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today, Gracie?”
    I
shrug. “I
was just wondering.”
    Paige
looks at me, and I know she can tell I’m
serious. “Whatever
thing you’re
doing, or whatever your reasons are—or
his—I
trust you to make the right decision for you. Nothing is black and
white, you know that.”
She
pauses. “I
think you just have to trust your instincts.”
    “That
makes sense.”
And
my instincts do feel like this is the right thing. “Thanks.”
    “You
want to talk about what’s
on your mind?”
Paige
says and I feel another twinge of guilt at not being able to confide
in her.
    I
shake my head and force a smile. “I’m
just nervous.”
I
hold up the red dress against my chest again. “Should
I try this one on?”
    “Yes!”
Paige
says, letting the topic drop. “Lady
in red…”
she serenades as I walk away.
    When
I come out of the dressing room wearing the luscious silk against my
skin, its one shoulder design highlighting my shapely torso, I feel
like a million bucks.
    “You
look stunning,”
Paige
says.
    “It’s
not too much?”
I ask.
It’s
definitely the most attention-getting dress I’ve
ever worn.
    “No
way,” she
soothes. “It’s
sexy. Classy. Perfect.”
    I
do a little twirl and Paige laughs. “I
feel like a celebrity,”
I say, staring at myself in the mirror. I’ve
come such a long way from my waitress outfit at Giovanni’s.
    “You
seem like one these days,”
Paige
says. “Really,
I’ve
never seen you so happy, so confident, so alive. Your mom would be
proud, seeing you embrace life again.”
Paige
squeezes my shoulder. “I
think she’d
agree it’s
time.”
    I
feel a pang of sadness, thinking of my mom, wishing she could come to
Paris with me. But I also feel thankful, to have met St. Clair, to be
in love and living this exciting life. “I
feel really lucky,”
I
admit. “It’s
all because of St. Clair.”
    Paige
says, “I’m
so happy for you.”
She
smiles and I know she really means it, even if she hasn’t
found her own happiness yet.
    “Thanks,”
I say.
“I
would not have made it here without you all these years.”
    I
hug her, and then slip back into the dressing room before tears show
up. I gaze at my reflection, the fancy gown, a world away from where
I thought I’d
end up, doing things I never would have imagined I’d
do.
    Would
Mom approve of our plan for justice? I’m
not sure, but I do know she always trusted me to follow my path, make
my own decisions. And what’s
more, I believe in St. Clair, in this cause that’s
no longer just his. We are doing the right thing, I’m
sure of it.
    I
take the dress off and carry it to the register. Paige squeals,
“You’re
going to Paris! It’d
better watch out for your sexy ass if it knows what’s
good for it.”
    I
grin at my old friend. “Yes,
I am, and yes it should.”
    I
know this trip is going to be life-changing.

 

CHAPTER 8
     
    Touchdown
in Paris! I’m
so excited I can hardly contain myself as we catch a cab from the
airport, swiveling my head from side to side, trying to catch a
glimpse of the Eiffel Tower.
    “Where
is it?” I
ask as we turn another corner. “When
can we go see the sights?”
    “You’re
adorable when you’re
excited,”
St.
Clair says, kissing my cheek. “But
remember why we’re
here.”
    I
smile. “I’m
actually excited about that, too,”
I
say truthfully. “It
seems your bad influence may be rubbing off on me.”
    He
grins, then clears his throat. “I’ll
take you to see the sights, I promise. But first we have to deliver
my painting to the gallery, so we can scope out the scene. I sent the
delivery by van ahead of us, and they just arrived.”
    “You
really do think of everything,”
I
note.
    St.
Clair takes my hand; I can tell he’s
excited too. “I’m
glad I don’t
have to hide this,”
he
murmurs, kissing my neck. “That
I don’t
have to lie anymore. It makes me feel even closer to you.”
    “Me
too,” I
answer, even as my stomach twists in a nervous knot. Now that