Page 60 of Mail Order Valentine (Hawthorne Billionaire 2)

I nodded yes. The nail girls came back in to start putting the rhinestones on. It felt ridiculous and special to have all these people working on me at the same time, like I’m someone. All this talk about the engagement and paparazzi had my stomach flip-flopping. Mylene finally finished, as did the nail girls.

“It’s time. You ready?” Mylene asked with the nail girls nodding and smiling.

I closed my eyes and smiled. “Yes, let’s do it.” The chair spun around and I didn’t recognize the girl in the chair.

“Strewth Crickey, is that me?” I turned my head side to side. Mylene handed me a mirror to see the back.

“You have no idea what my life has been like before Asher, and now this.” I swiped at tears sliding down my cheeks. “I can’t believe how good it looks.”

“You mean how goodyoulook, Imogen. Stay there, I need pictures for my wall of famous people.” She pulled a camera from her drawer. “Don’t worry, these pictures are only for my own bragging rights.”

“Thanks, I’m not ready for too much yet.” I stood and hugged every one of the girls like they were old friends. “Off I go. I’ll tell everyone about how awesome you are.”

Gunner was waiting in the lobby for me when I walked out of the salon. He was reading a magazine, so I sat down on the bench next to him. He glanced at me then back to his magazine, then back to me in shock. He stood and pulled me to my feet with him.

“Spin around for me, Solitaire. Wow. You think they can make me look this good?”

“You look good without them.” I kissed him on the cheek. “You think Asher will like it?”

Chapter 44

AUGUST

Iwas having trouble concentrating at my meetings. I knew that I had to do this thing tonight, and I knew my mother wanted it to be public. I’d gotten a text from Mia and Poppy filling me in on how good things were going with Imogen. My heart raced from the anxiety. My meeting was running late, and I was going to need to be ready to meet her. There was no time to go back to the hotel. I needed to get ready from my office. I messaged Pierre to have my tux delivered to my office, and then texted Gunner to let him know to pick me up at my office at five pm. I felt bad not picking Imogen up at the penthouse, so I texted her myself to soften the blow.

“Hey, hope you’ve been having fun getting ready for our big night. I’m sorry to say this, but I’m running behind and I’ll need you to meet me in the lobby at five thirty.”I added a smile face bitmoji.

“No worries mate.”She responded with a bitmoji winking.

“Thanks for understanding. Can’t wait to see you.”

“Looking forward to tonight, but I’m really nervous. I’m going to sweat off this makeup”

“I‘ll tell you what. Meet me at the bar for a quick toast at five twenty.

“Five twenty…lol, that’s very specific.”

“I’m a specific guy. So, can you please meet me?”

“You got it. Since you asked nicely.”

“Well thank you.”

“I think this is almost a scene from Pretty Woman. What is it with us and that movie?”

“You’re right, but I think she says ‘I’ll be there because you’re paying me to be there.’”

“I’m starting to think you’re a mushy romantic at heart to know this movie so well.”

“I’ll never tell. See you soon.”

I checked my watch. It was four-thirty. Pierre had texted back that my tuxedo would arrive in ten minutes. I brought my attention back to the meeting, answered a few design questions, then wrapped it up for the day. I still had to meet with the jeweler, who was waiting patiently in my outer office, and return at least three phone calls- one being my mother and the other being Asher.

God only knows why Asher called. He never calls. He’s the king of texting.

I opened the door to the outer office and invited the jeweler in. He was smiling so happily it made me smile back. There was no way he would know this was a fake engagement. I waited while he pulled the enormous ring from his coat pocket. It was, in my opinion, obnoxious, but it was an Asher ring and this was an Asher engagement.

“Do you not like it, Mr. Hawthorne?” the jeweler frowned. “It is like other rings you have purchased from me before, is it not?”

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