Page 40 of Pregnant by the Texan
“You look gorgeous. Perfect. The dress you brought is also perfect. We hope you love everything—your makeup, your hair and your nails.”
She smiled at Gretchen. “I’ll admit that I do,” she said, pleased by the result and wondering what Aaron would think. “I’ve had the same hairdo since I was in college. It became a habit and it was easy. It’s amazing how different I look,” she said, turning slightly to look at herself in the mirror. The red silk dress fit her changing waistline; her old clothes were beginning to feel slightly tight in the waist because of her pregnancy.
She still wore her black wool coat and couldn’t see any reason for a new coat. When she thanked them and left, Sid smiled at her as he held the limo door.
“You look great,” he said appreciatively. “Mr. Nichols isn’t going to know you.”
“Thanks, Sid. I don’t feel quite like me.”
“Might as well make the most of it,” he said, and grinned. “You’ll turn heads tonight.”
“You think? Sid, that would be a first,” she admitted, laughing as she climbed into the limo and he closed the door.
* * *
Midafternoon Aaron went home to shower and change into a charcoal suit, a custom-made white dress shirt and a red tie. He returned to the office to spend the rest of the day catching up on paperwork. Just as he was ready to leave, he was delayed by a phone call. It only took a few minutes, but he guessed he might not get to the restaurant ahead of Stella, so he sent her a text.
He had received a call from the businessmen who’d had dinner with them last night, and they wanted to donate $20,000 to Royal’s relief efforts, which he thought would be another boost to Stella’s self-confidence. Aaron knew Stella hadn’t faced the fact that she was filling in for the mayor as Royal’s representative to the outside world even if it wasn’t official. She was filling in and getting better at it all the time.
When he arrived at the restaurant, Aaron parked and hurried across the lot. He wanted to see what transformations they had made at the salon. Whatever they had done, he hoped the bun had disappeared for the evening.
The only people in the lobby besides restaurant employees in black uniforms were a couple standing, looking at a picture of a celebrity who had eaten at the restaurant. He didn’t see any sign of Stella. The couple consisted of a tall, black-haired man and a beautiful woman half-turned toward him as she looked at the photograph.
He saw the maître d’ and motioned to him to ask him about Stella. As the maître d’ approached, Aaron glanced again at the woman. The man had walked away, and she was now standing alone. She was stunning in a red dress that ended at her knees, showing shapely long legs and trim ankles in high-heeled red pumps.
“Sir?” the maître d’ asked.
“I’m supposed to meet someone here,” he said. “Ms. Daniels.”
“Aaron?”
He heard Stella’s voice and looked up. The woman in red had turned to face him and he almost looked past her before he realized it was Stella. “She’s here,” he heard himself say to the maître d’. Aaron had expected a change, but not such a transformation that he didn’t recognize her. Desire burst with white heat inside him as he walked over to her.
“I didn’t even recognize you,” he said, astounded and unable to stop staring at her. The temperature around him climbed. He tried to absorb the fact that this was Stella, because she had changed drastically. He was now looking at a stunning beauty.
“I told you long ago you might need to get your eyes checked,” she said, smiling at him and making him feel weak in the knees. “Aaron, it’s still me.”
“You’re going to knock them dead with your looks,” he said without even thinking about it.
“I hope not,” she said, laughing. “Aaron, you’re staring.”
“Damn straight, I’m staring. I can’t recognize you.”
“Get used to it. I’m really no different. I take it you like what you see,” she prompted.
“Like? I’m bowled over. Stella, do you recognize yourself?”
“I’ll admit it’s quite a change. I have to get accustomed to my hair.”
“You look fantastic. Wait right here,” Aaron said and walked back to the maître d’ to talk to him. After a moment, Aaron came back to take her arm. “Come with me,” he said. The maître d’ smiled at them and turned to lead the way.
“Aaron?” she asked, glancing at him.
“Just a moment, you’ll see,” he answered her unasked question.
The maître d’ stopped to motion them through an open door. They entered an office with a desk covered by papers. The maître d’ closed the door behind them.
“I asked where I could be alone with you for a few minutes. He’s right outside the door should anyone want in this office.”
