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"Yep."
I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror again. The dress had a revealing slit up the left leg that showed a lot ofthigh, but it was flattering and completed the overall line of the dress. I barely recognized the sophisticated woman looking back at me, but tonight I was playing a role, and this was my costume.
"It's okay to have some stage fright. Take those nerves and put that energy into your performance. You're going to do great."
She had so much more experience than me, but I was glad I had her guidance. "I'm ready."
Brandy handed me a small beaded clutch, which was already loaded with a special phone Magnum had prepared for me and a few other things I might need tonight. She patted my arm and grinned as she moved out of the way.
He stepped into the doorway at the same time I turned to face him, and for a moment, time suspended and seconds hung in the air as our gazes locked. Had I ever met this man before or was a very handsome stranger here to pick me up for a blind date?
He wore a tailored black tuxedo and an uncharacteristically sweet bow tie.
I raised one hand robotically and wiggled my fingers. "Hi."
His lips twisted as he ran a hand over his hair, which was shorter and slicked back instead of loose over his eyes. What made him look the most different was the missing hair on his face and the sides of his head. The beard had been hiding the impressive contours of his square jaw and chiseled cheeks.
Shocking honey eyes stared hungrily at me. His gaze scanned my body from my shoulders to my shoes and back again.
What would he think of me dressing like someone I wasn't?
He rocked back on his heels and dramatically licked his lips as he fought an ironic smile. "Hi," he said curtly. His hand came up to rub his chin, and he popped his neck left and right.
Did he like it?
He glanced over his shoulder and then took three long strides toward me. His hand landed on my hip, and he pulled me into the bedroom.
The scent of clean man and spicy body spray hit my nose as he entered my personal space. Yum.
Brandy skittered out of the room and closed the door behind her. He spun on me and dropped to one knee, taking my hand in his. "I'm one lucky guy tonight."
I laughed and stared down at his big warm hand wrapped around mine. I vaguely noticed a thick silver wedding band on his left ring finger.
He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a gigantic, princess cut diamond ring. "For my wife." It shimmered in the light like it was lit up with electric rods.
"I'm not your wife," I whispered.
"Tonight you are." He wasn't crying, but his eyes were glossy, and the deep sentimental edge of his voice gripped my heart and squeezed.
My knees felt weak, but I managed to keep standing. I could barely breathe as he removed Gavin's ring and slipped the new diamond on my left hand. It fit perfectly and sparkled against the deep red and black of the dress and the shiny burgundy nail polish.
"Thank you."
He stood and kept one hand on my hip as he pressed his nose to my neck. "Jesus, woman. You're making my job hard tonight."
A full body shiver ran down my spine. "I'm sorry."
"It's all good. I like a challenge. A little distraction ups the stakes."
"You're very distracting too."
He smirked.
"You look so different. No beard. Short hair."
He ran a hand over his hair again. "I wanted to look as close to Gavin as possible in case someone there has met him before."
"Mmm. Nice job." I was staring at his hand in his hair, his watch, the sleeve of his jacket. Everything just looked so sharp on him compared to his rugged cargo pants and tee shirts.
