“It’s my eczema,” Naomi moaned, running her nails against the nasty rash of tiny red bumps all over her chin, cheeks and jaw line. Morgan could see that in some places the irritated skin was raised, looking slightly swollen. “All I had was a little itch on my chin last night and this morning I woke up with this. I haven’t had it this bad in years.”

  “Have you taken anything?” Morgan sat on the coffee table in front of Naomi to get a better look.

  Naomi nodded. “I have a steroid cream...”

  “Okay, that’s good,” Morgan said encouragingly.

  “...but it takes like a week to start working!” Naomi eyes started to water again. “My wedding is next week, and Jordan has a campaign fundraising dinner tonight! I can’t go out looking like this! Morgan, you used to be a makeup artist. You have to help me!”

  “Okay, okay, calm down. We can fix this. First of all,” Morgan pulled Naomi’s hands from her face. “Stop scratching.”

  Naomi nodded and locked her hands between her knees. “Okay.”

  “Secondly, I’m gonna give you some aloe vera to sooth the itch and the inflammation, but, hun, you can’t put makeup on that tonight. You need to let it breathe.”

  “I can’t go out like this.”

  “Come on Naomi, hasn’t Jordan seen you like this before? He’ll understand.”

  Naomi shook her head. “It’s not Jordan I’m worried about. He’s seen me worse than this. It’s his donors, his colleagues, and his mother!”

  Morgan grimaced. “Okay, then maybe you can sit this event out.”

  “Be missing from a major campaign event for my fiancé a week before our wedding?” Naomi looked at Morgan as if she had grown another head. “No, I have to go. I just can’t be the center of attention. And if I go, looking like this, I will be.”

  Morgan sighed. “Naomi, regular makeup won’t cover this.”

  “Don’t you think I know that? What do you think I have been trying to do the past two hours before I got over here?” Naomi said throwing her hands up. “That’s why I called the expert.”

  “Which was absolutely the right thing to do,” Joy said from the entryway to the living room where she had been watching the scene unfold. “Morgan, you can fix that.”

  “Joy...”

  “She’s right,” Naomi said. “The stuff you use on your face? I want that. Joy told me you make it yourself. I’ll even pay you, whatever you want.”

  Morgan bit her lip. “We’re different skin tones. Maybe I could lighten my shade till it matches your complexion.”

  “I don’t care.” Naomi shook her head. “At this point, I’ll try anything.”

  “Hmm.” Morgan tipped Naomi’s chin up, turning it to one side then the other. “Okay, I think I can do it.”

  “Oh my goodness, thank you, Morgan!” Naomi threw her hands around the young woman.

  Morgan patted her back. “Don’t thank me yet. Let’s just make sure it works.”

  An hour and a half later, Morgan sat down in the chair by her dining table and looked at her handiwork.

  “Not bad, if I do say so myself.”

  “Not bad?” Naomi glanced away from the mirror she had been staring into for the last five minutes to give Morgan an incredulous look. “Girl, you are straight out amazing. I can’t even see where the rash is. You are like a makeup superwoman. Why are you not doing this everyday?”

  “Preach!” Joy called out from the kitchen. “It’s not like I haven’t tried to convince her.”

  Morgan rolled her eyes. “Because I like my job.”

  “But this stuff?” Naomi took up the little jar of foundation that Morgan had whipped up in the laundry room. “This stuff is gold. The girl that usually does my makeup doesn’t even have stuff this good - and she only buys high end. You should sell this.”

  Morgan stood up and went to the kitchen to wash her hands. “Now you sound like Joy.”

  “Well, she’s right,” Naomi followed. “You could be making mad money off of this. Furthermore, there are so many women who suffer from facial scarring that would benefit. You would literally be changing lives.”

  “I do help people when I can,” Morgan grabbed a bag of chips from the cupboard. “Don’t I, Joy?”

  “I’ll admit, the people whom you’ve ran into that you’ve made product for? You’ve really made a difference in their lives,” Joy stole a chip from Morgan’s bag. “But think about how many more people you could be helping. You could make something as superficial as makeup, really meaningful.”

  Morgan shrugged. “I’m just happy making you guys’ life meaningful even for a moment.”

  The doorbell rang. Naomi stood up.

  “It’s gonna be more than a moment,” Naomi said as she opened the door for Natasha. “I might just have to use you next week.”

  Before Morgan could respond Naomi’s best friend stepped inside carrying a huge garment bag.

  “I have your dress and your... Oh my God! The eczema cleared up!” Natasha gushed. “What did you use? And your makeup is amazing.”

  Naomi shot Morgan a knowing look. “Clear the first part of your week. You are officially my wedding makeup artist.”

  Chapter 12

  Knock knock knock

  “I’m coming!”

  Morgan stashed two more bottles into the carry-on sized suitcase and zipped it closed before running to open the door.

  “Good morning, Princess.”

  Derek leaned against the doorframe, grinning at her; looking sexier than any man had a right to. Her morning was starting with lots of surprises and they were tumbling in after each other.

  “Oh my goodness, you shaved.” Her stomach took a dive as she reached out and touched his perfectly lined up circle beard, itching to touch it with more than just her fingers. God help her. She wasn’t going to be able to stay away with him looking this sexy.

  He chuckled. “I thought you might like it.”

  She did a lot more than like it.

  Morgan took a deep breath and a step back to slow her heart down. “What are you doing here?”

  He reached for her hand. “I’m on chauffeur duty. It’s my job to take you to Jordan’s condo. That’s where Naomi’s getting ready.”

  Morgan raised an eyebrow at him. “I thought Natasha was coming. Did you volunteer to sub in for her?”

  He took her other hand, pulling her closer. “Maybe. Maybe I wanted to start our date a little early.”

  “Or just escape your wedding day duties,” she teased, enjoying the way he was playing with her fingers.

  “Yeah that too.” He stifled a yawn. “I didn’t get to bed till almost three this morning. And then Naomi messaged Jordan a whole bunch of things she wanted him to pick up from the new house and take over to the venue, which he then made my responsibility. So then I had to drive into Long Island to borrow a truck from my buddy and then...” He closed his eyes briefly. “It was just a mess.”

  Something tugged at her heart when she glimpsed the tiredness in his eyes. She tugged at his hands. “Come here.”

  She wrapped her arms around his solid frame, folding him into a hug that he willingly accepted.

  “Want to come inside and sit for a bit?” she asked against his neck where her head fit perfectly.

  “Mm mm. If I sit now, I may never get up. But this,” His arms settled comfortably around her. “This is nice. Thank you.”

  She smiled against his neck. “Anytime.”

  “You mean that?” He rubbed his cheek against her hair. “Cause I’m gonna hold you to it.”

  She giggled. “I do.”

  She started to pull away, but his arms tightened.

  “Not yet. Just a little longer.”

  “Okay.”

  She held on a little longer, listening to his breathing even out, feeling the weight of his body press against her slightly as he relaxed, sensing him crawl right into her heart. She sighed as the realization hit her. Derek had caught her. Hook, line and sinker.

  He let go reluctantly. “Okay, I guess we have to go now or Naomi will start blowing up my phone.”

  “Probably,” Morgan stepped back slowly. “I just need to grab my things. Come inside.”

  She walked back into her apartment, feeling light where the weight of Derek’s body had just pressed against hers. She missed him already even though he was just steps behind her. The sound of paws skittering on tiles reminded her to warn him.

  “Oh Derek, watch out for...”

  It was too late. Baby skidded across the tiles and plowed right into him knocking him down on the floor.

  “What the...”

  Baby’s barks blocked out whatever else Derek said as he rested his paws on Derek’s chest. Good thing he was just wearing a t-shirt and jeans and not his clothes for the ceremony.

  “Easy, Baby...” Morgan called out.

  “How can I be easy when there’s a two hundred pound dog sitting on my chest!” Derek growled.

  “Not you,” Morgan rolled her eyes. “Baby, come here! Come here, boy! Come to mommy.”

  Morgan clapped her hands and the dog growled at Derek, but jumped off and ran over to Morgan, pushing his nose against her legs.

  “Good boy, Baby,” Morgan cooed as she rubbed the dog’s head. “Who’s a good boy? You are! Yes, you are.”

  Derek stood up and brushed his pants off. “Your Baby almost killed me.”

  “If he wanted to kill you, you’d be dead,” Morgan scratched behind Baby’s ears. “I think he actually likes you. He didn’t even try to bite you.”

  Derek raised an eyebrow. “If that’s how he shows affection, I wouldn’t want to see him meet an enemy.”

  Morgan chuckled as she stood up straight. “You’re right. You wouldn’t. Let me just grab my dress. I’ll be right back.”

  “And leave me with him?” Derek’s voice went up an octave.

  “You’ll be fine,” Morgan called out as she headed down the hallway. “He likes you.”

  She almost laughed as she saw Derek standing frozen next to the kitchen watching Baby. Guess he wasn’t much of a dog person. She ducked into her bedroom and grabbed her packed duffel bag and the garment bag with the dress. She glanced at the mirror briefly. Satisfied with what she saw, she headed back to the main area. When Morgan emerged, she was surprised to find Derek crouched down in front of Baby, rubbing his ears. The dog was making happy sounds and trying to lick Derek’s face.

  Her mouth fell open. “I thought you weren’t a dog person!”

  He grinned. “What would make you think that?”

  She pursed her lips. “I don’t know, the terrified expression on your face when Baby jumped on you?”

  “Not terror, Princess. Just surprise.” He stood up and reached for her bags.

  “Oh no, I’ll carry these.” She nodded to the couch. “You can carry that.”

  She watched as another surprised look crossed his face as he saw the small suitcase she had packed.

  “Are you going with them on their honeymoon?” he asked.

  “No silly, that’s the makeup,” Morgan slipped her feet into a pair of flats.

  “All of that?” his eyebrows went north as he gripped the case by the handle.

  “It’s not even that much!”

  “Portia puts on a whole new face every morning and she doesn’t even have this much,” Derek moved towards the door. “What are you guys doing? Making face masks?”

  Morgan bit her lip, her eyes dropping to the floor. Derek stopped mid-stride when he caught the look.

  “Oh, Morgan, I was just playing.” He came over and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I was just teasing. I know this is part of your work. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about it.”

  She nodded. “I know. Let’s just go, okay?”

  He shook his head and put down the luggage. “Not if you’re going to be mad at me. We can’t start our date like that.”

  “I’m not mad.”

  “Then let me see that smile.”

  Morgan put her hands on her hips. “Derek, we don’t have time for this.”

  “Let me see the smile or I’m gonna have to kiss you.”

  Morgan stretched her lips into a wide toothy grin. “Happy now?”

  He leaned in, stealing a quick kiss from her smiling lips. “Now I’m happy.”

  She slapped his arm. “You make sucky deals.”

  “Sucky for you, great for me.” He grabbed the suitcase. “Let’s go, Princess. We have a wedding to get ready for.”

  Chapter 13

  “So, did you enjoy the ride over?” Naomi asked as Morgan dotted her face with foundation primer.

  Morgan chuckled. “How did you know about that?”

  “Please,” Naomi made a sucking sound with her teeth. “Who do you think he begged to let him pick you up? That man is so twisted over you.”

  Morgan worked the primer over Naomi’s skin. “I don’t know about all that.”

  “Well I do,” Naomi paused. “Have you told him yet?”

  Morgan sighed. “No. But I’m going to tonight. Before things go any further. I usually tell them on the first date, so they know what they’re getting into.”

  “Good,” Naomi said nodding. “Make sure you do. Don’t make the same mistakes I made with Jordan, thinking that later would be better until I turned around and found myself engaged to a man who didn’t know much about me at all.”

  “No, I couldn’t do that to Derek.” Morgan shook her head. “I almost told him this morning. He was making some crack about if I was making masks with the amount of makeup I had. I almost wet my pants. If I wasn’t so concerned about ruining the rest of his day, I would have told him then. But I have to do it tonight. I can’t put it off any longer.”

  “And you shouldn’t,” Naomi said. “The longer you wait, the harder it is to get the words out. Trust me, I know.”

  “But how do you say something like that to someone?” Morgan asked, putting down the primer and reaching for a jar of brown clay-like substance. “I don’t even know where to start.”

  “Don’t matter where you start, as long as you start,” Naomi said. “It doesn’t have to be pretty when you tell him, it just has to be the truth. He just has to know. And sooner is always better.”

  Morgan bit her lip. “What did Jordan say when you told him about your past?”

  Naomi snorted. “I didn’t tell him and that was the problem. He knew about my brother for a while and was just waiting for me to tell him, but when he found out about my previous marriage...”

  Naomi let out a deep breath. “He lost it, Morgan. Called off the wedding immediately, didn’t talk to me for weeks. I was sure it was over.”

  “That must have been awful.”

  “It was,” Naomi said. “But in some ways it was good too. The whole thing brought me a lot closer to God. When Jordan was gone and it was just me, I realized that my faith had been too dependent on his and that I needed to have my own relationship with God. If my relationship with God had been strong, had been guiding me, I wouldn’t have waited that long to tell Jordan the truth. Since then, so many things in my life have gotten better. I want that freedom for you too. God can give you that and so much more...including you own line of cosmetics.”

  Morgan raised an eyebrow. “That came out of nowhere.”

  “Not nowhere,” Naomi said. “Since you fixed my face last week all I keep thinking about is how God has given you this gift, this ability to make things beautiful, make people beautiful, but you’re sitting on it.”

  “It’s not that simple, Naomi,” Morgan spread the thick liquid foundation across Naomi’s face with a sponge. “How am I going to have a business making people beautiful when I’m not beautiful myself?”

  Naomi pushed Morgan’s hands away from her face and looked at her in shock. “Are you serious?”

  Morgan pursed her lips. “Let’s just get this done.”

  “No.” Naomi moved Morgan’s hands away again. She pointed to the chair in front of her. “Sit.”

  Morgan rolled her eyes as she sank into the chair across from Naomi.

  “Remember when I was graduating from university and I left the card for Ilana Baranoski? Did you call her?”

  “Naomi, that was a long time ago. I was dealing with school and treatment. I didn’t have time.”

  “So you didn’t call her,” Naomi frowned. “So when I told you, you needed to talk to someone about what happened to you, you thought I was joking?”

  “No,” Morgan twisted her fingers together. “It’s just...”

  “Just what?”

  “It’s just that she would be one more person to feel naked in front of, one more person to feel sorry for me. One more person to poke and prod and try and fix me and by then I was over it,” Morgan said finally.

  Naomi reached over and took her hands. “Oh sweetheart, you’re not over it. It’s been what? Seven years now? And you’re still not over it.”

  Morgan pulled her hands out of Naomi’s and planted them in her lap.

  “Look, Naomi, I know you’re trying to help. But I’m not like you,” Morgan said. “I don’t need to talk it out to feel better. This is what it is. This is what God has given me to carry. I can live with it. Tonight, Derek can decide if he can live with it too.”

  Naomi tilted her head to the side. “And what if he says he can’t?”

  “Then he can’t.”

  “And how devastating would that be for you?” Naomi asked. “On a scale of 1-10.”

  “What’s ten?”

  “On your bathroom floor in tears.”

  “A four.”

  Naomi raised an eyebrow.

  “Okay maybe a six, but I’d get over it,” Morgan stood up and grabbed an eye shadow palette. “I’ve gotten over worse.”

  Naomi didn’t say anything. She let Morgan continue to work on her face.

  “You’ve settled, Morgan.”

  Morgan let out a sigh. “Close your eyes, Naomi. What do you mean?”

  Naomi closed her eyes so Morgan could apply liner. “You’ve settled for a life that you think you have to have now because of what you have been through. But you don’t need to settle. You deserve to be happy.”

 

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