Page 250 of The Heart You Kept

“Okay.” I turn back to my computer. “Luckily, dressing in old things seems to be your jam. But don’t complain to me on the weekend when you have nothing to wear to two black tie functions.”

“Ugh…. This is a literal hell,” she whines. “Going out with you is becoming very high maintenance.” She stomps to the door. “And this is a real hassle that I don’t have time for,” she moans as she leaves.

I chuckle, only Alora Sorenson would complain about designer clothes waiting for her with a stylist.

She’s one of a kind, I’ll give her that.

ALORA

Edward smiles as he looks me over, his eyes dropping to my toes and back up to my face. “You look beautiful.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me, his lips lingering over mine.

“I feel like a peacock.”

“A beautiful peacock.”

It’s Friday night and we’re about to leave for the ball, a hairdresser has been in and styled my hair in big Hollywood curls and a makeup artist came and did my makeup. I’m wearing a strapless ice-pink gown and I know I should feel beautiful, but in reality, I feel like a fish out of water. My hair is too bouffant and my makeup looks like a drag queen. I feel overdone and awkward.

“I’m doing my own hair and makeup from now on.”

“Okay.” He smiles down at me. “Why did you even get them to do it in the first place?”

“Laurent told me to.”

“Well, Laurent is used to dealing with nightmares who need glamming up.” He kisses me again. “You can’t enhance perfection.”

“You’re so biased.” I smile up at him and slide my hands under his black suit jacket. “Luckily for me.”

“Let’s have a glass of wine and then get going.”

“Okay, I need some Dutch courage.”

“Are you nervous?” He frowns.

“I guess.”

“Why?”

“Well.” I shrug. “It’s my first time out with you as a….”

“Girlfriend?” He picks up my hand and kisses my fingertips.

“At all,” I reply. “We haven’t done anything in public and now I’m coming out of the closet as a girlfriend.”

“Out of the closet?” He chuckles. “You sure do have a way with words, my love.” His eyes glow with tenderness. “You don’t need to worry about tonight. Nobody that I know personally will be there. It’s a work function only, one of my board members asked me to go and in good faith I wanted to be there for him.”

“So no…” I widen my eyes, “…women from the past?”

“No.”

I smile, feeling a little bit better. “What about the party tomorrow night at the prince’s house?”

“Prepare yourself for that one, straight into the fire.” He fills our champagne glasses and passes me one. “Your initiation into Monaco.” He clinks his glass with mine and winks. “It will be fun.”

I fake a smile as dread fills me.

Great….

Chatter, laughter, and a grand soiree.