Wedding Chocolate. Adrianne Byrd

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СКАЧАТЬ because we’ve never seen you with much color. But trust me. After a nice cut and a visit to the M.A.C. counter, you’re going to look like a new woman.”

      “I already look like a new woman: Rainbow Brite’s black sister.”

      Aubrey laughed but quickly clammed up after twin smothering glares from the sorority sisters.

      Waqueisha gave Isabella’s hand an affirming squeeze. “Trust me.”

      Isabella reluctantly settled back in the stylist’s chair and tried to prepare for the worst, if there was such a thing.

Chapter 10

      “I’m not going,” Isabella declared after staring at the stranger in the mirror for the past hour. She had signed up for a makeover—not to look as though she’d enlisted in the federal witness protection program where she could only be identified by fingerprints.

      “Of course you’re going,” Keri said, sliding a gold hoop earring through her ear. “You look fabulous.”

      Waqueisha bobbed her head in agreement as she slipped into a red backless number and then jumped into a pair high-heel pumps.

      Instead of Waqueisha’s place, they had all agreed to dress at the downtown Ritz Carlton because it was closer to The Zone—where the CD release party was being held.

      “You didn’t do all this hard work for nothing. Just think of tonight as a practice run for when you return to D.C.”

      “I show up like this and I’ll probably be disowned and Randall may not give his ring back.”

      “Sounds like a win-win situation,” Keri said and glanced at her watch.

      Isabella didn’t miss the “amen” looks that passed between her sorors. In truth, since she had removed her ring, it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She would enjoy her small time of freedom—at least try to anyway. She rubbed the bare space on her ring finger again, dreading when she’d have to put the pretty shackle back on. And she would have to put it back on. Her father would see to it.

      “We better get a move on, girls. We’re running late.”

      Isabella twisted and turned in a white Chanel number better suited for the red carpet. Her bright hair color did look better with the slanted bob and her new makeup transformed her from ordinary to...different—at best. She took another long look at herself in the mirror. “I’m not going,” she announced. “I can’t.”

      “C’mon, Izzy.” Keri wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave them a hearty squeeze. “You’re going to have a good time.”

      “Trust me,” Keri insisted with another hearty squeeze. “Would I steer you wrong?”

      * * *

      Derrick and his boys entered through the doors of The Zone ready to play. One look around at the exotic décor let everyone know that no expense was spared. But what drew every man’s eye were the scantily clad women in pearl thongs and breast pasties.

      Stanley sighed and looked like he was ready to start drooling. “Did we just die and go to heaven?”

      The boys laughed.

      “Stan, my man,” Hylan said, wrapping his arm around Stanley’s pencil thin neck. “If you can’t score tonight, you won’t have to ever worry about when to retire your playa’s card. We’ll take it from you.”

      During a rumble of laughing agreement, Stanley turned ten shades of red.

      “Thanks, guys. No pressure.”

      “Go get ’em, tiger.” Taariq pounded Stanley’s back and then gave him an encouraging shove.

      “Drinks?” a feminine voice floated from behind them.

      Derrick turned toward a smiling ebony beauty wearing the themed pearl thongs and pasties. After nodding his appreciation of her feminine curves, Derrick placed his drink order.

      “Looks like someone’s not so sick of the game anymore,” Charlie chuckled before placing his own order.

      Derrick didn’t bother to defend himself. Just because he was getting tired of the playa’s life didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate a fine woman when he saw one.

      Minutes later, the guys separated and melted into the crowd. A few times, Derrick made it onto the dance floor with barely-twenty-one Kidd Rhymes groupies dropping it like it’s hot. Though he was having a good time and enjoyed the couple of drinks that had already hit his bloodstream, Derrick longed for something more.

      * * *

      Isabella felt like a fish out of water the moment she entered The Zone. Seeing so many hip and beautiful people milling about pushed all of her insecurity buttons. Who was she kidding? She could never blend in with this crowd. She was a straight-laced tax attorney and daughter to one of the most powerful men in Washington.

      She didn’t belong here.

      “Relax,” Keri shouted over the ridiculously loud music. “You look like you’re ready to turn tail and run.”

      That was exactly what she wanted to do.

      “Yeah, loosen up,” Sylvia shouted above the music.

      Waqueisha tapped her on her left shoulder and also yelled, “I gotta go play hostess. Have a good time.”

      Before Isabella could say abracadabra, Waqueisha disappeared into the crowd.

      “Drinks?” a honeyed baritone questioned.

      Isabella turned and her mouth dropped open at the sight of the waiter’s mountain-size and chocolate-covered muscles. She might have licked her lips at his cut abs and his itsy-bitsy loincloth, but she wasn’t sure.

      “Sure,” Keri responded first. “I’ll have you in a tall glass.”

      “Make that two,” Isabella co-signed and then blushed at hearing the words come out of her mouth.

      Keri and Rayne laughed at her boldness.

      “Look out, Atlanta,” Keri boasted. “Izzy is letting her hair down tonight.”

      The waiter winked at Isabella and she nearly died in embarrassment.

      “Make it two grape martinis and walk away slowly so we can drool.”

      “You got it,” the waiter said with a wink and then did exactly what Keri bided.

      “I can’t believe I said that.” Isabella covered a hand over her face.

      “I’m proud of you,” Keri said, bumping her hips against Isabella’s. “There just might be hope for you yet.”

      Encouraged, Isabella brightened and tried to relax.

      That was also when she saw him.

      There, СКАЧАТЬ