Page 12 of Ignite
“Is that Faye Ihear?”
We glanced up as a tall redheaded woman sashayed intoview.
“Francesca!” Faye exclaimed, air kissing the woman’s cheeks.Mwah,mwah, both sides like a pro. “Thanks so much for letting us in early. You’re doing me a massive favor,doll.”
“Of course. This is me returning the favor you did me when you stepped in on my show last minute. You saved myskin.”
Faye gave me a wink. “I was at Francesca’s last runway show at Melbourne Fashion Week, and one of her models fainted backstage fifteen minutes before. I was the right height and size, so she dragged me out of the crowd and stuffed me into the clothes. It was amadhouse!”
“And the people loved you.” She smiled at me and gestured to the racks. “Pick out anything you like, and I’ll take care of you. We have some really goodpieces.”
As she left us, Faye almost jumped out of her skin in excitement at the cornucopia of fashion beforeus.
“This is going to be so good!” she said chortling as she pulled me toward the racks. “I know just the thing to go with your newhair!”
* * *
That night,after churros, Faye took me to TheUnderground.
In the space of four days, I’d made two friends, had a makeover, learned how to do my makeup properly, and scored plenty of new clothes to compliment my new look. I could mix and match with some of my old things and still look great. Bonus points for the pieces that doubled as work clothes. Those water cooler bitches wouldn’t know what hit them when I walked in on Mondaymorning?. ?????
Sixty dollars had never gone so far in my entirelife.
“How do you feel?” Faye asked as we approached TheUnderground.
“Like a different person,” I replied. “It’samazing.”
“It’s already working,” she said mysteriously. “Now for the finaltest.”
Taking a deep breath, I brushed my palms over my new leather-look Moto leggings and checked the knee-high heeled boots Faye had picked for me at the sample sale. I’d never owned something so luxurious in my life, and I’d gotten them for a steal. Almost ninety percent off retailprice.
Making sure the button of my cobalt blue blouse was secure over my breasts, I flipped up the collar of my trusty leather jacket and smoothed my hair forward over my shoulders. There. Now I wasready.
The moment we walked into the warehouse, Faye grabbed my arm. “C’mon, let’s find Liam. I can’t wait to see his face! He’s going to jizz in hispants.”
“He is not,” I said, embarrassed when I felt my own juice working its way to the surface at the mention of hisname.
What would he say when he saw me? Would he like my new look? I shook my head, trying to clear my stupid thoughts. I’d known him for, like, three days.Get overit.
“Blade!” Faye yelled, spotting him through thecrowd.
Wriggling out of her grasp, I lingered behind her, suddenly shy. The imminent arrival of the man I had developed an epic ladyboner for had forced me back into my shell, the confidence I’d conjured up outside fleeing the scene.Traitor.
He emerged through a group of people, looking hot as ever in a tight T-shirt and jeans, his tattoos snaking up and down his arms giving him the air of danger that seemed to drive every member of the female sex wild…includingme.
His gaze met mine, and he stared, completely confused. He looked like he’d just been hit by a truck, and I glanced at Faye who was laughing like it was the funniest thing she’d ever seen in herlife.
“Holy shit,” Liam said, his mouth falling open. Reaching out, he picked up a strand of my hair and twirled it around his thick fingers. “Ali?”
“Told you,” Faye said before disappearing into thecrowd.
Liam’s lips curved into a grin, his gaze raking over my body. “There she is,” he murmured. “You lookbeautiful.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, beaming up at him. He’d just made all my dreams come true, and he didn’t even knowit.
His brow creased. “Forwhat?”
Standing up on my tiptoes, I kissed him on the cheek, the gesture coming out of nowhere. He shook his head, his smilewidening.
