Page 27 of One More Bad Boy

"Ah ha, about that.” I shook her hand and grinned sheepishly. “I’m Amina.”

"Oh!" She looked at Violet, then disengaged from me so she could grip the other woman’s palm. "We spoke on the phone?"

"Correct," Violet chuckled. "Sorry for the short notice. Mr. Devine is a little... spontaneous."

Alexis smiled, biting back a laugh. "I know the type. Come on, let's get started. It sounds like we’re under the gun here.” Thumbing the racks, she walked while we followed. "Is there a theme for the gala?"

"All that Glitters," Violet said. “It's a fundraiser for some local museums.”

“Well, glitter might be a little too on the nose...” she trailed off as she pushed through a section of hangers. I couldn't tell what was inside of them because the plastic was opaque. But Alexis seemed to know; she moved through them quickly, shaking her head as she went down the line. “Violet said you’re singing at this event, right, Amina? Are you a musician?”

“I guess,” I said, uncomfortable with the question.

Violet nudged me. “Confidence.”

It was one thing to tell someone to be confident, and another thing entirely to actually feel it.

“What kind of music do you play?” Alexis asked.

“I do mostly acoustic work. Just stuff that I write as it comes to me.”

“She's very indie,” Violet added.

Alexis nodded thoughtfully. Her fingers tightened on a hanger as she brought it towards me. “Try this on and see how it suits you. The fit might be off, but I can fix that quick.”

I’d been excited when I first entered the building. That had waned the longer I stood among the racks of gorgeous dresses. I felt out of place. These outfits weren’t for me, they were for rich people, or celebrities. People who could describe their talents with ease because they’d done it a million times for their adoring fans.

I was positive that the outfit under the plastic that Alexis handed me wasn't going to look right. How could it? No, none of this was my style. I was a torn jeans and old shirt kind of girl. If it was clean that was good enough for me.

For a moment, I closed my eyes and remembered something. A flash of hot lights in a sound booth. Cameras blinding as I stood around, posing as I was told.

“Amina?”

I shook myself and gave Violet a reassuring smile. “Where’s the dressing room?” Alexis pointed, and I hurried off in that direction. Safe in the tiny room, I breathed out, then in, until my heart slowed.Get it together, I told myself. Even if this environment didn't suit me, I had to make it work. Anyway, it was just a dumb dress. I would put it on and say it looked fine even if I felt like a fraud and it.

Unzipping the plastic, I gawked at the sparkling purple and gold material. It wasn't a gown, it was cocktail dress designed to swish around my knees. Mature, but also fun. The neck was high, covering me all the way to the top. And it was soft under my fingers. Not at all the brittle texture I expected from sequins.

Alexis had made this? She really was an artist.

Probably more of one than I am.

Sucking in a breath, I slipped out of my clothing and pulled the dress over my head. Grunting, I stretched back until I could grip the zipper. It rippled up my spine, tickling the nape of my neck. Turning in place, I studied how the dress fit me in the floor-length mirror.

It was gorgeous. And it hugged me like a dream. Alexis thought it wouldn't fit me? She was dead wrong. She had an eye, that was for sure. I would never have picked something out like this for me, but seeing how it moved, how it shimmered under the lights, I was positive I would make quite the scene on a stage. It was perfect.

Bach wouldn't be able to take his eyes off of me.

Where did that come from?I wondered. Scolding myself, I adjusted the pleats on the bottom of the dress. I did look amazing, better than I ever had before. Stepping out of the dressing room I heard Violet and Alexis gasp. Violet had pushed her fingers to her lips, staring at me wide-eyed. Alexis was jumping in place gleefully.

“It's perfect on you,” Alexis said. “I just need to pin it in a couple spots and it will be flawless.”

“It’s already flawless,” I said with a nervous laugh.

Alexis shook her head. She was seeing mistakes that I never would. Violet spoke with her finger still pressed to her mouth. “If you look like that and sing half as well, everyone at the gala is going to lose their minds.”

I swelled with pride. But something she’d just said stuck with me. “Shit. I haven't practiced at all for this,” I whispered. “Violet, what song am I even going to sing?”

She clapped her hands, back to being all business. “Doesn't matter. Pick a song that you can nail, something you know by heart, and that will be enough. You're only going to get one anyway, with the lineup already arranged.”

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