Page 192 of Tessa and Nash

“I do not.”

“You absolutely do.”

She spins toward me, holding two dresses. “Option one: sophisticated heartbreak.”

I blink. “And option two?”

“Devastating revenge.”

I stare at her. “I’m attending a charity auction.”

“Exactly.”

She holds the dresses up in front of me like a stylist evaluating a celebrity client.

The first is a deep green dress with long sleeves and a soft drape that looks elegant and quietly dangerous.

The second is red.

Very red.

“I refuse to wear the red one,” I say immediately.

Maeve tilts her head. “You didn’t even try it on.”

“It looks like a warning sign.”

“That’s the point.”

“I’m not making a statement.”

“You absolutely are.”

“This is just an event, Maeve.”

“After your fake engagement exploded at a town council meeting,” Maeve reminds me. “There’s no point trying to blend into the background. It won’t work anyway.”

I sigh.

“Green,” I say firmly.

Maeve considers this. “Fine. But we’re doing the hair.”

“My hair is already done.”

“Tessa, your hair is in a braid.”

“That’s done.”

Maeve reaches behind my head and begins pulling pins free before I can stop her.

“My hair is functional.”

“Your hair is hiding,” she chuckles.

“My hair is efficient.”

“Your hair,” she declares, shaking it loose around my shoulders, “is gorgeous.”