“This isn’t making me feel better,” Natalie mumbled next to his chest. His hand stroked up and down her back while his spicy scent filled her nose.
“I’ve never met someone who makes me feel the way you do. You’re beautiful and kind. You make me feel like I could walk on water for you if you wanted me to.” He set her back from him and tipped her chin up with his finger.
She couldn’t help the tears that swam in front of her vision, making him hard to see. She’d never thought she’d be able to find anyone like Chase, and his words were overwhelming.
“I love it when you smile at me. When you blush because of something I said. When you lean over your desk, poring over numbers as if nothing else exists in the universe. When I wake up and your face is the first thing I see.”
His thumb brushed over the tear that spilled down her cheek. “No one has ever made me feel the way I feel for you. I love you, Natalie.”
The music from the forgotten movie crescendoed in the background as his lips met hers. Her heart filled her chest and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Maybe fairy tales did come true.
Rachel arrived home in time to accompany Natalie to Charity Christian’s studio to try on Oscar dresses. Chase had offered to go with her, but she wanted him to be surprised. And she wasn’t ready to face Charity by herself.
“Do you think she’ll have anything in my size?” Rachel said wistfully as she picked up a pair of gorgeous sandals encrusted with sparkling gems.
“Those are worth ten thousand dollars a shoe,” Charity’s disapproving voice preceded her through the door. Her smoke cloud followed in her wake.
Rachel made an oh face and set them carefully back down with covetous eyes.
“Now, I was able to get a few designers to send some things on such late notice.” Every word out of Charity’s mouth always made Natalie feel like a naughty little girl.
A small woman pushed in a rack of dresses before shuffling back out. Natalie wished she could get away from Charity as well, but the urge to see the dresses was greater than her fear. She stood and wandered over to the dresses.
Rachel stood beside her and thumbed through the materials. The colors were all fantastic, light creams, blacks, rich shades of gold and brown, deep blues and dark green. Natalie ran her hands over the silk of the dark green gown. Any woman would look stunning in these gowns.
She hadn’t dressed up for Chase before. Her heart swelled thinking of him. There had been no prom for her. No best friend going shopping to find the perfect dress. No tux and limo. Now she’d be able to dress in designer gowns and ridiculously expensive shoes and jewelry. And be beautiful, if only for Chase.
“Get undressed, so we can start before I need another cigarette.” Charity’s voice penetrated the daydream Natalie had been having about Chase in a tux spinning her in circles around a dance floor.
“Right. Where’s the changing room?” Natalie looked around but there wasn’t a curtain in the room.
“You’re in it. Now let’s get on with it. You don’t have anything either of us hasn’t seen before.” Charity puckered her lips and gave Natalie a once-over before turning to the rack. “We’ll start with this one.”
“I think she should try the Oscar de la Renta,” Rachel offered. They bantered back and forth while Natalie tried to tone down the blood flowing through her ears. She was barely comfortable being naked in front of Chase, but she wasn’t certain she could stand in a room in only her bra and underwear in front of Rachel and the dragon lady.
He may love her flaws, but she didn’t need to see the looks from Rachel and Charity. Those looks that questioned why Chase had picked her over any number of women.
For Chase. That’s why she was doing all this, for Chase. He was worth every minute of torture because he always matched those minutes with hours of passion that far outweighed the torture. That, and she’d get to wear a gorgeous dress and maybe for once feel like she belonged on the arm of the Sexiest Man Alive.
While the women were distracted with the dresses, she quietly disrobed down to her plain cotton underwear and bra. She’d made sure to wear undergarments that wouldn’t leave a line, but she wasn’t about to take Rachel’s suggestion to go with a thong.
Charity turned and what might have been a smile crossed her lips. “I swear, those clothes should be burned. They do nothing for your figure.”
Natalie’s face burned. She guessed that was the best compliment she’d ever get from Charity.
“Lift up your arms.”
Natalie unwrapped her arms from her waist and held them up while Rachel and Charity lowered a cream dress over her head. The fabric slid against her flesh like a second skin. It was absolutely stunning, but the back dipped down so low, she couldn’t help imagining walking down the red carpet with plumber crack.
“This isn’t it.” Charity stood back with a critical eye.
“Definitely not.” Rachel moved to Natalie’s side and helped tug the dress off.
They went through the dresses one by one. There were problems with each one. Natalie wasn’t comfortable with the cut of some. Rachel wouldn’t let her wear anything with a big bow or flower. She swore it was a huge risk. The fashion police loved it or hated it. Charity just wasn’t happy, but Natalie wasn’t sure the woman was ever happy.
As they worked their way through the rack, Natalie became less aware of the fact that she was standing half-naked most of the time. Even the dresses that didn’t work made her feel beautiful, special.
The green silk dress flowed over her head and settled softly on her shoulders. Thin straps held up the empire waist gown. An intricate lace-and-diamond ribbon wrapped around below her breasts. The layered skirt draped from the ribbon and fell softly to the ground. A fairy princess never looked this good.
Rachel stood behind her looking into the mirror. “Vera Wang certainly knows how to drape a woman.”
“It definitely has potential.” Charity’s critical eye followed the lines of the dress and pinched a few places. “With the right hair and makeup, this could work. I’ll pin for the adjustments, and then you’ll come back next week to make sure everything fits. We’ll also have the hairstylist here so we can try out everything before the big day.”
Rachel smiled a big grin at Natalie in the mirror. “It looks like Cinderella gets to go to the ball.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“No, Chase, it’s fine. Pick me up from Charity’s studio.” Holding the cell phone to her ear, Natalie bent her head to the side as the makeup artist worked on her eyes. “I’ll see you when you get here.”
She snapped the cell phone shut and watched the transformation in the mirror. Braids of her brown hair had been gathered into a diamond clip at the back of her head. The makeup artist performed a miracle involving tweezers and dark eyeliner. It wasn’t overdone, but it was more than Natalie had every worn. A mask to hide behind on the red carpet.
Charity paced in the background. Her hand curved as if holding an imaginary cigarette. She puffed out each breath. The woman looked as nervous as Natalie felt.
“You remember how to walk?”
“Yes.” Natalie had practiced for the past two days walking and posing in the high-heeled shoes Charity had picked. Her feet and ankles were wrapped in diamonds. Diamonds dripped from her earlobes and a larger diamond fell gently to lie between her breasts over the silk dress. Armed guards seemed like a good idea. Her body’s net worth at the moment far surpassed her retirement goals.
“And the pose? You remember that? Never put both your hands on your hips at the same time. Don’t face directly into the camera. Don’t forget to cock your hip.” Charity’s words shot out of her mouth, not allowing Natalie time to speak.
“Finished,” the makeup artist said, and stepped back as Charity shoved her way in front of the chair. Her critical eyes swept over Natalie’s face.