Read Online Fan The Flames (Man Of The Month Book 3) by Michele Dunaway - Free Book Online Page B

had taken her out for a day of pampering. She’d been scrubbed, buffed and professionally made up. Her wavy hair was up in a knot, although two wispy tendrils draped by each ear. Smokey eyelids blinked. Red lips pouted, the color somehow not clashing with her hair—the makeup artist had been correct when she’d insisted Scarlett try the shade. As she stared at her reflection, she had no idea who this pretty woman was. Hadn’t ever seen her before.
    “You look like Cinderella.” Colleen sat on the closed toilet lid, her own lips stained pink with a swipe of Scarlett’s usual shade. “But she wore glass slippers. And she had yellow hair.”
    “I feel like Cinderella,” Scarlett admitted. She touched her bare throat. The midnight blue dress had a higher, more modest neckline, and she’d decided against a necklace. Pearls would be out of place, and except for a thin gold chain, she really didn’t have anything that wouldn’t appear shabby. No, better to go without. Besides, she did have earrings, and she touched the small diamond studs, her only real piece of jewelry and a gift from Todd after he’d received the SEAL bonus.
    “You’re beautiful, Mommy.”
    “You think so?” She held out her hand and Colleen took it. Skirt swishing mid-calf, she led her daughter out to their second-floor living room.
    “Brad will think you’re beautiful too.”
    That assertion made Scarlett’s heart jump, which was silly. Despite living in his house, she’d hardly seen him this week. If he had come in to shower before work—and she knew he had because the alarm on the intercom system he’d installed had beeped—he moved like a ghost. He’d drywalled the third floor. A bulletin board had appeared, with Colleen’s picture tacked up dead center. Now the board was full of crayon artwork. The beeping of the alarm being armed had told her when he’d left. The few times they’d passed, he’d smiled at her and then looked away. It was like he was avoiding her, sort of like he’d done in high school after she’d started dating Todd.
    The intercom buzzed, indicating someone had pushed the back doorbell. “He’s here.”
    “Or maybe it’s Granny again,” Colleen said, following her mom down to the kitchen door.
    Or maybe both, Scarlett thought as she saw Brad and her mother standing on the back porch. “Look who I found,” her mom said as she entered first. “He was right behind me on the walk.”
    “Brad!” Colleen shouted. “You’re all dressed up.”
    Scarlett swallowed as butterflies began to thump against her chest. He wore a black tux that fit like a glove, completed with a black tie and cummerbund. He’d added some gel or something, his hair combed back from his face and tucked behind his ears. Had he gotten a trim? She tamped down the desire to thread her hands into that hair, for Brad was a friend. Friend with a capital F.
    Although flirting also began with an F, which they had been doing the other night. Or so she thought. She’d replayed their good-bye in the kitchen over and over before chalking it up to renewing old acquaintances.
    “Had to dress up,” he told Colleen, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “It’s a black tie event. Had to wear this monkey suit.”
    “You don’t look like a monkey. Monkeys have bigger ears and lots of fur.”
    “It’s just an expression,” Scarlett tried to explain. “Means he feels silly.”
    Colleen processed this. Brightened. “Oh. Mommy, do you feel like a monkey? You’re all dressed up too.”
    “No,” she said.
    “Your mommy is too pretty to be a monkey.” His eyes darkened as his gaze roved over Scarlett, and unable to help herself, she blushed. “I don’t remember seeing that dress in any of the pictures.”
    “It’s new.”
    “New city, new dress,” her mother added. “Speaking of pictures, stand over there and let me take one.” Bernadette took out her phone and gestured them together. Brad wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s waist. Such