Saving Sophie: Book Seven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series (7 page)

“Hi.”

She attempted to relax her shoulders as Abby sat down in the chair next to hers. “Hi.”

“Looks like you’re going to be busy for a little while.”

She tried a small smile, remembering her conversation with Stone. “Yes it does.”

Abby tossed a glance over her shoulder. “I just thought I should take a moment and let you know that the goal of my company is to provide courageous women the chance to start their lives over again. I’m very proud of what Lily Brand and the
Escape
line have been able to accomplish so far. Anyone who passes through the doors of any of our Stowers House facilities has a right to their privacy. Everyone who comes and goes is bound by the same ethics: to protect each other’s identities.”

Sophie understood what Abby was getting at; she wouldn’t say anything about seeing her at Stowers House. She nodded. “I appreciate that.”

“I hope you’ll come back and visit with all of us again. There’s always some sort of party going on around here—wedding showers, baby showers, birthdays, holidays. You name it, it’s happening.”

“That’s very nice. I’m glad Stone invited me. Everyone’s so kind. Maybe we can throw a little party when he gets his house finished.”

“That sounds fun. I don’t mean to pry.” She smiled. “Okay, maybe I do. Are you and Stone dating?”

Sophie’s eyes popped wide. “No.
No
.” She chuckled at the idea. Surely Stone would too. He wasn’t exactly her type, not that she actually knew what her type was. “He was kind enough to offer me a room in his home.”

Abby’s brows rose. “You live with Stone?”

“Temporarily. I pay rent, cook, and clean.”

“Does he actually
talk
to you, like say words, or does he grunt?”

Sophie smiled. “No, he talks. Not a lot, but he does.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it. I know you’re going to be busy, but would you like to have lunch sometime?”

Abby was offering an olive branch. She was offering her friendship. She hadn’t had a friend since Dylan, and that had been more of a helper/helping relationship than a true friendship. What would it be like to live in the area and become part of this group? What would it be like to walk into the Cooke’s home and fit in like everyone else did? She’d always wanted this, and Abby was giving her a chance. “Okay. I—I have to go downtown for some supplies tomorrow before I go to work. I could come early.”

“Sure. We can meet at Yoshoris.”

Yoshoris’ dress code required something more upscale than the three outfits she had. “I don’t think I can wear jeans there. That’s all I have,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing with her confession.

Stone walked over, stopping at her side. “You ready to go?”

The room was noisy as everyone talked and laughed around them. Oddly, she didn’t want to leave. “Sure.”

“Actually,” Abby said. “I have to head downtown. I thought Sophie might like to come. I can show you where I work, and we can get to know each other better.”

“Oh, uh, all right.” She looked at Stone. “I guess I’m going with Abby.”

Stone shrugged. “I guess I’ll see you when I see you then.”

She’d half expected him to tell her she couldn’t go and remind her it was her job to make his dinner. She nodded, still trying to get used to the idea that her life was truly her own again. “I’ll see you when I see you.”

“Come on.” Abby stood. “Let’s go.”

She got to her feet and grabbed her list, smiling, thrilled that for the first time in years she had impromptu plans.

“So how’s work?” Abby asked as she sped down
Interstate Ten toward the Lily Brand offices.

“Good.” Sophie unclasped her hands she gripped in her lap, commanding herself to relax. Abby had talked non-stop for the last forty minutes, bombarding her with question after question. She’d tried her best to answer instead of spin Abby’s inquiries back at her—the new form of evasion she’d gotten very good at over the last couple of months.

“Jerrod told me his office looks great—very polished and clean.”

Sophie smiled.

“I still can’t get over how beautiful Sarah’s new necklace set is. I can’t wait to have one of my own.” She wiggled her brows.

Sophie smiled again. “Thanks. I’m hoping to get back to jewelry making full-time as soon as possible.”

“You made jewelry for a living?”

“Yes, my mother and I had a shop. Then I downsized a couple years ago and had my own booth at the mall.” She swallowed, realizing that was the most she’d told anyone about herself in so long. Somehow it was easy to share little bits of who she was with Abby. Stone was right: Abby was extremely kind. Plus it didn’t hurt that Abby had assured her she would keep her time at Stowers House a secret.

“You certainly have talent. Your creations are amazing. I’m sure you’ll be back at it in no time at all.”

She absorbed the quick thrill of Abby’s compliment. Many people told her she made beautiful pieces, but coming from Abigail Quinn, fashion designer extraordinaire, that meant something. “Thank you. I hope so.”

“I’m really glad we’re getting this chance to get to know each other.” Abby slid into the right lane and took her exit. “I hope you’ll still have lunch with me tomorrow.”

She didn’t know how to
be
around a woman so different from herself. Abby was extroverted and sure of herself, but as she sat next to the energetic woman belting out the tune playing on the radio, she suddenly and desperately wanted this fledgling friendship to work. It would be so nice to have a real girlfriend, someone she could confide in and laugh with. “Do you still want to eat at Yoshoris?”

Abby nodded. “They have excellent food. It’s an experience all in itself. I think we’ll have fun.”

She wasn’t worried about fun. Abby was exciting enough for the both of them. Her lack of clothing options was what had her concerned. She slid a glance at Abby in her designer jeans and adorable lemon-colored chiffon flounce tank, envying her breezy style. “Do you have any suggestions on where I might be able to pick up a couple of new outfits for a reasonable price?”

“Absolutely.” Abby pulled into a parking spot along the side of a huge building. “Right here.”

“Oh,” she said as she glanced at the sweeping Lily Brand Headquarters sign. Her idea of “reasonably priced” was clearly different than Abby’s. Lily brand and the
Escape
line were high-end all the way.

“Come on.” Abby unbuckled. “It’s probably still pretty busy inside. Lily had a shoot today.”

Sophie closed her door, hesitating on the sidewalk. “I don’t want to be in the way.”

“You won’t be. I promise. Chaos reigned earlier this afternoon,
believe
me. That’s why I was so late for Sarah’s party. Let’s go. I’ll introduce you to some of my favorite people.”

She nodded, less than thrilled that she was going to be walking around with one of the world’s biggest fashion names in her tired clothing.

Abby moved up the steps, swiping them into the side entrance with her keycard. The door closed behind them as they started down the long carpeted hall. “Swinging by the office after a shoot is a great opportunity to snag some cool loot. Hey, Monique.” Abby stopped to hug a tall, beautiful woman Sophie recognized from several magazine advertisements. “Monique, this is my friend Sophie. Monique is one of my models. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

“Aren’t you sweet.” Monique held out her hand. “Hi, Sophie.”

Sophie smiled, taking the model’s hand, praying her cheeks would stay cool and her tongue wouldn’t go thick as she grew more uncomfortable in the unfamiliar setting. “Hi.”

“I helped myself to a bunch of stuff.” Monique held up a bulging Lily Brand bag. “I
love
the post-shoot grab. I really do. I’ll see you next weekend.” She hugged Abby again. “Nice to meet you, Sophie.”

“You too.”

Monique left and two women waved at Abby as they walked by with similar bags in their hands.

“See what I mean?”

“Where does all the stuff come from?”

“All over the place. When the makeup and hair companies get word that Lily’s got something in the works, they send over all kinds of stuff—shampoo, conditioner, blusher, nail polish, hair dryers and curlers. The list goes on and on.”

“Why?”

“Tit for tat. If they send stuff, our makeup artist and hairstylist might use it, then the magazines might give them a mention. It works well for everyone, and we send out the leftovers to the Stowers Houses. There’s always plenty to share.” Abby led her into a large hair and makeup room with a long row of vanity mirrors and salon chairs. “Do you want something?”

“Wow,” she whispered, staring at the two huge tables jammed with every beauty product she could possibly think of. “
Look
at all of this.” She laughed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Abby smiled. “Help yourself.”

“I don’t—I don’t even know where to start.”

“I’d start with a bag.” Abby handed over one of the Lily Brand bags.

“Yes but look at all of these foundation options. There’s powder or liquid, matte or original. And the blush colors and eyeliners. It’s overwhelming.”

“We can do a color test…” Abby trailed off as a pretty brown haired woman walked into the room carrying a large coffee. “Or we can ask the expert herself.” Abby beamed. “Sophie, this is Jackie, Lily Brand’s own hair and makeup genius.” She hugged the woman. “Hey, Jacks.”

“Hi, Abby.” Jackie kissed Abby’s cheek.

“Sophie and I were thinking about raiding the tables, but she’s not sure what she should choose. Do you have any pointers?”

“You know I do.” Jackie stepped closer to Sophie, sliding a finger along Sophie’s cheek. “You have beautiful skin.”

“Thank you.” She gave Jackie a small smile. She wasn’t used to people being so touchy feely. “Um, I don’t wear a lot of makeup. None, actually. Usually just lip gloss.” She hadn’t even been able to wear that after she moved in with Eric.

Jackie tsked. “Well that’s a shame, because your eyes are fascinating. You need to play them up. Violet. I’ve never seen it.”

“All this stuff…” Sophie swept a hand toward the table. “It’s pretty foreign to me.” In high school, she’d been more interested in three-pointers and layups than mascara wands and blush. Mom tried to show her a couple of times, but she hadn’t paid attention. Now that she was surrounded by so many beautiful people, she wished she had.

“It’s time for an education. I can’t let you leave without showing off those eyes. It would be a crime to my profession.” Jackie took Sophie’s hand. “Come on over to my chair and I’ll show you how.”

A tall man with a funky, slicked-back cap of black hair walked in.

“Marco.” Abby hugged him. “Marco, god’s gift to hair. I want you to meet my friend Sophie.”

Sophie held out her hand. “Hi.”

“Hey, nice to meet you.” He slid his fingers through her hair. “Soft. Healthy. But too long.”

She swallowed, unsure of what to say to Marco’s critique.

“This doesn’t do anything for that spectacular face of yours. Jackie gets to play with you. Can I play too?”

“Uh…” Never in her life had she met people like this before.

“I can see it now.” He stepped behind the salon chair, talking to her as they looked at each other in the mirror. “We’ll lose several inches, then I’m thinking a couple of light streaks right through here.” He touched various strands of hair along the crown of her head.

She stared at the yards of pretty blonde she’d been growing for years. Marco wanted to cut it—
lots
of it. She digested the quick rush of fear. If Eric knew she was even contemplating the thought… He’d slapped her the day she’d come back from getting a trim, shouting that women were meant to have long hair. But Eric wasn’t here anymore, and this was
her
hair. The idea of defying him was as liberating as it was frightening. “Okay. Yes. You can cut it. Do whatever you want,” she said in a rush before she changed her mind.

Marco rubbed his hands together, grinning. “Let me go make up my color.”

“Let’s get a mani/pedi going while Marco takes care of your hair, then we’ll get to the makeup,” Jackie said as she rolled over a small cart.

“Oh, well, sure.” Sophie glanced from Jackie to Abby. “Is this okay?”

“Absolutely. Marco and Jackie play with my hair and makeup all the time. I’m going to head down the hall for a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

“Have fun.”

She was going to try, even if she was unsure. This is what women did with their girlfriends. They got their hair done and had manicures and pedicures. “I will.”

Forty-five minutes later, Sophie’s heart pounded while Marco dried her hair and Jackie brushed the wand over her lashes. She was trying her best to listen to Jackie’s pointers on wiggling and sweeping from the base of the lash, but every time Marco slid the hairbrush through her hair, she couldn’t help but notice his downward strokes stopped just below her shoulders. What had she
done,
and why had they insisted on turning her away from the mirror? They’d assured her more than once that she was going to love “the new her,” but now that it was too late to change her mind she wasn’t so certain.

Abby stepped back into the room, pushing a large cart with several dozen clothing items swaying on hangers. She stopped short, her eyes going wide.

Oh god. It was horrible. Sophie’s heartbeat kicked up another notch as she gripped the armrest beneath her smock, struggling to keep herself from rushing from the chair. What if Marco had forgotten the original plan and she ended up with blue or pink streaks? She wasn’t ultra trendy. She couldn’t blend in with everyone else with pink hair.

Marco shut off the dryer, fluffed her ends, and stood in front of her, studying with his hand on his chin.

Jackie pushed the wand back in the tube of mascara, joining Abby and Marco as they all stared at her.

It was worse than she had imagined. They were trying to find a way to tell her. She swallowed, looking from Jackie to Abby to Marco. Why weren’t they
saying
anything? She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Abby chuckled. “Let’s put her out of her misery. Spin her around, guys.”

“Yes, please. Please spin me around.” She wiped her damp palms on her jeans and slammed her eyes shut as Jackie turned her toward the mirror. She opened one eye, then blinked in shock, staring at the stunning woman looking back at her. Marco hadn’t turned her hair blue; he’d added barely noticeable streaks of bright blond, accentuating her natural color. She touched her fingertips to the blunt-cut, shoulder-length style. “I can’t believe… Is that really
me
?”

Abby laughed.

Sophie stood, moving closer to the mirror, shocked that a slide of eyeliner and a few sweeps of mascara could make her eyes appear so huge.

“You look like you belong in a magazine, all sleek and polished.” Abby stepped up next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She
did
. “I can’t possibly even...”

Jackie shoved a bag in her hand. “This is all the makeup we’ve talked about. And there’s shampoo, conditioner, and other product Marco selected for you.” Jackie hugged her. “You come back and visit us.”

“I will.” She embraced Marco next. “Thank you. Thank you both so much.”

“Call me in six weeks for a trim. No one else touches your hair.”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Okay.”

Marco and Jackie’s cell phones beeped at the same time. Jackie looked at her screen. “The boss lady’s looking for us. We’ll be back.”

“See you soon.” Abby clasped her hands below her chin, grinning as Marco and Jackie walked out. “Now it’s
my
turn.” She pulled the cart of clothes closer and grabbed a pair of jeans and a simple blue and white striped top from the pole. “Go ahead and try these on. I already know it’s going to be perfect. I want to see that amazing figure of yours in the right clothes.”

“Abby, I couldn’t possibly. The hair and makeup…”

“Yes you can.” Abby pushed her into the dressing room. “Don’t ruin my fun.” She closed the curtain with a playful smile.

She chuckled, hardly able to believe this was truly happening. Abby was her fairy godmother.

“How does it look?”

“Um, I don’t know. I haven’t tried it on yet.”

“You’re killing me with suspense.”

“Okay. Hold on.” She took off the clothes she’d arrived in and pulled on the snug jeans that accentuated her butt perfectly and made her waist appear tiny. She put on the light cotton top next, in awe that she was actually looking back at herself. In an hour’s time she’d been transformed from dowdy to polished. She pulled the curtain aside, and Abby grinned.

“I
knew
it. Here.” Abby handed her a brown leather belt. “Put this on.” She got down on one knee and rolled Sophie’s pant legs twice. “Go ahead and step into these too.” She set brown leather sandals in front of her.

Sophie slid on the pretty, summery shoes that looked even better with her French manicured toenails.

Abby stood, looking Sophie up and down. “Yup. This is definitely right. Casual, classy, and fun.”

She’d officially been transformed. For the first time ever, she felt beautiful. Somehow three strangers had known what she’d always wanted. She’d planned to remake her image after college to go along with her degree, but her vanity had taken a backseat to Mom’s needs. “This is so great. Truly great.”

“I’m glad—” Abby’s phone rang. “Oh, just a second.” She answered. “Hello.” She smiled. “Yes. Not too long. You got it, big guy. I love you too.” She hung up. “The hubs checking in to make sure I’m okay. He still gets a little nervous.”