“He has to see behind all that innocence or else he won’t stick around long,” Annie stated authoritatively. “A guy like Luca wants a woman. One who makes him look good and who looks good on his arm.”

Colette glanced down at herself. She knew she didn’t fit that bill at all.

Luca wore Ralph Lauren polos and Lacoste shorts. She wore Marks and Spencer with the occasional flash of LK Bennett in between. She wasn’t a fashionista by any means, but if she wanted Luca to take her seriously perhaps she was going to have to at least show him that she could complement him. And try to hold her own against all the very many glossy and gorgeous women in these parts.

She gulped a little.

“How about this?” Kim asked as she raised up the dress for them all to see. It was a slinky shocking blue knee-length number with a plunging neckline and a daring split up one side. The bodice was fitted and sure to accentuate Colette’s curves. But at least the dress’s length would look midi on her and perhaps lessen the whole thing’s in-your-face sexiness.

“I don’t know,” she said nervously as she looked at the revealing garment. “I’ve never worn anything that...color before.”

“Perfect! That’s just what we want. You trying the unknown,” Annie confirmed bossily. “Remember what your mother said. You can’t stay in your comfort zone forever. You need to step out and try new things.”

They were right. Miriam was always saying there were lots of things out there for her to see and experience. She wasn’t going to get that experience staying in her comfort zone.

Colette needed to do what she’d never done before. No more being careful and taking things slowly.

She needed to jump right in with both feet and find out if she could sink or swim.

Chapter 27

Then

By the time she was ready to leave, Colette couldn’t quite believe the sight that looked back at her from the mirror as she smoothed the creases in her dress.

The old mousy girl from Brighton was gone.

The dress did exactly what they’d said it would, bringing out her slender waist and the slight fullness in her hips. It even managed to make her bust seem fuller without looking trashy.

Thanks to Annie, the waves of her hair were completely smoothed out, and the crown pinned up in a neat chignon, while the remainder cascaded over her shoulders.

Despite her concerns, Kim had done an equally miraculous job on her makeup. It felt as if there was nothing on her face at all.

For the first time in Colette’s life, she looked and felt subtly, effortlessly...glamorous. It was a heady feeling.

“Ready?” Kim’s voice called from downstairs. “Taxi’s here.”

“Coming,” she called back, and brand-new Colette got ready to face the world.