All The Pretty Lights (The "A" List #1) by Tara Oakes Page B

what I meant. You see, we had a date set up for Colt for the premiere tonight. One the studio handpicked. She’s got her debut movie coming out in a few months and we were hoping to capitalize on some buzz from her being seen with Colt at the event tonight.”
    I finish fidgeting with Colt’s sleeve and take the other one, listening.
    Andrea continues. “I just heard from her manager. She’s in bed with a sudden fever, won’t be able to escort Colt tonight.”
    Done! I smooth the fabric of his arms, perfecting every slight wrinkle.
    “Andrea,” Colt intervenes. “I don’t think it would work. Daphne’s not into this kind of stuff.”
    “Into what?” I ask him.
    Andrea rolls her eyes at her client and turns her attention back to me. “Don’t be silly! She’d be perfect! And, I’m sure Daphne here would want to help us out this one time?”
    I feel like I’m lost. “Help with what?”
    “Andrea, no.” Colt shakes his head.
    “Colt can’t go alone. Not with Audrey showing up. It would make him look weak. He needs to have a date. I don’t have the time to go looking for someone right now. We have two hours to get him on that red carpet, and frankly, darling, you’d make the perfect last minute stand in. We have a designer dress already picked out that would fit you like a glove.” Andrea finally explains herself, and the size question.
    I move to speak, but find myself speechless and close my mouth. What is she talking about? I’m not the right person for this. Anyone else can do it. Hell, what about Tracy, the hairdresser?
    I step back from the two of them and shake my head profusely. “No, no. I can’t do that!”
    Colt jumps in. “See? I told you. She’s not up for it. It’s too much for her.”
    I don’t know why, but hearing Colt basically answer for me and lay out word for word how he doesn’t think I can do it, am not capable of doing it, makes me angry.
    How dare he! Who the hell does he think he is, putting limits on what he thinks I am and am not capable of?
    Fuck him, and his preconceived notions of what is too much for me.
    I give him a dirty look.
    “I’ll do it.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    COLT
     
    “You look….” The wind is knocked from my lungs and I can’t find the words or the breath to finish the sentence.
    There are audible gasps behind me as Daphne makes her way from the bedroom where she’s been getting ready for the past two hours. It must be the deep setting sunset that’s casting perfect rays onto her glittering dress in just the right way to make her look… like an angel.
    The perfectly fitted, handmade dress that’s hugging her hips tight enough to make me loosen my tie is in one word… heavenly. Her one stipulation for accompanying me tonight had been that she wore her own dress, her own design, and not someone else’s.
    It was the right decision. I’m sure she’d look fantastic in a fucking burlap sack, but somehow, wearing her own dress is giving her confidence. That confidence only makes her look all the sexier.
    Andrea had pulled some major strings to get the one of a kind Versace dress that we had hanging up for Daphne, once we put our plan together this afternoon, and I’m sure she wasn’t happy that those favors were pulled for nothing, but even she has to agree that this was definitely the way to go.
    By the look of shock on Andrea’s face right now, she’s more than pleased with the outcome. “Daphne, darling, you look wonderful.”
    Daphne blushes. The team members behind her wear looks of pride at their creation. Tracy re-holsters the can of hairspray into her belt after giving Daphne one last spritz of the stuff. Amy, one of my favorite makeup artists who we called this morning to be on standby for Daphne, brushes a touch more bronzer on.
    Walking towards her, I take it all in. It’s perfect, she’s perfect. Everything from her shoes to her jewelry. Magnificent.
    I take her hand and lift it to my lips, kissing her delicate little knuckles,