“This is actually kind of cute.” Jessica admired the dress Marnie picked out for her in the boutique's mirror.
“Look, they have a gold one. This will really bring out your eyes.” Marnie took another gown off the sales rack and held it under her friend's chin.
Jessica smiled. “I'll take it.”
She took the outfit Marnie offered and ran into the fitting room. Marnie grinned as Jessica walked out bedecked in gold sequins. Her normally non‐existent ass was looking great in this dress. A few low whistles from the male customers in the small boutique confirmed Marnie's advice.
Jessica huffed and pursed her lips, blowing enough air out to send her blonde bangs flying.
“We're not supposed to be looking for something for me. We're supposed to be hooking you up.”
“I call it like I see it. That dress screams Jessica. Lem's going to love it.”
“Whaddya think Danny would like to see you in?”
Marnie smirked. “Who cares?”
Having Jessica around for the week had been a blast, but she was getting tired of the subtle hints that she needed to hook up with Danny.
“You can deny all you want, but I see the way he looks at you when you're not looking.”
“He's looking at me the way all men look at women. Every man in here wants to bone with you and me.”
“I think Danny's got deeper feelings for you than that.”
“Danny's a horny horn dog, like every other man. He doesn't really talk to women, just undresses them with his eyes, and imagines himself sleeping with them.”
“He's not like that at all. He's a real sweetheart. He just hasn't found the right woman for him yet. After Emily, he changed a lot.” Jessica shoved an ugly two‐piece suit down the rack. “She used to lead him around on a leash. If you ask me, he's better off without her. A little rough around the edges, but Marnie, when he's in his element, he's the sweetest man you've ever known.” Jessica picked a piece of lint off a dress. “He just needs some tender love and care from a good woman.” She winked.
Marnie frowned at her then continued to look through the sales rack. Jessica was completely wrong about Danny. The man's sex drive made it impossible for him to ever settle on one woman. He always had a different girl in his bed each night of the tour. Marnie wasn't going to put his business out there. He was just a typical male. If Jessica saw something other than that, she was delusional. He'd turned Marnie down way too many times for her to think he was interested in her. The thought of sleeping with her probably ruined his fantasy of being a gift to women. Knowing Marnie had slept with many men, he probably knew he was nothing special for her. And he would be right. She grinned at the thought.
“Well, humor me.” Jessica tugged her toward the mirror and put a short pale green sequined shift dress under her chin. She grabbed a chunk of Marnie's auburn hair and piled it on top of her head. “Now wear this gown, with your hair up and some earrings. I bet you he won't be undressing anybody else tomorrow night, but you.”
Marnie looked at the dress wistfully. “He's not inviting me to the awards ceremony.”
“Honey, trust me. You put this on and he'll be begging you to go.”
“It's kinda short though. My ass is going to look huge.”
Jessica smacked Marnie's rump. “Honey, ain't no point in hiding all of this.”
“He's going to hit the base.”
“Nope, Wosan is going to out him,” Lem said.
Danny glanced away from the baseball game and did a double take as Marnie entered the room. His jaw nearly dropped.
“Damn,” Lem said, echoing Danny's thought.
Marnie walked in wearing a pale green glittery dress, which ended about three inches above her knee, highlighting what a great ass she had. Her hair was curled and lazily coaxed into a sexy updo. Yellow diamond earrings and a matching necklace brought out the color of her eyes.
Danny swallowed the large lump in his throat before speaking.
“Hey.” He looked directly at the silver pumps as he said this. Sweat formed on his brow as the air around him grew warm.
The nude, glossy lipstick she wore completed the look. If he looked at her any longer he was sure to develop a hard on.
“Looks like you guys had a great time shopping,” Lem said.
“You like, baby?” Jessica twirled, modeling the new gold dress for her boyfriend.
Lem nodded appreciatively.
“You look nice too,” Danny said to Marnie. “Kind of dressy for daytime wear, though.” He scratched his head.
“Depends on where she's going tomorrow,” Jessica cooed.
Danny's eyes widened. “You're not trying to go to the awards ceremony, are you?”
He couldn't go with her to the ceremony and risk the media thinking they were an item.
“No.” Marnie looked down. “I was just playing dress up.”
“Well are you done? I need you to pick up my dry cleaning for tonight, and I can't send you around town looking like that.”
Marnie glanced at Jessica and then back at Danny. “Oh, sure. I'll change and pick it up right now.”
“Thanks.”
Marnie grabbed her bags and quickly exited the room.
“Ow!” Danny yelled, as Jessica smacked his arm.
“Why can't she go to the ceremony with you?” She hissed.
“She's my assistant. It wouldn't be appropriate.”
Jessica crossed her arms and sat on the sofa in a huff. “Bull.”
Danny sighed and tried to re‐immerse himself in the baseball game. The daggers in Jessica's stare were making that difficult. Marnie had looked happy in the dress. Perhaps Jess had the right idea, especially if it brightened Marnie up. But going to the ceremony was out of the question. The reporters would turn her life upside down, shaking whatever secrets she'd hidden in order to show the world who Danny Roland was dating. If she couldn't tell him about the rape, she wouldn't be able to tell his three million fans either. But he couldn't tell Marnie his reason, without revealing that he knew her secret. She wasn't ready for that.
But a party? Now that might be easier. He could sell the idea. If anyone asked, she was his friend who he'd invited to enjoy a night on the town.
Marnie appeared a few minutes later in jeans and a turtleneck.
“Hey, would you like to go to the pre‐ceremony party for the MTV Movie Awards with me tonight?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you talking to me?”
“Yeah, and wear that dress, it looks nice on you.”