Page 37 of Rekindle My Heart

Air rushed from her lungs. What? She’s got it wrong. He had eyes for Sarah, even if they had broken up. It was just that one crazy mistake. He was drunk and she… Well, she put her wants before her sister’s that one time. And it had devastating consequences.

Liz handed her the green dress. Erica blinked, pushing her thoughts back into the box she’d dead-bolted for so many years. She’d take them out later, when she was alone.

Twenty minutes and six dresses later, Erica was back in the blue dress.

“That’s it.” Lorna exclaimed. The approval was unanimous.

She hung the dress back on the hanger and followed the ladies into the kitchen where Mira and Kate had spread out enough cosmetics and styling products to rival the top salons.

“I was just going to braid my hair. I don’t wear much makeup.” Erica ran a hand over her ponytail.

“And you don’t need to, but this is the gala. Humor us. Mira is dying to play makeover.” Liz’s calm eyes and soothing tone softened Erica’s nerves. Liz really was good at that.

“Trust me. It will be natural with a pop, to bring out those gorgeous features of yours.” Excitement danced in Mira’s eyes.

Erica exhaled and flopped into the chair. “Okay. Make me beautiful.”

The women chatted as Kate curled and sprayed Erica’s hair. She really wished she had a mirror to see what they were doing. Visions of an eighties prom queen with hair five inches from her scalp flashed in her mind. She swallowed down her fear. These women were polished and gorgeous. They obviously knew fashion.

Control freak much?Yes. Yes, she was.

Erica listened with half attention as they discussed eye shadow and lashes. A ball of nerves fisted in her throat. They wanted to stick fake spider legs on her face. Sure, everyone might be wearing them, but… No, hell no. “Ladies, I can do my makeup.”

“Relax. Kate’s a pro at this.” Mira patted Erica’s shoulder.

The blonde smiled. “I saw you tense when I pulled out the false eyelashes. These are great—they’re magnetic. No glue.”

Skepticism ran through her, but she swallowed down her apprehension.

Twenty minutes later, she had giant rollers in her hair. She hadn’t looked in a mirror yet but hoped they were done with her makeup. How long did it take? She could do hers in two minutes flat.

“Okay, sweetie. You look fabulous. Kate will finish your hair. Lorna, Liz, and I need to go get ready ourselves.” Mira air-kissed her, then cocked her head. “I can’t wait to see you all dolled up. See you there.”

Liz half hugged her, then scooped up the other dresses. “See you soon. It’ll be fun.”

Fun wasn’t the word she was thinking. Torture. That’s the word that came to mind as tiny pricks of pain tugged her scalp from the soup-can-sized rollers. Not to mention, she couldn’t stop blinking from these damn lashes. Blink. Blink. Blink.

Kate picked up another can of something and sprayed it on her hair. What was that, the third can? How many products did they need to use on her?

A tickle scratched her throat. She swallowed down a cough. Stupid hairspray.

A warm hand rested on her arm. “Breathe. I was a basket case last year at my first gala. Add the pressure of meeting CJ’s parents for the first time, and I was lucky I didn’t throw up.” Lorna’s soft smile soothed the edges of her frayed nerves. “Eat a little something before you go. It will help calm you. And the other thing. Just smile and mingle.”

Erica nodded. How did these women know her nerves were strung tighter than a guitar string? What if she heard something really important to the case but had no clue that it was and forgot to mention it?

“Don’t worry, CJ and I will be there and so will Mira, Harrison, Liz, and Jim,” Lorna said.

With their arms full of stuff, the three ladies left. Erica glanced at Kate and Amy from under the long, black wisps on her eyes. “Do you think I can pull this off? I’m not the gala type of girl.”

Kate picked up her glass and handed one to Erica. “I will share a little secret with you.”

Erica took in Kate’s confident stance and relaxed expression.

“It doesn’t matter if we think you can pull it off. Hell, it doesn’t even matter if you think you can. What counts is that you act like you can. Fake it until you make it.”

“I do affirmations.” Amy stared into her glass. “It’s silly, and if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it. But they help.”

Erica blinked at the two women. “If it works for you, I’ll try it.”