Page 59 of Dirty Like Me
Soon, I had a pile of items that Maggie had attempted to veto on behalf of Jesse’s preferences.
Outside the fitting rooms, I was squeezed into the champagne-pink dress, which was super hot, low-cut and showed miles of leg, when I realized she was on to me. “Oh yeah,” she said, shaking her head. “Jesse would hate that.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Whose side are you on?”
“Whatever side makes Jesse happy. You would not like working for that guy when he’s in a funk.”
I checked out my champagne-pink ass in the mirror.
“Just get the damn dress, Katie,” she said. “You look terrible.”
I grinned. I knew the dress looked good. It felt good. To hell with Jesse Mayes if he liked it or not. Despite what he might think, I wasn’t wearing it for him.
The last time I wore a dress for a man it was white, and that didn’t turn out so well for me. I sure as fuck wasn’t going down that road again—bending over backwards to be what I wasn’t to try to please a guy.Anyguy.
“I’m proud of you,” Maggie said, eying me in the mirror. “I kinda feel like you’re the little bird under my wing. I wish I was coming on tour to keep you safe.”
I looked at her, slightly alarmed.
“I’m kidding. But seriously, it’s cool you’re standing on your own. A lot of girls would milk this for all it’s worth, all the time doing their damnedest to get their hooks into him. But not you. You understand this isn’t fucking Cinderella, right? The kingdom isn’t actually up for grabs.” She handed me a pair of ankle boots to pair with the dress. “You’re looking at this as a job, and how best to rock it while maintaining who you are. I totally dig that about you.”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t sure I relished the compliment. Jesse and I had a deal, yes. But it didn’t exactly feel super awesome being reminded by someone who knew him well, someone I liked and he obviously respected, that I was nothing but the hired help.
Maggie stood back to check me out. “Don’t look now... but I’d say you look about ready for life in the spotlight.”
“Great,” I said. The thought still made my stomach turn, actually.
She stared me down in the mirror. “It fucks people up, you know.”
“Uh-huh.” I turned to face her. “Honestly? I’m pretty freaked out that I have no idea what I’m about to be dealing with. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Gone on tour, or dated a rock star?” She handed me my lucky leather jacket. “Or pretended to be in love with someone you aren’t?”
“All of the above.” I slipped the jacket on and turned to the mirror again. My jacket looked totally kick ass with the pretty, sexy dress and the killer boots. And it also made me feel like myself… only a lot more glamorous.
Maggie stood beside me so we were both in the reflection. “You’ll be amazing,” she said. “Like you were in the video. Just stay out of the way when you’re not needed, and pretend the fuck out of being his dream girl when you are.”
I eyed my reflection skeptically. I looked good. But Jesse Mayes’ dream girl?
Shit.
“He chose you, right?” Maggie said, picking up on my unease. “My best advice? Just be yourself.” She reached under the collar of my jacket to adjust the shoulders of the champagne-pink dress, sliding them outward, deepening the cleavage-revealing V of the neckline. “While wearing this.”
CHAPTER 14
KATIE
When we got back to the hotel, Jesse had come and gone. Maggie said he and his entourage had gone ahead to the venue. He’d taken the time to dirty up my drawing though, making the little caricature Jesse’s eyes bug out of his head in the direction of the little caricature Katie, and adding a lump to the crotch of his pants.
I laughed but tossed the sketch into my sketchbook so it wouldn’t get left behind.
There was also a little bag on the bed with my name on it.
Inside, wrapped in tissue, was an incredibly gorgeous bra and panties. Silky black with lace around the edges. The bra had sparkly little rhinestones set in the lace, which made it both pretty and badass. It had skimpy demi cups, and when I tried it on, not only did it fit perfectly, it did monumental things to my cleavage.
I put on the panties too, because why not?
Once I’d gotten over the thousands of dollars Maggie had dropped on clothes for me this afternoon, I’d decided to accept the fact that things that seemed outlandish in my world—the normal world—were normal here, in Jesse’s world, and I might as well get used to it.
