“I don’t think you’re in as much trouble as you think,” Kara said. “We’ll take some pictures tonight of your black eye and bruises, and tomorrow if need be, Taylor can take you to a doctor and get a medical exam. The photos and exam will serve as evidence that Hogue isn’t protecting you, and that you’re in danger there. I’m not able to represent you, but in my opinion, if you’re getting beat up at Hogue, you need to leave, and have grounds to leave. We just need the right attorney and we’re going to work this out.”
Doug glanced at Taylor and back to Kara. “You really think so?”
“Hogue was never the right place for you,” Kara said. “And it’s time we sorted this out, once and for all.” She gave Taylor a look. “And you... you really should go to the Ball. If you stay home tonight, Doug’s just going to worry and feel guilty, and responsible, and there’s no reason for that. There’s no reason for you not to go. Get dressed, do your hair and drive over. Surprise Troy.”
“Surprise Troy,” Taylor repeated.
Kara nodded. “Live a little.”
“Or live a lot,” Doug added with a lopsided smile.
Taylor looked at her brother, saw his hopeful expression and felt the warmth steal back into her heart. Maybe they were right. Maybe it was time she lived a lot.
A half hour later Taylor stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Her breath caught in her throat as she gently touched the skirt of her pale pink tulle gown, the tulle dotted with glossy red spangles. She watched herself in the mirror as she lightly ran her hand up the gown’s fitted, boned bodice to the plunging neckline.
The ball gown pushed her breasts up, squeezed her waist smaller, and shaped her hips, revealing far more of her slender frame than Taylor was normally comfortable with, because good librarians didn’t show off their breasts, or flaunt their hips, or draw attention to any other part of their bodies.
But tonight Taylor didn’t want to be an anxious librarian.
Tonight she didn’t want to be a librarian at all. She didn’t want to be the smart one, or the good one, or the responsible one who was always rescuing, protecting and defending her brother.
No, tonight, for one night, she’d be someone else. She’d be someone different, someone beautiful and glamorous and fun, and she’d go to the Valentine Ball at the Graff Hotel and have fun.
She wasn’t even sure what fun felt like, but she knew that whenever she was with Troy she felt good.
She felt happy.
That’s the feeling she wanted tonight. Good and happy.
A knock sounded on the bathroom door. Taylor opened the door and faced Kara. “What do you think?” she asked shyly.
Kara’s eyes opened wide. “You’re wearing the Lily Jewel gown.”
“You said I should live a little.” Taylor lightly stroked her fingers across the full skirt with the circle spangles. “I feel like a walking carnival or circus.”
“You look gorgeous.”
“It’s the dress.”
“It’s you, in the dress.” Kara walked around Taylor to inspect her properly. “I love that you’re also wearing your hair up. Very chic.”
“There was no time to get a blow out.”
“Looks good.” Kara tilted her head to the side. “What about earrings?”
“I have my diamond studs.”
“Those will work. And your make up looks good. I love the eyeliner and mascara, too.”
“Thought I’d better wear more make up since I’ve got my contacts in.”
“You’re a knock out.”
“No—”
“Yes,” Kara insisted. “Poor Troy. He isn’t going to know what hit him.”
It was almost seven by the time Taylor reached the hotel, and snowing. Taylor parked her car as close to the hotel entrance as she could manage, and held her full skirts up to keep them from dragging in the snow and ice.
Entering the hotel’s grand lobby with the marble floor and tall columns and rich dark paneling, Taylor felt her heart skip a beat.
She felt like a princess attending her first Ball. It was exciting. Thrilling. And she did feel pretty tonight, truly pretty, and that never happened. Normally she felt smart, practical, helpful, useful. Not lovely or delicate, and certainly not ridiculously feminine.
But her gown was ridiculously feminine with the dotting of red spangles that reflected light, making her feel like a Valentine that had come to life.
She couldn’t wait to check her coat and enter the ballroom. She wanted everyone to see her gorgeous dress and most of all, she wanted Troy to see her in this dress.
He said Lily Jewel had ‘given’ her the dress, but Taylor knew that gifts like that didn’t just happen. Troy orchestrated the gift. Taylor wasn’t sure what he said or did and right now it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she would soon be attending her first Ball with the most handsome man she’d ever met.