Chapter 20 Princess Cut

Wren

We chatted more while Stella applied the acrylic nails. I decided to go with a squared tip and a deep burgundy polish for a more dramatic look. Brandy meticulously curled my hair, fashioning it into a half-up half-down style. She secured the twist with two traditional jade hair sticks that she said could be used as a weapon in a pinch.

"I really don't think I'd even know how to use them."

"Pointy end to the carotid artery." Brandy tilted her head and pressed them at the junction of her neck and shoulder. "Or the balls." She jabbed them forward. "Men are all weak in the balls."

We laughed, but I still felt nervous at the idea of having to use a weapon.

"Worst case, Mag kills 'em with one stealth poke in the right spot. No one will ever know," Stella added casually. These two women had a lot more exposure to the commando for hire life than I did.

"Okay." I allowed myself to imagine Mag pulling the spikes from my hair and stabbing Tommy in the neck. That was a nice distraction while I waited for my nails to dry.

Stella spent a good amount of time patting my face with sponges and painting dramatic colors on my eyes, cheeks, and lips.

When we were done, I changed into the undergarments we'd purchased and slipped the dress up over them like a form-fitting drape that zipped perfectly into place .

We added some black suede platform pumps with chunky heels and a thick ankle strap. I practiced walking in them and wobbled about.

"Place the heel first, then follow with the toe," Brandy added. "Bend the knee and hip at the same time. Keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed."

That worked, I was able to walk across the room without wobbling, but I still felt like I was a kid playing dress up.

I checked myself in the full-length closet mirror and gasped.

I had been transformed.

From the little bird who hid behind the counter at the bakery to a beautiful red dragon with claws and cat eyes. The dress sparkled and hugged curves I didn't even know I had. The dark cranberry satin fabric of the corset top plunged deep between my breasts. Black lace placed artistically throughout the dress accentuated my hips and made my legs look extra long. The delicate cap sleeves off the shoulders made me feel slightly less exposed. If I ignored the fear churning in my gut, I had to admit it looked very sexy and elegant at the same time.

"He's going to cry when he sees you," Brandy said as she added a black chain necklace with a pear-shaped ruby pendant.

I finished putting on the matching earrings she'd given me that dangled so far they almost brushed my shoulders. "I doubt Mag ever cries."

"I think he's going to cry." Stella nodded as she checked out my look in the mirror. "He's gonna bawl like a baby thinking that you're married to his brother." She laughed and slapped her thigh.

Stella's reaction seemed a little mean-spirited. I wouldn't want to do anything to intentionally hurt him. Wasn't it dishonest not to tell him the truth about the wedding now that I knew? "Maybe I should tell him before the show."

"If you tell him, he's gonna jump your bones and jeopardize the mission." Stella whipped out her phone and started snapping pictures of me.

"He won't. He's a professional." I smiled and loved the way Stella's blackberry lipstick and lip liner made my lips look much fuller than they really were. She'd also done wonders to my eyebrows that were now thin and arched instead of bushy flat things.

"He's a pro, but his dick is also in charge most of the time." She clearly had a different opinion of Mag because he'd been a gentleman with me so far, and I had no reason to believe he wouldn't be able to control himself if I told him the truth in the car.

We all froze when a knock sounded at the front door followed by the low din of masculine voices.

"They're here." Stella gave me a thumbs up and then left the room to greet them.

"Uh oh," I said to Brandy.

She laughed and embraced me gently. "It'll be fine. Remember two things at once."

"Right. Terrifying and amazing."

"Yep."

I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror again. The dress had a revealing slit up the left leg that showed a lot of thigh, but it was flattering and completed the overall line of the dress. I barely recognized the sophisticated woman looking back at me, but tonight I was playing a role, and this was my costume.

"It's okay to have some stage fright. Take those nerves and put that energy into your performance. You're going to do great."

She had so much more experience than me, but I was glad I had her guidance. "I'm ready."

Brandy handed me a small beaded clutch, which was already loaded with a special phone Magnum had prepared for me and a few other things I might need tonight. She patted my arm and grinned as she moved out of the way.

He stepped into the doorway at the same time I turned to face him, and for a moment, time suspended and seconds hung in the air as our gazes locked. Had I ever met this man before or was a very handsome stranger here to pick me up for a blind date?

He wore a tailored black tuxedo and an uncharacteristically sweet bow tie.

I raised one hand robotically and wiggled my fingers. "Hi."

His lips twisted as he ran a hand over his hair, which was shorter and slicked back instead of loose over his eyes. What made him look the most different was the missing hair on his face and the sides of his head. The beard had been hiding the impressive contours of his square jaw and chiseled cheeks.

Shocking honey eyes stared hungrily at me. His gaze scanned my body from my shoulders to my shoes and back again .

What would he think of me dressing like someone I wasn't?

He rocked back on his heels and dramatically licked his lips as he fought an ironic smile. "Hi," he said curtly. His hand came up to rub his chin, and he popped his neck left and right.

Did he like it?

He glanced over his shoulder and then took three long strides toward me. His hand landed on my hip, and he pulled me into the bedroom.

The scent of clean man and spicy body spray hit my nose as he entered my personal space. Yum.

Brandy skittered out of the room and closed the door behind her. He spun on me and dropped to one knee, taking my hand in his. "I'm one lucky guy tonight."

I laughed and stared down at his big warm hand wrapped around mine. I vaguely noticed a thick silver wedding band on his left ring finger.

He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a gigantic, princess cut diamond ring. "For my wife." It shimmered in the light like it was lit up with electric rods.

"I'm not your wife," I whispered.

"Tonight you are." He wasn't crying, but his eyes were glossy, and the deep sentimental edge of his voice gripped my heart and squeezed.

My knees felt weak, but I managed to keep standing. I could barely breathe as he removed Gavin's ring and slipped the new diamond on my left hand. It fit perfectly and sparkled against the deep red and black of the dress and the shiny burgundy nail polish .

"Thank you."

He stood and kept one hand on my hip as he pressed his nose to my neck. "Jesus, woman. You're making my job hard tonight."

A full body shiver ran down my spine. "I'm sorry."

"It's all good. I like a challenge. A little distraction ups the stakes."

"You're very distracting too."

He smirked.

"You look so different. No beard. Short hair."

He ran a hand over his hair again. "I wanted to look as close to Gavin as possible in case someone there has met him before."

"Mmm. Nice job." I was staring at his hand in his hair, his watch, the sleeve of his jacket. Everything just looked so sharp on him compared to his rugged cargo pants and tee shirts.

"Do you like me now because I look like Gavin?" His eyes were half-lidded and full of mischief. He loved the thrill of a mission. It made his whole body light up with energy.

"The way I feel about you has nothing to do with your brother."

His skin was too dark to show if he was blushing, but he cast his gaze to the floor and licked his lips again. "You look gorgeous."