to worm myself out of trouble."
"And then you met Dallas?"
"Yes. I was there to spy on him, but he blew my cover the first night!"
"Wow. You must be brave."
"Not brave. Desperation will drive a woman to do crazy things."
"So Dallas helped you?"
"Yes. He put me under his protection. He said they'd never come after me again."
"I'm so happy it worked out for you."
"It did. And it will for you too. If you want to talk to someone, we're here whenever you're ready."
"Thank you."
***
My bags rustled as I plopped them on the couch in Rogan's apartment.
"Whew! Shopping is hard work." I flipped my hair back from my face.
Rogan appraised my appearance from his place at his card table. A sly grin grew slowly on his lips. "Looks like it went well."
"Yes! Burlington Mall is a shopping utopia. I love Cyan and Tori. I stuck to the story, but I think they knew something was fishy."
He stood and walked slowly toward me. "Maybe someday you can tell them. But not now."
"Okay. It's difficult lying to them and wanting to make friends with them too."
"I know, but you'll get used to it. You got your ears pierced?"
"Umm, yes." I fiddled with my new ruby stud.
"Makeup too?"
"Yes."
"First time for both?"
Insecurity washed over me. Was the makeup too dark? I must look ridiculous trying to be a city girl when I'm nothing but a farm girl who’s never seen the world. "Yes. Maybe I shouldn't have."
I picked up my bags and walked toward his room.
"Your cheeks are hanging out."
I stopped and turned back to him. What the heck? Why was Rogan acting this way? "No they aren't."
"Sunshine, if I can see the crease of your ass, your cheeks are hanging out."
I'm not letting his judgmental tone ruin this for me. I'm wearing my first pair of earrings, and I think I look fabulous with my makeup done. He needs to keep his trap shut. The bags swayed as I propped my hands on my hips. "Are you my daddy now approving my clothes?"
"I'm not your daddy." His voice was deep and his lips twisted like he found this funny.
"Good. Even if you were, I'm not living for his approval anymore anyway. I think I look awesome."
“You're stunning. You know you're beautiful without all this, right?"
"Um…" Wow. Rogan threw compliments out so easily.
"But with it, Christ, I reckon you were gorgeous with your hair braided and no makeup, walking around on that compound, a few cute freckles on your nose. Your curves hidden under a dress the color of sherbert. I bet every guy there wanted you but they couldn’t touch the preacher's daughter. If those men saw you today, they'd curse God's name and kick themselves for not breaking through the walls and stealing you away when they had a chance.”
"Oh." Warmth fluttered up from my belly to my cheeks. Did Rogan really see me that way?
"So yeah, you should have done this."
"Um, thank you." Oh, darn. He said not to say thank you. Did that apply to effusive compliments that made my breath catch in my throat? Oh well, I'd already said it. I spun quickly to pick up my bags and escape.
I took one step before Rogan's front door burst open. Blaze walked in and punched the console of the alarm to stop the beeping. "Boggs—" As he turned, his eyes landed on me and popped wide open. "Swift?"
I dropped the bags in one hand and waved three fingers at him. "Hi, Blaze."
He circled around me and whistled. "Holy shit. You look hot. You're fuckin' on fire. I mean you were a chili pepper before, but now... Whew! Ha-ban-er-o." His hand punctuated each syllable with a swish in my direction.
I stared at my boots so he couldn't see the crimson color my cheeks must have turned. "Thanks."
"I'm serious. You just made a huge deposit in my spank bank."
"You got a reason for bustin' in my door, Blaze?" Rogan's angry voice suddenly sounded close. When I looked up, he was standing on high-alert between Blaze and me, shoulders taut, face red, and fists clenched, as he stared Blaze down.
Rogan's calm demeanor was incredibly appealing, but when he got intense like this, holy moly, sexy overload. His testosterone filled the air like thick smoke.
Blaze stepped back with his hands up. "Diesel sent me, man. Calm down." He looked down and wiped the sweat from his palms on his jeans. "Yolanda wants to invite Swift over for drinks tonight."
Rogan grunted and unwound his fists.
"Whaddya say, Swift? Wanna consume a little brain grenade with us?" Blaze leaned sideways to make eye contact with me around Rogan's massive body.
"Brain grenade?"
"Just a little beer. Chance of tequila."
"Oh, sure." I tried to sound casual. Sure, Blaze, I drink beer and tequila with hot Army guys all the time.
"Come over at seven."
"Okay."
"Later." His gaze traversed my bare legs one last time before he tilted his chin at Rogan and walked out. Rogan glared at the closed door before returning to his work.
Chapter 8
I spent the rest of the afternoon practicing my walk in the ice-cream cone wedge heels and getting used to my earrings. At seven o'clock, Rogan was gone, so I tottered the few steps down the hallway to Blaze and Diesel's apartment. I knocked on the door and held my breath. I could do this. My first party in the outside world. Rogan's friends must be nice guys, right? Even if they cleaned their rifles at breakfast, they'd been nothing but kind to me. This would be easier if Cyan and Tori could go with me, but facing this alone would be good for me too.
When Diesel opened the door, his warm smile and open arms immediately calmed my nerves. "C'mon in." I followed him to a small kitchen. Blaze waved to me as he walked in from the balcony carrying a plate of cooked meat.
"Uh, hey, Blaze." His faded blue jeans fit him snug and his long-sleeved bl
ack T-shirt hugged his bulging shoulders.
"Swift." Blaze placed a platter of barbequed meat on the table.
Diesel sat down next to a striking woman with straight brown hair and blunt bangs. "This is Yolanda."
Wow, Yolanda was showing lots of cleavage. I thought I was being daring with my low-cut blouse, but she wore a shirt made of two triangles that tied behind her neck. I could see the bottom of her perfectly shaped breasts. She must know Victoria's Secret because there's no way I could get my breasts that round even with a miracle bra.
"Hi, Yolanda."
"Hi, Tessa." She offered me a pleasant smile.
"Have a seat." I sat down opposite Diesel.
"What's your poison? Beer, wine, tequila?" Blaze asked me.
"Um... Wine?"
"Sure." He went to the kitchen and returned with a wine cooler. He winked at me as he twisted the cap and handed the bottle to me.
Yolanda chatted about the wedding, and the guys remained quiet as we ate a delicious meal of steak, potatoes, and corn. The wine cooler tasted fruity and bubbly.
After dinner, Blaze opened a box and placed it in the middle of the table. He pointed to the assortment of sweets and dried fruit inside.
"No, thanks. I'm stuffed."
He tossed what looked like a chocolate coconut cluster in his mouth and sat down opposite me. "Let's play I never."
"How do you play?" I asked.
"You say something you've never done. Anyone who has done it has to take a drink."
"Okay." I kept my voice even, but stifled my laugh. Blaze was trying to get dirt on me.
Good luck, Blaze. There's not much for me to tell.
"I'll go first," Blaze said. "I've never had sex in an elevator."
Diesel and Yolanda smirked and drank at the same time, but Blaze didn't take a sip of his beer. Oh, this should be interesting.
"Your turn, Swift." Blaze popped another cluster in his mouth.
The door flew open and Rogan strode in. He snatched the box of treats off the table. "Don't steal my mail."
Blaze laughed as he chewed the lumpy treat. "Your mom rocks the exotic care packages, Boggs. She'd want her little prince to share with his loyal subjects."