Page 36 of The Publicist
“All right, so we’re going to get you a dress right now, and then hair and makeup after. We have two hours until we have to be at the premiere.”
“We? I thought you weren’t going?” I ask.
“She wasn’t going to, but I invited her as my plus one. It will be less boring if I have a friend with me,” Bradley chimes in.
I smirk and Elena gives me a look as if to sayshut up. The car drops us off at a boutique, but I’m skeptical they’ll actually have anything in my size here. “Elena, I don’t think this will be the place for me.”
“Quinn, this is theonlyplace for you. You’re going to love it. Mabel has owned this shop for years, and I’ve been coming to see her for the past two. She has something for everyone.Trust me.She’s got you covered.”
She takes my hand and drags me into the store. The car leaves us there, I assume, to drop Bradley off at the hotel. We walk through the front doors, and I’m floored with the number of dresses hanging on the racks. There are dresses in all styles and sizes, and every one of them is beautiful. A woman standing near a small rack of dresses welcomes us.
“Ms. Conners, so lovely to see you again.” She turns her attention to me. “You must be Ms. Harrison. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She has a bit of a southern drawl, and I can imagine it has diminished over the years of living in California.
“Mabel, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Elena? We’ve known each other long enough; no need for formalities.”
“It’s ingrained in me. You know that.” She laughs at Elena. “So, we need a gown for the movie premiere tonight for both of you, right?”
“Yes, ma’am. I know it’s last minute, so anything you have that will make us look amazing will do.”
“When have you known me to make you look anything but amazing?” She turns her attention back to me. “Let’s have a look at a few things for you, dear. I have a few things I think will look great on you. Are you looking for a certain color?”
I don’t even know what color Caleb is wearing tonight, so it’s not as if I can match him. “Whatever you have is fine. I’m not sure what color my date’s suit is, so I can’t match him.”
“So, let’s stick with something neutral then—black, navy or red.” She smirks and waves me over to the dresses on the rack.
She looks at me, looks at the three dresses in the colors she has decided on, and then glances back at me. Her smile grows wide, and she hands me a dress to try on. “This is the one, I’m sure of it.”
How would she even know that? It might look hideous on me. I look at Elena, and she smiles and nods. Mabel carries the dress to the changing area, and I try it on quickly. When I step out, she finishes zipping up the back. I turn to look at myself in the mirror and gasp. It’s the most beautiful dress I have ever had on, and I can’t help the smile that takes over.
Elena walks over to me and gasps as well. “That dress was made for you. You look stunning, Quinn.” I twist and turn in front of the mirror, checking myself out from all angles.Damn! I do look good!“He’s gonna want to rip that off of you the moment he sees you in it.” She smirks when she notices the blush on my cheeks.
“No respectable man will be ripping this gown tonight. This is a rental for the evening and needs to be returned to me unless you want to purchase it.” Mabel plays with the corset bodice, making sure nothing is out of place.
“Out of curiosity, how much would it cost?” I look down and flatten the skirt under the palms of my hand.
“Nine thousand dollars. It took me a long time to make this one. There is nothing else like it.”
My eyes widen in horror at the price tag. “I’ll take good care of it.”
Chapter 32
The car arrives,and I glance at the swarm of people lining the streets, trying to catch a glimpse of one of the celebrities present tonight. This is the last place I want to be right now, but I know I have to put on a smile and pretend otherwise. I check my phone for a response from Quinn, but I haven’t heard back from her since her last text five hours ago. I send a quick message to her, hoping she responds quickly before they let me out of the car. I’m holding my phone, willing it to ring, and when her name lights up the screen, I smile.
Quinn:Good luck tonight. Remember… best behavior.
Rolling my eyes, I pocket my phone just as the door opens. I plaster a smile to my face and get out. The screams of fans are deafening, with multiple people shouting my name at the same time. The good news—since I’m not in this movie, I don’t have to answer any questions. The bad news—I still have to pose for pictures. When my turn comes, I move into position and look at the long row of cameras in front of me. There are five spots I will be moving to, and it should take no more than 10 minutes to get through this part. After that, I can have a drink, find a seat, and sneak out halfway through.
Looking out at the sea of flashing lights, I try to imagine what Quinn is doing at this moment. She’s probably lounging around the pool with a drink in her hand. I continue to move down the row, my mind elsewhere. As I hit my last mark, I glance to my right and lose the ability to breathe for a second. Quinn is standing there in a stunning red gown, a smirk on her lips, waving at me. My whole world stops at the sight of her. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. I don’t even care that I still have a minute left before I can leave; I can’t stand to be apart from her a minute longer.
I rush to her side, wrap my hands around the back of her neck, and angle her head up to press my lips to hers. Hers are soft and warm, just like they were this morning. I can’t help the happiness that flows from me. I move to deepen the kiss, needing to taste her. She stiffens, and I know she is uncomfortable with all the cameras watching, so I cut the kiss short. I place my forehead on hers and ask her quietly, “What are you doing here?” I pull back to study her, my hands still placed on the sides of her cheeks.
“Elena thought it would be good if I came to support my boyfriend,” she replies. My face falls; she’s here for publicity, not because we are an item. “My real boyfriend.”
My eyes snap to hers, and she’s smiling, her eyes twinkling. I can’t hide the excitement that is oozing out of me. “So, that’s a yes? We can try this?”
“Yes, Caleb, we can try this.”
I have no idea what’s come over me, but I lift her up in a tight embrace and spin her around. She laughs and taps my shoulder. “Caleb, put me down. You’re making a scene.”