Tease (Cloverleigh Farms #8)(11)

“Hmm.” Winnie studied my reflection too. “Do you have a push-up bra?”

“What’s a push-up bra?” asked Luna.

“It’s a bra that pushes up your boobies and squeezes them together,” said Hallie. “So they sort of bulge out like water balloons. Mom wears them.”

I laughed. “I might have something at home.”

“Good. Okay, now the shoes.” Winnie went over to her closet and came out with three pairs of heels. “I think the nude strappy ones will be the best, but the platform sandals could also be cute. How much standing do you have to do?”

“I don’t know,” I said, sitting on the bed to slip into the platform sandals since they looked the most approachable. “But I don’t want to have trouble walking, and I’m definitely not used to heels.”

“I like those,” Winnie said with a shrug when I was buckled into the tan leather sandals with a woven platform. “But it’s not a very dressy look. How fancy is this event?”

I shrugged. “The invitation said dressy casual.”

“That’s two different things,” Hallie pointed out.

I looked over my shoulder at her. “Exactly. Why do fashionable people make things more difficult than they need to be?”

“I think this look works for casual,” Winnie said hesitantly, “but if you want to go a little dressier, maybe try the heels.”

“I want to look elegant and sophisticated,” I said.

My sister nodded. “Then go for the heels.”

I slipped my feet into the spiky things, strapped them on, and wobbled over to the mirror. “Well?”

“They look perfect,” Winnie said. “But can you get around in them okay?”

I wobbled to the door and back. “I’ll manage.”

“Good.” She glanced at my sloppy ponytail and uneven bangs. “Now what are we going to do about that hair?”

My posture deflated slightly. “I don’t know. I shouldn’t have cut it.”

“I agree,” said Winnie, “but that ship has sailed, so let’s figure out what we can do. Take it down and we’ll look at it.”

I bit my lip. “It’s not pretty.”

“I’ve seen your self-serve haircuts before, sis.”

“This might be one of the worst.” But I yanked the scrunchie from my hair and let it fall in all its zig-zagging glory.

Behind me, one of the girls gasped. Maybe both of them.

Winnie’s mouth formed an O. She covered it with her hands.

“Why did you do that to your hair?” Luna wondered.

“It’s hard to explain,” I said, trying to rearrange my pitiful bangs to be more even. “Sometimes I just have this urge to cut it and I can’t stop myself. Like when I’m upset about something. And I think cutting my hair will make me feel better.” I spun around and faced them, worried that I was putting ideas in their young, impressionable minds. “But it doesn’t. It only makes me feel worse.”

“I have an idea,” said Luna.

“You do?”

She nodded happily. “Space buns.”

“Space buns?”

“Yes!” Hallie said enthusiastically. “That’s a great idea! Space buns wouldn’t show how it’s all crazy at the ends.”

Winnie laughed. “You know what? She might be right. Unless you have time to go get a professional trim.”

“I don’t,” I said. “I barely had time to come here. I have to get my fritters and crostini in the Cloverleigh ovens before the restaurant there opens at five, pack everything in the warming bags, load the car, haul it over to the banquet hall by six, then have everything set out by quarter to seven.”

“Space buns for the win,” said my sister. “Hals and Loony, can you grab me a comb, two elastics, and some pins?”

“Yes!” Both girls jumped off the bed and raced for the bathroom.

“Can you make space buns look elegant?” I asked as Winnie used the comb to part my hair down the center.

“I’ll do my best.” Her tone was not terribly reassuring.

Fifteen minutes later, I had two buns perched on my head like Mickey Mouse ears. There were a lot of pieces hanging out, but Hallie said that was okay. Space buns didn’t have to be perfect. Winnie had even managed to trim my bangs so they looked slightly less maniacal.

“Thank you so much,” I said.

“Want me to do your makeup too?” Winnie asked.

“Would you?”

“Of course! What else are fairy godmothers for?”

Hallie and Luna were like surgical nurses, bringing Winnie different bottles and compacts, brushes and palettes, standing at the ready for the next command. Highlighter. Bronzer. Mascara.

Finally, I was pronounced done.

“Well? What do you think?” I asked the girls.

Luna smiled angelically at me. “I think you’ll be the most beautiful lady at the party.”

“Me too,” Hallie said.

“Thanks.” I gave them all hugs. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

“Me neither,” Winnie said with a laugh. “You better get going.”

I traded the painful heels for my sneakers and wrapped them up in my shorts and T-shirt, tucking everything under my arm as I followed them downstairs. They walked outside with me, and we ran into Dex coming up the front walk.