should work. We have about the same coloring.”
Jessie hugged her. “You’re an angel. Thanks.” She dug through the cosmetics and pulled out concealer, determined to do the best she could, despite being makeup challenged.
“Don’t take this wrong, Ms. Taggert, but you’re like a different person this afternoon. When you were here a couple of months ago you couldn’t make up your mind about which dress you wanted, and today you barely look at it and say it’s fine. Are you sure? Because we want you to be happy with the gown.”
Jenna, indecisive? Not likely. The woman must have her customers mixed up. “I’m sure about the dress. It was just wedding jitters before.”
Jessie made an attempt to apply the mascara, not surprised to find her hand shaking. What if Mac barged inside before she was ready?
The “pearl lady” smiled. “It happens all the time. Here, let me help you. Your hands are shaking so much you’re going to make a mess of it.”
Jessie gladly let her guardian angel take charge of the impromptu makeover while she worried about the bigger problem of fooling Mac. Surely she could pull off the charade for such a short amount of time.
Minutes later, with her hair and makeup near-perfect, she felt ready to face the man on the other side of the door who had driven across town in search of answers, answers she didn’t have to give. After more heartfelt thanks, she sent the consultant outside.
Tomorrow, once her sister returned, life could get back to normal—calm and predictable—the way Jessie preferred it.
She closed her eyes and pictured in her mind how her sister stood, walked and talked, her facial expressions and gestures. Composed, glamorous, perfect.
Oh, God. She couldn’t do this, was crazy to think she could fool anyone, let alone Mac.
But she had to at least try. She took some deep breaths. “Time to begin the show,” she whispered, then opened the door.
Mac was already walking toward her, a frown etched on his tanned, handsome face. Tall, muscular and completely male, he looked terribly out of place in such a feminine setting, but not lost. Oh, no. The determined set of his jaw revealed he was a man on a mission and he’d reached his target.
She stepped back and gave him what she hoped was a sexy smile as she held out her hand in a stopping motion. “Don’t come any closer, Mac. This dress cost a fortune and I wouldn’t want any beads to come loose.”
She wanted to give him every reason not to touch her. She already felt bad enough about the deception and wanted to limit the contact.
As if he hadn’t heard, or simply didn’t care, he shut the door behind him and moved toward her until he stood close enough for her to notice flecks of gold in his brown eyes, reminding her of dark chocolate swirled with caramel.
His cologne made her think of fast cars, sure hands and slow, torturous kisses.
“I’ll pay for the repairs.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. An incredible warmth flooded her body. His intensity, completely focused on her, sucked all the air out of the room.
Her legs grew weak and she teetered on the borrowed high heels.
“Jenna, what’s wrong?” Strong hands guided her to the couch several feet in front of the trifold mirror and helped her take a seat. “Are you sick?” he asked as he sat next to her.
“N…no. I’m just frazzled, I guess.” And hating that I’ve been put into the position of deceiving you.
He held both her hands and studied her face for what seemed like hours. The innocent contact turned Jessie’s limbs more rubbery and useless than spending too long in the hot tub. Thank goodness she was already sitting down.
Why did the man have to be so gorgeous and sexy? Any woman with a breath left in her would have trouble remaining immune to his presence, she reasoned, and her own frantic pulse made it clear she was very much alive.
Jessie cursed her body for reacting to Mac, who wasn’t even her type. Bossy workaholics who had no interest in ever becoming a father held no appeal for her.
And besides, a hotshot lawyer such as Mac wouldn’t be impressed by a woman who was passionate about teaching, and preferred digging in a garden to attending a fancy party.
None of this even mattered, though. He was her sister’s fiancé, enough said.
“You never get frazzled, Jenna.”
Jessie thrust out her chin, the way she imagined her sister would. “Well, this is my first wedding. I’m entitled.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t explain why you missed an appointment yesterday, and didn’t return my calls.”
Jenna had arranged to have the following week off to focus on wedding plans; she would never start her vacation early without clearing it first. What was she up to? “Look, Mac, I’m sorry I let the firm down. It won’t happen again. I just needed some time to myself so I turned off all the phones. This whole wedding thing is making me a little crazy.”
“But why? You hired the best wedding planner in Dallas, all the choices have been made. And you’re already taking off next week to finalize the wedding plans.”
She sensed his patience was wearing thin. “I can’t explain it, Mac. Just accept that I’ll probably keep a low profile until this is all over, and that I might not be myself.”
“Since your desk is cleared, I don’t see a problem if you want to start lying low on Monday.”
Alarms sounded in her head once again. “I’m thinking I’d rather start now.”
He frowned. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes. Why?”
“It’s not like you to forget, let alone pass up, a photo op like the C.D.R. fund-raiser tonight or dinner with your family tomorrow.”
Jessie quickly dismissed the obligatory meal with her parents as a problem. Her sister would be back by then. But how could Jenna, who lived for the spotlight, have forgotten the Childhood Disease Research bash, the society event of the year? And it was tonight!
She’d get Jenna on the phone, remind her of the fund-raiser and insist she return home. Immediately.
Jessie forced a smile as her mind raced to find a believable explanation for “her” memory lapse. Of course he’d be surprised if her sister had forgotten an opportunity to rub elbows with the rich and famous, people she hoped would soon end up on her client list. “I guess I’m more frazzled than I realized, Mac. I completely forgot about the party tonight, and I just assumed you knew skipping the Sunday family dinner wasn’t an option.”
“I’ve never seen this side of you before.”
“Weddings will do that to a girl.”
“Are you sorry you let me off the hook and said you’d plan the wedding so that I could keep working up to the last minute, that all I had to do was show up?”
