No Love Allowed(20)

“Thirty minutes,” he warned, then got into his car and drove away.

“What does he mean?” she asked the equally handsome boy she stood alone with in the driveway of the biggest house she had ever seen.

“How does a makeover sound?” He took her hand and led her up the steps.

“Is that your way of saying what I’m wearing isn’t right for the event?”

“Oh, honey”—he patted her hand—“remind me to sit down with you and give you the basics of thrift store shopping. Will save you a whole bunch of trouble in the future.”

“Okay, now that’s insulting.”

“It’s meant to be. Cute clutch, though. We might be able to work with that.”

How could she hold on to her building annoyance with the way he smiled at her? Caleb had asked her to attend these events with him. She didn’t want to break his rules. If she did, it would mean the end of her summer adventure and the chance of him posing for her. How many girls got the opportunity to enter his world? She had always been curious about how the other half lived, ever since she started working at the club. If he thought what she was wearing didn’t suit the event and that Nathan could help, then she would give herself willingly to the experience.

Maybe willingly wasn’t the right word.

In a stylish bedroom bigger than her house, Nathan sat Didi in front of a vanity mirror bordered with lights. She wondered who the room’s occupant could be and wanted desperately to meet her. It was such a beautiful space. One wall was cream with metal wall letters in teal that spelled out LOVE, framed pictures of fun memories and smiling faces hung on another wall, and a third wall had these different-sized mirrors with funky metal frames. But her favorite part had to be the bed. She had never seen one so big, overflowing with throw pillows that had funny quotes on them. She wanted to steal the one that said I’M NOT A LADY BEFORE 10 AM.

She let her gaze wander to the table of the vanity. It was filled with colorful bottles of perfumes, lotions, and makeup. Several different brushes sat in a crystal container at one corner. It reminded her of when she used to watch her mother get dressed for a night out with her dad. Her mom would sit in front of a mirror like the one at which she did now, but with only one light at the top, and begin “putting her face on,” as she had called it. A sense of warmth and comfort spread all over Didi at the memory from a time when everything in her life seemed perfect.

For the last five minutes Nathan had been staring at her reflection and running his fingers through her hair. Nerves bundled in her stomach. She was having reservations about the experience already, and they hadn’t even done anything yet.

“Um . . . Nathan,” she said when the silence got too intense.

“I’m about to become very intimate with your hair. I think that’s earned you the right to call me Nate.” He took the ends of the limp strands and examined them with a thoughtful frown. “What have you been using for shampoo? Detergent?”

“I just use whatever’s in the bathroom. Usually the latest no-name brand my mom brings home for five dollars a gallon.” She chuckled at Nate’s absolute horror. “Poor-people problems.”

He clucked his tongue. “I cannot have you walking into that party with hair stiffer than a broom.” He picked up a pair of slim silver scissors and snipped, snipped at the air.

She flinched at the sound the blades rubbing together made. “I’m suddenly not so sure about this.”

Nathan leaned down until they were at face level in the mirror together. “You’re in good hands, I promise. If only we had time I would have brought you to my sister’s stylist. Reynaldo is simply the best. But since we’re pressed for time, I’ll have to do.”

She swallowed and nodded before closing her eyes.

Five inches of hair later, she stared at her reflection as if she were looking at a different person. Nate had given her a messy bob that floated just above her shoulders. Her hair actually framed her face instead of just hanging lifeless around her head. “Wow!”

“Oh, honey, you haven’t seen anything yet.” He handed her a wet wipe he had tugged out of a plastic container. “Clean off that ridiculous caked-on makeup. Your face is not a wall that needs plastering. Then pay attention. What I will teach you will last you from day to night for the rest of the summer. Maybe even for the rest of your life.”

She nodded dumbly. No one had ever taken the time to teach her anything about primping. She learned by copying the girls at school. If Nathan could make her hair look awesome by chopping off the length, then surely he could transform her face just the same.

In minutes, like watching a fast-forwarded video tutorial, he did indeed transform her face. He applied foundation with a deft touch. He curled her eyelashes and swiped on mascara like a magician waving a wand. He used eye shadow and blush brushes the way she did paintbrushes. One after the other, Nathan applied makeup without any hesitation in his movements.

They had already passed the half-hour mark Caleb had set for her make over when Nate led her into a huge closet found at the far side of the bedroom. Her eyes practically popped out of her skull when she took in the entire space.

“You have your own mall?” She stepped in without touching anything. All the racks were color-coordinated and organized. Skirts on one bar, dresses on another. Blouses on the upper level while pants were directly below. There were even special places for sweaters, coats, and shoes. Oh, the shoes. The soft lighting made everything sparkle.