“Fine.” I bundle the dress into my arms and head for the bathroom.
I pull off my sweats and t-shirt then slip the luxurious materialover my body and sigh. It’s like a soft hug. I turn toward the full-length mirror on the back of the door, and my eyes widen. The halter top adds shape and volume to my modest breasts and curves where I didn’t have any. I turn sideways and like that view too.
I open the bathroom door, and Maxie and Marisol stare at me so intently, I grimace. “Not good? You don’t like it on me?”
“Ohhhh, girl.” Maxie walks around me, taking in every inch. “Forget the dress. The first thing we have to work on is your confidence, ‘cause you are drop-dead fuckin’ gorgeous.”
Marisol appraises me, then nods. “Yup, looks way better on you.”
“How can that even be?” I fling my hand in her direction. “With your figure.”
Marisol cups the underside of her boobs. “Right, and these damn things are too big for a halter top, but your petite frame is perfect.” She spins her index finger around, and I show her the back of the dress. “You have the most beautiful back.”
Maxie points to my shoulders. “Look at how developed her traps are getting. Especially since she doesn’t look like a skeleton anymore.”
I wave my hand over my head. “Standing right here. Can hear every word you’re saying.”
“I’m only saying what’s true,” Maxie defends. “You look fabulous.”
After we all agree, me under somewhat of duress, that I would wear the four-thousand-dollar Versace dress, I take it off and Maxie does my makeup. Subtle except for the smoky eyes to accentuate their hue—her words, not mine. Then Maxie unrolls my hair, fluffing and spraying it into submission.
When they finally allow me to look, I actually gasp. Even before my brother sold me to the highest bidder, I was never a girly girl, but this transformation has flown past my wildestdreams. Just like the night onstage at The Tropics, I’m transformed into another person.
“Wow.” Maxie’s eyes bug out. “You are fire.”
The two women cluster behind me as we all gaze into the mirror. “You guys are the best.” I hug them both.
Marisol holds the hug, but Maxie pulls away. “Here she goes again with the mush.” She flips up her phone. “Enough of this, let’s get ready to knock those men off their feet.”
As they get dressed, my mind shifts to Diesel. Then my heart starts to beat way too fast. Everything Maxie accused me of in the gym is true. My eyes shift in his direction without my permission—Every. Damn. Time.
Even if it’s for only one night, tonight I’d be dressed like a fashion model with everything on display, and I’d have to make a decision. Would I continue to ignore him and act like I wasn’t attracted to him? Or would I jump all in, grab what I want, then try to decide if I would betray his trust to save my brother.
Yeah, my life is just a parade of hard decisions and bad choices on top of worse ones, all rolled into one.
CHAPTER 11
DIESEL
“I just don’t know why we’re wasting our time with this guy.” I make eye contact with the other brothers sitting around the table at our weekly church meeting. “We made the original deal with Benito, and now he’s flaking and sending that deadbeat Eduardo again.”
Smoke throws me a look that sayscool out. “Benito’s playing games, but if putting up with a little aggravation sets us up with a sweet deal to wash our money, I’m in.”
“Just don’t wanna waste another Friday night waiting on this guy.”
Blood slaps me on the back. “Don’t worry, it’s not gonna take any time away from your Friday night fun.”
“Bite me.” I shrug him off. “I need to kick back. The gym was fuckin’ crazy this week getting ready for the big fight next Saturday.”
“Especially since you exert so much energy scoping out Martina every chance you get,” Blood adds.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Ohhhh, shit.” Blood laughs, then looks around the table tothe other guys. “When he wasn’t looking at her, she was looking at him. It was like a game of hide and seek all week. Felt like I was back in fuckin’ high school.”
“You went to high school?” I deadpan.
“Yeah, wiseass, I did, and that’s what the two of you remind me of. Next thing, you’ll be asking me to pass her a note during lunch.”
