“Oh, one more thing before you go.” Viv yanked off her red wig, shook out a brown bob, untied the bottom of her shirt and smoothed it down her thighs to settle over her leggings. A wipe of a tissue cleared away the glittery lipstick, and dulled the bright magenta eye shadow to a soft mauve. She popped out blue contacts to show brown eyes that she covered with a pair of plastic-rimmed glasses, and pulled the fake braces from her mouth. Two tugs removed the dangly earrings, leaving a pair of understated silver studs, and she popped off what must have been a glue-on eyebrow piercing. One by one she peeled off the garish nails, leaving her nails shorter and a soft pink. A bevy of rings came off last.
She picked up a belt from her things scattered on the bed and wrapped it around her waist. Lastly, she spit her gum into the trashcan, donned a dark blue jacket, and traded her flats for heels, shooting her height closer to Lucky’s.
Thirty seconds. In thirty seconds, she’d gone from a college girl no one would take seriously, to a thirty-something businesswoman. She’d still blend in with a crowd. Anyone looking for the redhead would walk right by this woman.
Impressive as all hell. Quick change. Lesson learned.
Every trace of Texas left her voice, replaced by a lilting French accent. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lucky.”
Cruz wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She leaned against him with a soft smile. “Lucky, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Vivienne.” He laughed at the shock on Lucky’s face.
Which nearly made Lucky forget, if only for a moment, the performance he’d soon have to give.
