Page 19 of The Maverick’s Legacy

“We’re here to make sure you look your hottest,” Amy said as she stepped in Carly’s house, followed by Remi.

“Let’s start with wardrobe,” Remi said as they each grabbed one of her arms and dragged her into her room. “What are you wearing?”

“I thought this with my black-and-red cowgirl boots,” Carly answered, waving her hand at her dress.

“Okay, perfect,” Amy said. “That’ll have him thirsting over you for sure.”

“I’ll grab the makeup while you work on the hair,” Remi told Amy.

“I can do my own hair and makeup, you know,” Carly said. But her sister and cousin shushed her as they pulled her into the en suite bathroom. They pushed her into the chair in front of her bathroom vanity and began to work.

“Are you excited?” Remi asked as she applied foundation. “Or do you feel like you want to throw up? First dates are always nerve-wracking.”

“Honestly?” she said. “A little bit of both.”

Amy grabbed her curling iron and plugged it in. As she waited for it to warm, she eyed her sister critically. “You do look more queasy than excited.”

Carly waved off her concern. She really wished she’d hit Ignore on Dex’s call.

Amy’s eyes narrowed on her sister as she grabbed a lock of her hair and got to work. “Your energy is off. What’s up?”

Carly sighed. Her family always knew how to read her like a book. “Dex called before you arrived…”

She explained the offer that the European company had given her.

Amy finished with the curling iron and grabbed a bobby pin and started to secure her hair in a loose updo. “Are you going to take it?”

“I don’t know. I told him I wanted to think about it. I just got to Tenacity. I feel like I haven’t even had a chance to breathe yet. I’m not sure if I want to get back on the road so soon.”

“You’ll do what’s best,” Remi assured her. “You always do.”

“Yeah,” Amy said, but her face was sad. Carly’s anxiety over the decision she knew she’d have to make grew at that look. She had an idea what her sister was thinking. They had just reunited, and now Carly might move away again for who knew how long.

“Well, worry about that another day,” Remi said. She grabbed Carly’s dress where it was hanging and helped her into it. When they were done, Amy and Remi stepped back, looking her over with matching satisfied expressions.

“I think our work here is done,” Amy said.

Remi nodded. “I agree.” She pointed toward the mirror with her chin. “Well, what do you think?”

Carly turned to look and almost gasped. Despite her worries, her family had done wonders to her. The dress still fit to perfection, but Remi’s handy makeup work made Carly’s face practically glow. Amy had clasped her hair into a twist that gathered at the top, spilling over in curls. She felt beautiful.

“Thank you both,” she said, hugging one then the other.

“Let us know how the date goes,” Amy instructed as they headed toward the door.

“In disgusting detail,” Remi added.

Carly let out a laugh before giving her cousin a light shove. “Would you get out of here?”

They had barely driven out of the driveway when a pickup truck pulled in. Carly’s heart leapt in her throat when she realized that the driver was Jesse.

She didn’t know what the future was going to bring, but maybe tonight would give her some direction.

Chapter Eight

Jesse’s mouth dropped when Carly stepped out of her house. She looked like a goddess.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered before clearing his voice. “I mean—you look beautiful.”