could still hear the saleslady’s voice as she’d waxed poetic about the shoe’s “rounded peep toe” and “adorable pleat accent.”
“Oh, pretty,” Lilly said as her eyes grew wider.
While Tana toed the line between cute and trendy and walking anime/goth girl, Lilly was all girly-girl and hadn’t met a bow or frill she didn’t love with all of her little girl heart.
“Sara, I’m seeing a whole new side of you,” Ruby said with a wicked grin.
“Those have been worn exactly once, on a cruise ship.”
“Well, it’s time we put them back into service. These shoes were made for dancing. Among other things.” Ruby said the last part under her breath so only Sara could hear her.
Sara’s mouth dropped open a little at the implication. “Ruby,” she scolded. But she couldn’t help the thrill of possibility that soared through her at the thought that Adam might think the same thing.
After Tana picked out jewelry she deemed appropriate, she and Ruby ushered Sara into the bathroom and made her sit on the closed toilet lid. For the next half hour, they brushed and curled and applied makeup like they were on a cable makeover show competing for fame and glory.
When they finally stood back and admired their handiwork, their mouths stretched with big, satisfied smiles. That had to be good, right?
Lilly scooted her way in front of them, stopped and stared. “Mommy, you’re bootiful.”
Sara choked up at her darling daughter’s assessment. It had all been worth it even if when she looked in the mirror she looked like Tammy Faye Baker or Marilyn Manson. She kissed Lilly on the cheek then stood and turned toward the mirror.
“Oh.” She couldn’t believe the image staring back at her. She didn’t look scary at all. She turned her face so that her bruised cheek was toward the mirror. She couldn’t even see the discoloration. She bit her lip.
“Don’t you dare cry and mess up our work,” Ruby said.
“You like it?” Tana asked, some of her lovable snarkiness giving way to the need to please.
Sara turned away from her image in the mirror and hugged Tana close. “Yes. I think you two might be miracle workers.”
“It’s just makeup and hair product,” Tana said. “You’re already pretty.”
“And I don’t think we’re going to be the only people to think so,” Ruby said with satisfaction lighting her pale blue eyes.
The nervousness returned full force, and Sara brought her hand to her stomach again. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Ruby spun her around and pushed her toward the bedroom. “No, you’re not. You’re going to go and have a marvelous time.”
WHEN SARA SPOTTED Adam outside the hotel ballroom, she thought maybe Ruby was right. Her breath caught at the sight of him dressed in a dark suit and tie. His shoulders looked wider, his eyes greener and more beckoning. He’d been good-looking before, but now he brought drop-dead gorgeous to new levels. And she wasn’t the only person to notice. Other women, even plenty of married ones, watched him a little longer than necessary. She tried not to think about the possibility that he’d been with any of them before. She had to confine her thoughts to having fun this one night and nothing beyond that.
When he saw her, the way his eyes came to life as they widened and he froze in place as though he might trip if he took another step told her that Lilly was right. For tonight, at least, she looked beautiful.
For tonight, she was going to put concerns aside and enjoy herself. As Adam approached her, appreciation in his expression, her heart sped up. She almost licked her lips, but halted the action just in time, before she made it obvious how his appearance affected her.
“Detective Greene, you will cause wrecks in that dress. I’m not sure the public is safe.” His teasing was low and sexy, making her skin tingle.
Heat rushed up her neck to her face. She hoped the makeup hid the redness as well as it did the evidence of the bar brawl.
“And who knew there was a debonair man beyond the beach-lover,” she teased right back.
“Guess we’re both just full of surprises,” he said as he offered his arm.
She swallowed and prayed that he couldn’t feel how her body vibrated at his closeness. A whiff of some spicy scent—maybe shampoo, maybe aftershave—caused her to take a slow, deep breath. It served the dual purpose of calming her nerves and filling her senses with Adam’s presence.
As he led her through