The Sinner by Emma Scott

Thirteen

“You should have seen our girl,” Abby said at work the next day, grinning knowingly as she regaled Jana about last night’s dinner. “The glass went flying and we all freaked. Except Lucy. She didn’t bat an eye.”

Jana was shaking her head. “That sounds scary and dangerous. You guys shouldn’t be messing with stuff like that. Bad juju.”

Abby waved a hand. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. Like, too much wine. But I’ve never seen Guy so rattled. And did you notice how he threw himself in front of you, Luce? To protect you? Well played.”

I froze, feeling as if our grand plan were written all over my face.

“Well played? No, I—”

“He was so sweet to our gal,” Abby said and then stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.

I cleared my throat. “Did you stay out later? After we left?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she said with a wink, and it felt as if she’d slapped me.

Oh my God, calm down. It’s not your business what she does with…anyone.

Abby gasped and grabbed my arm, jolting me out of my thoughts. “You have to let us take you out. Today after work. Before Buzz Night.”

“What for?”

“Total makeover. I’ve been dying to get my hands on you ever since you started here, and now you have all this manly attention. We need to capitalize.”

“Abby,” Jana said in a low tone. “Lucy doesn’t need a makeover.”

“Oh, nothing major. But we have got to get this hair out of your face and show off this cute figure of yours. Please? We never go out, just us girls.”

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Well…if you think it’s a good idea.”

“It’s a brilliant idea. We’ll have loads of fun and get you glowed up for Buzz Night.”

Jana smiled gently. “You can say no.”

That’s what I always did. I said no, and my little life never got any bigger. But I’d had dinner with Guy, and I’d volunteered to present my idea. I was on a roll. No stopping now.

“Sure. Why not?”

After work, Abby took me back to Macy’s at Herald’s Square. Jana came along for moral support. “And to make sure Abby doesn’t get carried away.”

Abby scoffed. “Oh, please. This is going to be fun.”

“Fun” wasn’t my first choice of words as Abby picked out one tight dress after another for me to try on, along with shapewear to smooth me out underneath.

“Oh my God, gorgeous,” Abby crowed as I stepped out of the dressing room in a fire-engine red dress that hugged every curve and was lower in the front than anything I owned. “See? You have the most luscious figure.”

I had to admit, with the shapewear’s help, the dress was flattering and gave me an hourglass shape.

Even Jana nodded approvingly. “Cas is going to flip.”

“Noooo, it’s Guy we’re gunning for, right Luce?” Abby said. “And enough hiding behind your hair. Let’s get you to the makeup counter. Guy won’t know what hit him.”

In minutes, Jana had wandered to the perfume section, and I was in a chair at the makeup counter, a beautician brushing and lining and dabbing my face.

“It’s really clever of you, actually,” Abby said, swiping a test lipstick on the back of her hand. “You’ve had a crush on Guy since the dawn of time, right? Then suddenly, this Cas shows up.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I mean, this is the perfect week, right? All these social engagements that put you and Guy in the same non-work space. The wedding alone—” Her eyes widened with a sudden thought. “Please tell me you didn’t buy something frumpy to wear to Kim’s wedding.”

“Well, no…”

“You did, didn’t you? If it’s not in the same ballpark as the little red number we picked out today, return it. Now is not the time to back down.”

I was glad to have ten pounds of blush on my cheeks already. My face burned hot; our “grand plan” was so obvious. That it was inconceivable that Cas might be with me to be with me and not as some decoy.

Because it is, Deb piped up. You’re a cliché. The shy little frump who could never get a man like Guy on her own…

“I like the dress I bought,” I said, my voice sounding small in my own ears.

“Pfft. I’m sure you do. But trust me, it’s—”

Abby broke off as Jana returned, a small bag in her hand.

“So I don’t smell like Eau de Bébé tonight.” She caught sight of my face and frowned. “Well, that’s…different.”

I took the mirror from the beautician. She’d given me a smoky eye, blush along the edges of my cheekbones, and bright red lipstick the same shade as the dress in a bag at my feet. My hair was pulled back from my face in a messy bun with a few tendrils hanging down. I hardly looked like myself.

“Stunning, right?” Abby crowed.

Jana nodded. “But a little heavy, don’t you think?”

“Nonsense. It’s going to be dark at the bar.”

“What do you think, Luce?”

“Umm…”

“She loves it because she knows it’ll be perfect with that dress,” Abby said. “Right, Luce?”

I must’ve agreed because I ended up spending seventy-five dollars on eye shadow, blush, and the lipstick that was actually called Underage Red.

“Now, don’t change a thing,” Abby said at the subway station. “I want to see you at the bar in a few hours just like this.”

“Abby…” Jana shook her head.

“What? She looks amazing.” Abby gave me an air kiss, whispering. “I got your back, girl.”

Jana gave me a small parting wave, and we headed our separate ways. I took the subway home, garnering a few looks from men on the train…which had never happened before. At my apartment, I unlocked the door, steeling myself for Cas’s reaction. It’d been ages since I’d been on a date.

This is not a date. This is part of your super obvious pathetic plan to get Guy to notice you.

“Shut up, Deb,” I muttered, though she was right. Even Abby saw it.

Casziel wasn’t there, and as the time ticked by, I began to wonder if he were going to show up at all. I ate my portion of the casserole I’d made for dinner and went into the bathroom to put on the red dress that suddenly looked extremely, inappropriately red. I reapplied the lipstick, smoothed my hair, and went out.

Cas was in my living room, looking devastating in all black. My stomach fluttered at the sight of him, masculine and potent and so very beautiful.

“Oh, you’re here,” I stammered. “It’s about time we go…”

My words trailed at the expression on the demon’s face as he took me in. His eyes widened, his lips parted. The room went still in the few seconds of his stunned silence, then his brows furrowed angrily.

“What happened to you?” he demanded. “Why are you dressed like this?”

The reaction hurt me more than I expected, especially since—for a moment—he seemed overwhelmed by me in the best way.

“The girls took me shopping after work.” I smoothed down the front of my dress that felt even tighter than it had in the store. “You don’t approve?”

He started to speak, and I shocked myself by cutting him off.

“You know what? Never mind,” I said. “I can wear whatever I want, and I don’t need—or deserve—your judgment about it. And FYI, no woman does.”

“I wasn’t—”

“I didn’t do this for your approval. I did it for Guy. For our grand plan to save your soul, remember?” I tilted my chin up, lip trembling. “Isn’t that what this is all for?”

Casziel’s jaw tightened. “It is.”

“Then let’s go.”

I grabbed my purse and headed for the door, keeping my face turned away. If I cried, it’d ruin my makeup.