Page 111 of The One
“Umm, I need help with makeup,” I blurt out instead. “Mat… Signor De Marco wants me to accompany him to a club tonight and I’ve never been. All the makeup I’ve ever done has been to look natural and pretty, but not… well, not to go out like that.”
“Okay,” she says with an amused smile. “Have you got a dress?”
“Yeah, Mateo had one sent. It’s so beautiful. A silver halter neck dress. It’s fairly short.”
“I’m sure it is,” she laughs. “You brought makeup?” She points to the bag lying next to me and I nod, passing it to her.
Standing up, she pushes the tray aside on the table and empties my makeup onto it.
“Sit,” she commands, pointing to the single chair in the corner.
I do as I’m told as Sofia grabs a bottle of foundation. She pours some on the back of her hand and uses a little sponge to dab it onto my face.
She’s methodical, creating a soothing rhythm that allows my mind to drift. Of course, it goes straight to that kiss in the rain. The excruciating build-up, the moment our lips met for my first ever kiss, and getting totally lost in each other.
It was perfect.
“Your mood is much better than it was this morning,” Sofia observes, a hint of curiosity in her tone. “I’ve never seen you smile this much. What’s going on?”
I’m smiling?
I wasn’t even aware. Though it’s hardly surprising. How can memories of that kiss do anything else?
Still, I shake my head. “Nothing,” I say unconvincingly, rubbing my lips together to hide that I am in fact smiling.
Why am I not telling her? It’s what I came here for, isn’t it?
Sofia giggles. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with you dolling yourself up to go out with Mateo De Marco tonight?”
“I’m not going out with him,” I argue. “I’m accompanying him. That’s different.”
It is, isn’t it?
Sofia grins at me knowingly, raising an eyebrow. “Sure, if that’s what you want to believe.”
As she keeps working her magic, I try hard not to linger on what happened earlier today. But it’s a losing battle. I’m having way too much fun remembering, and this time I can feel my smile widening.
Sofia nudges me as I blush.
“Come on, Mari. What gives? Don’t hold out on me. I’m living vicariously through you at the moment.”
I let out a little squeal, my feet tapping rapidly against the floor as the thrill of my kiss with Mateo takes over again.
Sofia leans in closer, looking at me expectantly, and I shield my eyes with my hand, letting my long hair curtain around me.
“Mateo kissed me,” I blurt out, trying to keep it quiet so the security guy won’t hear over the microphones. “And he kissed me with so much passion, so much possession. It rocked my world! And now I’m freaking out a bit… or a lot, wondering if it will happen again or if it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.
“I mean, the tension has been building over the past few days and needed an outlet, right? Being drenched by the rain must have helped too. I know Iwas turned on beyond measure, seeing his clothes plastered to his skin. Our kiss felt so right. But I shouldn’t want to kiss him again. There is no future with him. I’m not his usual type. What is this for him? Perhaps I’m just the closest available female,” I word-vomit.
That thought is like a cold shower, and I wrinkle my nose in distaste. I push my hair behind my ear and glance up at Sofia, undoubtedly red like a tomato.
“You’d be more his type. Blonde, pretty and super confident,” I continue, unable to shut up.
She’s been biting her lip, trying to stifle her laughter, but it finally breaks through.
“Mari, you are beautiful. Inside and out. Why wouldn’t he be attracted to you? Enjoy it, make the most of it.”
“I can’t make the most of it. My father would kill me if I ever let it go past kissing.”
