Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aides (9 page)

“I know what you mean. I don’t always say the right thing either.” Her company more than made up for the crap he’d dealt with at work today. The only problem with this scheme was the more he learned the more he liked her, and the less he wanted it to end.

“At least you admit it. It’s a start.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Relax. I’m just teasing you. What else?” Standing, he removed his jacket. He swiped off his tie, tucked it in his pocket, rolled up his sleeves and sat beside her.

“I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t have much experience in dating so I can’t make any other comments or judgments. I think I’d like to be romanced. Then again, I’m not sure what ‘being romanced’ is. I like it when a man holds the door for me and pulls out my chair. I’m definitely not into women’s lib. I like feeling special.”

“So you’re a girlie girl.” He said with an Arnold accent, making her laugh. He was playing a deadly game and not just with her, but with his own feelings as well.

“Yeah, I guess I am for the most part. Why? Do you have a problem with it?”

“Just checking. Tell me what you’d like in a man and a date?”

Sabrina tucked her foot under her knee. “Let me see.” She rested her elbow on the back of the couch and tucked her palm against the side of her face.” Okay, I want to be treated like a woman, not a brainless twit. I like myself. I have fears and I’m a bit self-conscious. I’m not mean-spirited or vindictive. I’m okay in the looks department and that’s fine with me. I don’t want a man to put me on some pedestal and not let me be me.”

He wanted to see her blush again. “Ah, I understand. I promise not to think of you as a goddess worthy of praise.”

“Well, you don’t have to go that far. Maybe a smidgen of praise would be nice.” She held her hand to show her thumb and forefinger barely an inch apart. And her blush was back.

Her laughter made him smile. “Deal. A little praise. Perfect manners. An enjoyable evening. What are you doing tomorrow night? I’ll see if I can’t deliver on your request.”

“That’s sweet of you, Travis. Are you sure you want to go through the hassle for me? I’m mean, you’re my boss. Taking over the magazine will be no easy feat. Please don’t feel like you have to do this. It’s not up to you to help me figure out my new job.”

“Forget about the job for now. Tell me more about you.” Damn, he didn’t want to admit it, how easily he was falling for her. Then what? If he did, they’d both be out of a job.

“What do you want to know?”

One month. He had to survive one lousy month of this crazy pretense as his brother. Sabrina made it harder and harder to do by the moment. He owed Travis. He owed the family. He even owed Kat. He’d promised not to hurt Sabrina.

“The little things. What makes you laugh? What makes you mad? What are your pet peeves?” Honestly, he had no intention of hurting her. All he had to do was pull off their little con until Travis took control of the magazine and he and Sabrina could continue what they had. He’d tell her what he’d done for his brother and albeit she might be a bit upset at first, surely she’d see clear to give him a second chance. He was counting on her crush for him to be too strong not to forgive.

“I’m basically a happy person. According to Kat and Jill my goal in life is to look for the best in people. I don’t get what’s so wrong with truly believing everyone has some good in their hearts?”

“Nothing’s wrong with it. Anyone who can see the good in Trent—forget I said that. So what makes you mad?” But what if she didn’t? Hadn’t she poured her guts out to him of her feelings for Trent. The real him.

“People who pick on others.”

“I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“Your foot, your mouth, enjoy the swallow.”

As long as he continued the charade he had the best of both worlds. And if she started to take it too seriously, he’d deal with it. Darkness plagued his mind. Time to change the subject, again. “Pet peeves.”

“Glass rings on the coffee table.”

“Really. That’s it?”

“What can I say? I’m a happy person.” She toyed with a hangnail. “By the way, do you plan to stay on once the magazine turns around?”

Shit. Why’d she have to ask? “I sincerely don’t know at this point. Maybe I’ll discover I like it so much I can’t leave. I figure a year max. I guess we’ll see what happens. As long as I’m here, I’d love it if you’d be my first friend. I promise to curtail my comments about my brother. I’ll be the very essence of a perfect gentleman. What do you say?”

“Why? What do you have in mind?”

“We can go to dinner and maybe take an evening ride through the park. Kat tells me it’s beautifully decorated this time of year and they offer horse-drawn carriage rides as well as hot refreshments. Let’s enjoy ourselves and we’ll do whatever we want.”

The desire to change the subject had him searching the room for a different topic, only his gaze landed on the books on her end table. God help him he picked one up. The images he’d conjured up of Sabrina in any number of positions cut off his ability to swallow, he had to cough his lust away or he’d do worse than blush. Wishful fantasies raced through his mind teasing and tantalizing him.

* * * *

Thoroughly embarrassed, Sabrina grabbed the book from Travis and threw it behind the couch “Oh God,” she whispered through a fake smile.

The last thing she wanted to do was give him the wrong idea. Especially when she had no foggy freakin’ idea what kind of information the books offered. If Travis’ expression held a clue it was definitely more than she wanted to know. “How about a movie?”

“Sure, why not. What do you have?”

“The lady at the video store recommended a couple.” Sabrina handed them to Travis. “You choose.”

“More homework. Details please,” he asked, unable to disguise how humorous he found the situation.

“It’s for the articles on love.”

“And—”

“What is love? I really don’t know. I asked for romantic love stories.”

“Let’s see what you have.”

She handed him the jackets.

“You realize, her suggestions are subjective? Right?”

“Why is that a problem?”

“Not a problem, just one person’s perspective. How do you know that any movie she finds romantic is going hit that same note in you? I mean, Bogie is great in anything, but that’s not my idea of a romantic movie. As for this,” he said holding up the other jacket, “it’s cute, cheesy, definitely a love story, but not the best there is.”

“Then what would you have chosen?”

“Officer and a Gentlemen, Rocky, and maybe Top Gun.”

“Oh come on, I agree Officer is pretty good, but Rocky?”

“Yo, Adrian. Come on…it’s a classic.” His impression of Stallone sucked, but he couldn’t help but make the attempt.

“Classic guy movie, not love story.”

“What’s wrong with Top Gun?” he asked.

“That was more about him and his journey, not a love story.”

“Then how come you had to ask for suggestions?”

“I know what touches my heart, but who’s to say it does the same for anyone else.”

“Exactly my point.” He opted for Bogart and Hepburn in
The African Queen
followed by Hugh and Julia in
Nottinghill
.

The movies were classics she’d seen over and over through the years, always from the vantage point of mindless entertainment. Maybe that’s because before she had viewed them with her brother, Nickie, who wanted only to be amused. She’d never delved deep in the plots, the love stories.

Her focus now was on the defining poignant moments of each. What an eye opener. She wasn’t impressed by the first movie. The second however left her feeling as if she finally knew what love was all about. Unfamiliar emotions stirred deep inside her when Hugh’s character admitted he’d made a mistake and groveled for her to give him a second chance.

With Travis beside her and their conflicts long gone, she watched with a new perspective. One of hope. She imagined the possibilities. Somehow she just couldn’t imagine Travis groveling. She was glad he hadn’t paid attention as she wiped a lone tear away.

“What did you think?” Travis asked as he stood.

“That leech scene grossed me out, but I really liked
Nottinghill
.”

“You’re such a chick.”

“Duh.”

“Uh—it’s getting late and I have an early day tomorrow.”

When she stood and followed him to the door, their arms brushed sending a jolt through her, head to toe.

He drew her into his arms. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”

She waited, her heart beating faster, willing him to kiss her.

He kissed her all right. He kissed her forehead then left. Which was as bad as being referred to as a guy’s kid sister.

She’d almost shut the door when Travis leaned in to stop her.

He pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket, tore off a sheet, and wrote on it. “If for any reason you want to get in touch with me, here’s my cell phone number. You can reach me any time of the day.” He pressed the paper to her hand and walked into the night.

Here she was a relatively attractive woman and the best she’d ever got was a kiss on the forehead. How pathetic. She declared herself a complete and utter failure to the female sex.

4

Saturday morning Sabrina lay the magazines she’d bought on the floor, three rows, five across, and glared at the covers, unable to relate to a single one of them. The problem was not so much about her or even her inexperience, but who was she in the new order of things at
Skin Deep
.

Jill stumbled out of her bedroom, yawned and ruffled her hair. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Trying to get some perspective on my new job. I don’t have much time left to get a handle on the new article lines.”

“How are all these magazines supposed to help you?” Jill asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“I’m not sure yet, but I’m looking for answers.”

“To what?” Jill stood behind her looking over her shoulder.

“To figure out how I’m expected to offer any kind of help.”

Jill moved to the couch, set her coffee cup down. “I’m lost.”

“How do you think I feel?” She looked up from the mess on the floor.

“Okay, step back. Why did you choose each of these magazines?”

“My concept was to get all the popular magazines and then break them down to what they’re known for, how women use them, and find out what they’re lacking in or do expertly.”

“Good idea. Talk to me about how you view the content of each.”

“Okay, but no fair laughing. Let me get it out without interruption. These are all the hottest rags on the market for whatever reason. They inspire men and women, entice women to read and learn, excite men with the pictures, and to some degree they’re well done. Except—”

“Except what?”

She had to get it out. Couldn’t allow herself to be a coward. Blowing out a ragged breath, she really didn’t want to have this discussion, but at the same time she knew she had to, if she had any kind of a chance to succeed in her job. “Except that I’m none of these. If I’m honest with myself, it boils down to the fact that I’m a combination of
Good Housekeeping
and
TV Guide
with maybe a bit of
Woman’s Day
tossed in. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for a sexy help column.”

“Well, Kat and I do tease you about being a domestic goddess.”

The truth was the truth, no sense arguing the point.

“The question is–is that really how you want to be perceived?”

“No, but how do I change it?”

“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“Follow my train of thought here. If I had to define Kat, she’s the very essence of
Vogue
and
Harper’s Bazaar
, high fashion and expensive, but with the heat of the men’s rags, and the natural intellect of
Cosmo
. You’re the humorous side of the men’s rags. You’re playfully snarkalicious. You have
Cosmo
pouring out of you. Fashion and style aren’t something you concentrate on but you have the natural flare for it and always manage to look well put together like
In Style
and
Glamour
.”