Chapter Five

The next morning there was a text on her phone from Cole letting her know that his driver would be picking her up soon to get her ready.

What did that mean?

There was also a text from her landlord thanking her for her payment and reassuring her that he understood her situation and would be glad to break her contract early.

That one caused a little panic. First of all, there was nothing understanding about her landlord, but what was he talking about? Break her contract early? It was clear that Cole had paid for her rent, but why in the world would he break her contract? She still needed a place to live, didn’t she?

Frantic, she tried calling him. When he didn’t pick up, she left a brief message and then decided to text him for good measure. She almost tried to find his email and do that as well, but it seemed like overkill.

Instead, she burned some lavender incense, sat on her meditation pillow, and tried to clear her mind and think of five good things.

Good thing one: She was no longer getting evicted.

Good thing two: In a few weeks, she’d have enough money to move someplace safer.

Good thing three: A reference from Cole Parker would go a long way in finding her a job.

Good thing four: She never had to see Paula again.

Good thing five: Her mother couldn’t complain that her daughter was still single for three whole weeks.

Unfortunately, those things only made her feel marginally better. Extinguishing the incense, she unfolded her legs and started to get ready for the day. Having no idea what she was faced with, she opted for a pair of leggings and a flowing green lightweight tunic. Assuming that his driver wasn’t taking her to meet the family, she figured this would suffice.

Besides, if she were dressed inappropriately, he only had himself to blame for not giving her more information.

When she received a text from an unknown number letting her know that her car had arrived, she looked out the window. Her neighbor was leaning against his own car and eyeing the dark sedan that was waiting for her. With a yelp, she grabbed her purse and ran outside.

“It’s okay, Travis,” she called out as she waved her hand. “It’s a work car coming to pick me up.”

He scowled, obviously disappointed, but he nodded. The large and usually unfriendly man had taken a strange interest in her when she moved in, and she was grateful for his friendship. There were some neighbors who never seemed to like her all that much, and they looked like they might be more than just car thieves.

The driver’s-side door started to open, but she quickly opened the passenger side and slid in. “You don’t have to get out,” she said hurriedly. “In fact, I really wouldn’t recommend it.”

The man widened his eyes in surprise. “Miss, you’re supposed to sit in the back.”

“No, that would make me feel very uncomfortable. Besides, Cole isn’t here, so he never has to know. What exactly is on the agenda today?”

“You have a beauty appointment in twenty minutes at Ma Petite Bellas.”

Dana frowned. “A beauty appointment? What does that mean?”

“I don’t know, ma’am. I’m just given a schedule to follow. After that, I’m to take you to lunch at a place of your choosing, and then you have an appointment at Luscious Threads.”

Luscious Threads was an expensive women’s boutique. Cole obviously didn’t think her clothes would be up to snuff.

Which was the truth. She didn’t have much in the way of a wardrobe, and she knew that jeans and T-shirts probably weren’t going to cut it at family events. “Have you driven for Cole long?”

“I work primarily for the older Mr. Parker, Blake Parker, but I’m available for Cole and Hawk Parker as well. I’ve only known the younger Mr. Parkers for a few months.” The driver kept his gaze fixed on the road.

“So, I suppose if I ask you about personal details about Cole, or even what you think of him, you’d tell me…?”

“It’s not my place to speak on personal matters.” He sounded like a robot, as if automatic responses were programmed into him. Sighing, Dana leaned back and watched the city go by from her window.

Ten minutes later, on the Upper West side of the city, the driver pulled up next to a beautifully decorated strip of shops. “Here you go, ma’am. The receptionist will get in touch with me when you are ready to go.”

“What’s your name? I can’t very well be calling you my driver all day.”

A small smile twitched at his lips. “Lee, ma’am. You may call me Lee.”

“Excellent. If it looks like they want to bleach my hair blonde or wax in sensitive places, you make sure you’re nearby in case I need to make a quick getaway.”

“Of course, ma’am.” He nodded solemnly, and Dana inhaled sharply before squaring her shoulders and exiting the car. She didn’t know why it was such a big deal to have a beauty appointment except that she knew Cole would only pay for the best. That would mean she would be surrounded by a bunch of snobby and uppity women all day.

Trying to steel her nerves, she gathered her hair in one hand and smoothed it over her shoulder as she opened the door. Five blondes immediately turned their heads and stared at her. “We don’t accept walk-ins,” the receptionist said in a frosty voice.

Dana narrowed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I must be at the wrong place. Cole told me to come here, but…”

At the mention of Cole’s name, the woman widened her eyes in a panic. “Oh! No, you’re at the right place. I’m so sorry. Cole didn’t mention his new lady was a lovely redhead. Normally he dates blondes.” She didn’t seem at all abashed at insinuating that Cole went through women quickly, nor did she lose that patronizing smile.

As if she knew that Dana wouldn’t last long.

“Now let’s see, I believe Mr. Parker had you down for the works. It would seem that you two have a party to attend. Cynthia?” The receptionist turned her head. “Mr. Parker’s girlfriend is here.”

Dana recoiled slightly at the amused tone in the woman’s voice as she mentioned girlfriend, and she clenched her teeth. This appointment was obviously going to be as horrible as she first believed.

To her surprise, Cynthia was an older woman with graying hair and wrinkles around her eyes. As she reached out to take Dana’s hand, she smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you, sweetheart. Don’t you have gorgeous hair! Cole mentioned that he wants me to take the curls out, but that’s such a shame. Hair like yours should be wild and free.”

Dana snorted. “I’ve never been able to straighten them, so I’m not sure that you’ll be able to.”

“A Brazilian blowout will give you sleek hair for the next few months, but it will fade,” Cynthia admitted as she reached out and touched a tendril. “Eyebrows could use a cleanup, and we’ll get your nails done as well. You’ve got excellent skin, so I don’t think a facial is in order. Some waxing…”

“No waxing,” Dana said firmly. “My skin always reacts to it, and I’m just not comfortable with it.”

Cynthia smirked. “I believe you’re the first woman who has balked at Cole’s beauty treatment. I think some date him just so they can get an appointment with us. All right, let’s get you back and settled.”

“Does Cole often send women here?”

“It used to be that the only time he came back in town was for a function, and he never liked to go alone. He has a certain idea of how women should look when they decorate his arm,” the older woman scoffed. “If you ask me, that’s why he’s still single.”

“I think you’re the only person I’ve heard speak out against him.”

“I was good friends with his mother, and bless those boys’ hearts, when she died, their father used to ask me to babysit them. I’ve known all three of them since they were toddlers and babies, and if you ask me, every single one of them could stand a good whooping.”

The mental image was too much, and Dana threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, I wish I could see that. I haven’t known Cole for very long, but he acts like it’s the natural order of things to go his way. It’s aggravating.”

Cynthia led her to a comfortable, leather chair in the back that reclined. She wrapped a towel around her neck before putting the cape around her and snapping it in the back. The chair leaned back, and she settled her head in the bowl. “You’re an interesting choice for Cole,” Cynthia mused as she drenched Dana’s hair in warm water.

Hesitating, she wondered how much she should tell the woman. Cynthia saw the look and smiled. “Don’t worry. I know how the Parker brothers work. I’ve kept their secrets for years.”

“I did have a job at Parker Industries. I’d just started, and I desperately needed the money. I stupidly opened a joint account with my ex-boyfriend, and he cleared it all out. Every single penny. It’s my fault, I guess. I’m too trusting. Getting that first paycheck from work was the only thing keeping my landlord from evicting me, but then my supervisor blamed something she did wrong on me, and Cole fired me,” Dana said almost bitterly. “I lost my head a bit when I saw him the other day, and I may have said a few unflattering things about him.”

The hairdresser threw back her head and laughed. “I would have liked to have seen that.” She finished rinsing Dana’s hair and wrapped a towel around it as she pushed the back of the seat up.

“Anyway, Cole said he needed someone to be on his arm for the next few weeks, and he’s paying me an absurd amount of money to do it. I feel dirty about it, but I need that money.”

“Why would you feel dirty about it? He’s paying you to play a role. Think of it as an acting gig.” In the mirror, Dana could see the older woman smirk. “It’s not like you’re planning on sleeping with him, right?”

“No,” Dana said firmly. “I mean, he’s sexy. Like, stupid sexy, but I don’t have casual affairs. I believe there has to be a deep connection with someone before I sleep with them, and Cole Parker and I are simply not compatible. All of this? The fancy spa and the expensive boutiques? It’s not me, and it’s obvious that Cole wants a classy woman.”

Cynthia shook her head. “Class isn’t about what’s on the outside, but I suspect that it’ll take several smacks on the head before the Parker boys learn that. All right, my dear. Get comfortable. It’s going to be a couple of hours before we finish.”

Even though Dana had just admitted that this kind of primping wasn’t for her, that didn’t stop her from leaning back and closing her eyes. Maybe a little pampering was exactly what she needed.

By the end of the day she was exhausted, but she was sleek and shiny. Her wild curls were straightened, and her hair was silky smooth as it fell down her back, and she was now the proud owner of a new wardrobe that consisted of ten cocktail dresses and five evening gowns.

Why in the world did she need even one evening gown, let alone five? How many events would she need to attend in the next few weeks?

There was also a number of beachwear in with the mix. Seven bikinis. Seven. Where in the world would they be going that she would need seven different bathing suits?

Lee listened as she chatted merrily about her new clothes and dropped her off at the apartment. He helped her carry her bags up, and when he left, she watered her plants and harvested some lemon balm to make a soothing tea.

Within an hour, she was sound asleep.