Page 36 of Forbidden Bastard
The ex. The one everyone thought Charles loved. Sheena had also seemed beautiful. Perhaps it wasn’t fair, but Sandi hadn’t thought about being put together for more than work or going out with her few friends in ages. Tonight’s ball made her stomach twist and the idea of Charles with another just added a stone inside as she slumped in the chair and said, “Oh.”
Chelsea asked, “Do you prefer red or royal blue, as both colors go well with your skin tone?”
Tonight she needed every weapon and that included amazing good looks. She met Chelsea’s blue eyes and said, “Siren red.”
A huge grin broke out as Chelsea patted her arm. “I like you already, Sandi. Just so you know, Sheena has been my dearest friend for years now.”
Then anything said could travel. It was best not to say a word that could be taken wrong. Sandi swallowed. “Charles told me how he'd asked, in royal court, for her marriage to be annulled.”
“Good.” Chelsea headed toward a rack with red dresses as she said, “He warned you what to expect. Sheena is in love with Matteo. She always has been, so that wasn’t going to happen.”
Michael started tugging at the ends of her hair as if inspecting the strength of each strand. The news made her glad that Sheena didn't have a broken heart either. “I see.”
Chelsea brought over three dresses and held them up like she was internally measuring and deciding on style while she said, “But she’s happy you’ll be there with Charles tonight, and hopes you'll talk to her so everyone is at ease.”
If talking with Sheena settled things down, she’d happily help. Sandi nodded until Michael held her head firm. She put her head down to let him see her long layers. Chelsea put the dresses back and carried a few more over while Sandi mumbled, “Sounds good.”
Michael released her hair and then picked up his scissors as he said, “I love your happiness that gleams in your eyes. Now, let’s add a few touches to your hair so when your smile brightens the palace, it’s not dimmed with these dull ends.”
As money had tightened, so had her trips to the nicer salons, not that she wanted to explain that. She said instead, “It’s hard to find a good stylist.”
Michael handed her a black smock that she wiggled into. “You have me now. We’ll fix this line.”
She resumed her seat and he started cutting her hair as Cassidy brought over a cup of mint tea and said, “I learned to just trust that Michael knows what he’s doing.”
Chelsea showed her a lace-top dress that would fit tight in a mermaid-style. “I think this dress is best.”
Until now she’d never dared wear something that might break if she ate too much, but she was about to walk a red carpet and be photographed. “It’s lovely. Definitely a dress that will be seen.”
Chelsea laughed. “We’ll need you to try it on but I have a few backups in case you hate it. You get Michael tonight. He and his team are the best.”
Wow. Her mind twirled. Life with Charles was a dream. Everything should be great. She sipped her tea as Cassidy said, “We’re all happy with you, Sandi. I hadn’t known what to expect when I pulled your name.”
Sandi’s eyes widened as she met the matchmaker's gaze. She hadn’t thought about this until now but she stilled as she asked, “Who did you expect I’d be?”
Cassidy pressed her lips together as she handed Michael a comb he’d pointed toward and said, “I’m not sure exactly. Charles Esposito was the hardest for me to picture as I don’t know him well.”
But Cassidy had said Charles was her perfect match. It’s why she'd agreed to marry him, because she wanted to believe in love. “Then how do you know your computer system works?”
Cassidy shrugged. “I make no guarantees, though I’ve never been wrong in the past. While you have a long social media profile, Charles doesn’t and never did. He’s extremely private.”
Yes, she loved taking pictures of her food and sharing the photos like she ate out every night when mostly it was food she wished she could eat. She'd lied online. Did that screw up the program? She swallowed and asked, “So your system might be wrong?”
Cassidy massaged the bridge of her nose below her glasses. “As I said, there are no guarantees--but you’re marrying him because youareinto him, and not just because my computer system said so, which means you know best.”
The tingles at the back of her neck were normal. She fluffed her hair and avoided the matchmaker's gaze as she said, “Right. I chose Charles because…”
“Yes?” Cassidy asked, and Michael stopped cutting her hair.
From the dress rack, Chelsea also stared at her.
Great. Her words were important--she couldn't mess this up. She sat straighter. “Because he’s sweet, handsome, and the best man I’ve ever met.”
Cassidy inched away and her face was white. “And because you’re in love?”
She hadn’t wanted to get married until she’d known about the program. What if it was wrong? Her mind raced but she lifted her chin and prayed the words were stronger than she felt as she said, “Yes. I wouldn't marry if I didn’t feel love.”
Cassidy smiled in relief and nodded at Michael, who then cut her hair again. Cassidy said, “Good, then all is well.”
