Page 92 of Climbing Everest
I’m still a little young for marriage, but there has never been a single doubt in my mind about my life with these three men. Even when we thought we would run away and build our own little corner of the world, I never once wondered if we would work. There will never be anyone who owns my heart quite the way they do.
“You still awake there, doll?”
I blink my eyes open and focus on the makeup artist smiling down at me. Shit. Maybe I should have stopped at the first glass of wine because the woman’s pretty face is a little out of focus.
“Someone get her some coffee, and maybe something to eat,” the woman says, glancing over my shoulder.
“That obvious?” I ask.
She shrugs her shoulders. They all introduced themselves to me when they arrived, but for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one. My brain is mush, and the wrong kind of butterflies are wreaking havoc on my stomach.
“I forgot your name,” I whisper to her as she offers me a hand and helps me out of the chair set up in the kitchen. It’s in here because apparently, that’s where the best light is.
“It’s okay. Katerina. Most people call me Kat. Please don’t call me Kitty, it’s annoying and sounds like a porn star.”
I huff a surprised laugh, then burst into giggles. “Please tell me you’re kidding. People have called you Kitty?”
“Men think they’re being funny,” she says with a shrug.
“Um. I know it’s not part of your job, but any chance I can convince you to help me with my dress?”
“Of course,” Kat says, walking beside me as I make my way through the house while the hair stylist and his assistants all pack up their equipment.
I have no idea whether the man is into women or not, but pretty sure Kato – as well as Brix and Madd – would go all psychotic if I asked a man to help me get dressed.
“You’re not squeamish about seeing another woman naked, are you?” I tease.
“Oh please. You should see some of the jobs I’ve been hired for – anything from well-known magazines to porn shoots.”
I whirl around, my freshly curled hair slapping me in the face. “Shut up. No fucking way!” The giggles are back, and I haveno idea how much of it’s from the alcohol, how much is from this woman’s wit, and how much of it is from pure, raw nerves.
“Yep,” she says, following me to the closet. “And believe it or not, I’ve had to…accentuatebody parts with makeup.”
Aaaand more giggles.
“You’re going to make me ruin all your hard work,” I tease as tears from laughter well in my eyes.
At least I assume they’re from laughter.
As I pull the dress bag from the closet, Ms. Galanos appears with a tray containing a mug, a carafe of coffee, and a few small sandwiches cut into fours.
“Thank you,” I tell her. “And sorry for spilling my wine.”
She turns, then stops and looks back at me. “Everything will be fine. My boys have your back.”
And with that, she disappears through the bedroom door.
I stare at the empty doorway for a few seconds, then cross the room to close it. No one else in the house would dare come in here without permission, but I’d rather not flash my boobs at an unsuspecting guard or another member of the staff.
“Holy shit,” Kat breathes out.
I turn to find she’s unzipped the bag the rest of the way down, revealing the gown Kato chose.
He wasn’t kidding when he said I’d like it.
And this…oh, tonight is going to be a nighteveryoneremembers.
Standing in front of the massive mirror positioned in the corner of my room, I turn this way and that, examining the work of the stylists as well as the dress.
