Hope blinked. "A stylist?"
"You'll need a formal gown. Jewelry. Appropriate accessories."
They didn't speak after that, with the meal ending in relative silence. When the dessert plates were cleared, Colin stood.
"I have calls to make. Elaine can show you around the property tomorrow."
Hope rose as well, uncertainty making her awkward. Were they supposed to kiss goodnight? Touch in some way? Were they supposed to—-
Colin solved the dilemma by stepping back, maintaining a careful distance between them.
"Goodnight, Hope."
Oh.
She told herself she wasn't disappointed as she mustered up a smile. "Goodnight."
Chapter Three
Hope regarded her reflectionin the full-length mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back. The emerald gown hugged curves she'd stopped bothering to emphasize years ago, its off-shoulder design revealing collarbones she'd never considered worthy of display. Her brown hair, styled in loose waves, fell past her shoulders in a way that minimized the silver strands at her temples, making her look...different. Softer. Less severe.
The stylist—a tiny, exacting woman named Lala—circled her with narrowed eyes. "The earrings. The diamond drops, not the studs."
Hope switched the jewelry with trembling fingers. The diamonds caught the light, drawing attention to her neck, her jawline.
"Better," Lala declared. "Turn."
Hope rotated slowly, the silk whispering against her skin. Two weeks of fittings, lessons in etiquette, and crash courses in Colin's background had transformed her outward appearance. Inside, she remained the same cautious administrator from Michigan, playing dress-up in a billionaire's world.
"The necklace is too much," Lala decided, removing the glittering pendant. "Your neck is one of your assets. We showcase, not overwhelm."
Assets.
She was still trying to understand how she felt about having her body parts defined in such a way when she heard a voice from the doorway.
"Are we good?"
