“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You have to know that you have a reputation for being the grump of Crimson Crest Ranch.”
“I honestly didn’t, but if the cowboy boot fits.”
“Come on! Let’s see if we can turn that frown upside down!”
She coats my face with some volcanic mixture, then starts on my hair. The entire time, she talks my ear off, which I appreciate because it takes my mind off my growing list of worries.
After removing the facial creams, she does my makeup, which is intimidating considering she’s no less than a ten-out-of-ten.
After a little work, she sits back, smiling smugly. “I knew you’d look amazing with smoky eyes, and your glasses are sure to add a bit of mystery.”
“I don’t think that’s going to matter,” I deadpan.
“You’re right, it won’t because Greyson liked you before I ever came around to do your makeup.”
“That’s not true.”
She sets down the makeup brush. “Penny, I won’t pretend that I know what you’re going through, but I don’t think your outlook serves you well.”
“Excuse me?”
“In my line of work, there’s a lot of talk. Talk about family, love, and everything in between. And while I might not know the specifics of your situation, I can tell you a few things you might not realize.”
“And what’s that?”
“You can’t force a man to date or love you.”
“Maybe not, but a baby sure does put the pressure on.”
“Penny, Greyson wouldn’t date you for that reason. He has plenty of money to care for you and the baby without forcing a relationship.”
“As much as I’d love to believe that, Greyson never goes for women like me.”
“You mean pretty women?”
I roll my eyes. “I meant flannel-wearing, glasses-needing, grumpy-faced assistants.”
“Girl, I never step foot out of the house without my hair, nails, and makeup done, but that doesn’t mean that I think I look any prettier than you. You just have a different style.”
“Yeah, the frumpy style.”
“I prefer to call it the ‘I don’t give a fuck’ style, and you wear it better than anyone I know. In fact, I probably shouldn’t be doing your makeup, because you’re so effortlessly beautiful.”
I’m taken aback, not just by her kind words, but because the way she’s saying them makes me honestly think she believes them.
And if someone as gorgeous as Karmen Sanders can find me pretty, maybe I need to rethink how I see myself.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so ornery.”
“You’re not half as bad as my brother Weston and the grumpiest of grumps: Duke Prosper, but you were getting there.”
“I don’t know what has gotten into me.”
“Pregnancy hormones?”
“Eh, I’d hate to be one ofthosepregnant chicks.”
