Romancing the Fashionista Read Online Free Page B

But no. I’m glad to see you’re both still the same Mellie and Lexi.”
    Mel touched at the shades perched on top of her head. With his reminder of them being the same Mellie and Lexi, she was taken back. And for a moment, she saw the young man she adored so much in high school. Mr. All American, they called him. A star in all he touched, be it basketball, football or baseball. But change, it was a funny thing. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
    She had changed. Most would say for the better, but she would say for the smarter. And definitely for the stronger. The professor saw to that, and because of it she could see Nolan clearly. He was not the sweet young thing she had sparred with and crushed on and wanted oh so badly way back when it could twist you inside out . Maybe he never was, though really, it doesn’t matter . Because her lessons had been learned.
    Mel now knew what the pain of wanting and getting meant. Worse yet, the pain of getting then losing. No, she wasn’t the same. Thankfully she had fifteen years to erase the girl he called Mellie and bring on Mel. She gave Nolan an easy smile, one she used for all clients, associates and conquests, as she easily slid her glasses down over her eyes. “Let’s just say, no we’re not the same, we’re in the ‘or something’ category now.”
    She saw the hint of shock as his brows rose and the bit of spark in his eyes with a deep hidden fire that was altogether new. The side of his mouth quirked up. “Okay there, Ms. Mel. Or something,” he said as she closed the door with a soft click.
    Mel let out a breath.
    “You don’t be a stranger now! We’re right on the other side of this door. Though I may not be—” Lexi yelled over her shoulder as Mel flipped the security lock into place then picked up a throw pillow off the nearby armchair, throwing it at her best friend.
    But Lexi knew Mel well and ducked out of the way just in time. “Don’t go messing up my hair. It takes a long time to look this perfectly unperfect.”
    “Messing up your hair is the least of your problems. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do here,” Mel said as she stomped across the room and picked up the bedside phone.
    “What are you doing?” Lexi asked, her voice low.
    “I’m calling down to the front desk to see if they have another room.”
    Lexi was on top of her before she could blink, snatching the phone from Mel’s hand. Mel leapt forward and they both wrestled for a moment, perfect hair and designer outfits be damned, as they fought for the upper hand in the prize of the cheap hotel phone. It was Lexi who won. Leaning back triumphant and holding the receiver up and out of Mel’s reach, she looked at her friend with a sharp gleam in her eyes.
    “There is no way I’m letting you switch rooms. Fate, for some reason, has come down and given you a gift in the form of a kid-free long weekend and a sexy-as-hell man not a few feet from your bed.” She then took the phone and pointed close to Mel’s nose. “You, Miss Boss Lady, are going to take yourself a shower and sexy it up for a change, and do whatever it takes to let that gift of a man work you out of that permanent state of grouch you’ve been in.”
    Mel leaned back on the bed’s headboard giving Lexi a once over. “You know I could take offense at that? I’ve fired people for way less than what you just said. You’re implying that I need a good screw to get me in a better mood. That’s some sexist shit. Besides, we’ve established I have plenty of sex. You sound like one of those Neanderthal ‘that’s what she said’ type of guys.”
    Lexi rolled her eyes. “Number one, you know your intimidation won’t work with me. Technically, I’m freelance, so I’m doing you a favor by letting you and your fancy magazine book most of my time. I can get a job at any of the top magazines out there, and you know it as well as I do. And numero B, you know this is not about the sex. This is