cheeks. “I don’t want to look like a high-class hooker either.”
“You don’t want to look like a nun either. Otherwise, you might not get none!”
My eyes rolled. “Good to see you paid attention in English, sis.” The torture didn’t end there as she passed the gold-encased lipstick pulled from her makeup case over the table to me. Blue eyes mischievously glimmered as she watched me slip off the lid and inspect the red stick inside.
“Ari has a real fetish for clowns, or so I’ve heard.”
Dominique swiftly reacted and tapped the top of her head with the back of the brush. She wasn’t gentle about it either; Dom had the Jaeger temper that’s for sure.
“Ow, what was that for?” Scarlett whined rubbing the crown of her head. “That’s probably going to bruise.”
I sniggered behind the safety of my hand.
“All that shall bruise is your ego,” Dom growled, waving the pointy end of the pintail comb at her. “Your sister’s nervous enough as it is. Keep it up, and you’ll be the one looking like a circus freak instead. Good luck getting a man then!”
Scarlett shrank down in her seat. “Okay, I’ll stop. I’m sorry, Teddy.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m sure you are. And while I do appreciate the advice, even if in part it was you being nothing more than a nasty cow, I only want to appear alluring, not desperate.”
Scarlett nodded in defeat. “Fair enough, but seriously the red lipstick would look amazing with your dress and nails.”
“I’ll wear it then,” I murmured setting the lipstick beside me.
For the next twenty minutes, I was able to apply my makeup in peace, without any further ribbing. Once finished, I sat back and admired my handiwork in the mirror. “Well?” I asked, pushing the mirror aside.
“Stunning,” remarked Poppy.
“You go, girl. If that doesn’t blow Ari away, well, he’s more of an idiot than I thought,” Dominique assured.
Pushing off my chair, I placed a hand on my dancing stomach and blew out a shaky breath. “What if tonight’s proposition goes wrong? Or Ari laughs at me? Or worse, he rejects me for making him wait this long?”
“You’ll be okay,” Dominique whispered, placing a reassuring hand on my upper arm. “I just happened to overhear along the grapevine; my brother’s just as nervous. He’s worried you’ll reject him.” Whenever it came to gossip, Dom never just happened to overhear anything, she was usually right in the thick of it.
“Oh, that makes me feel better. I think.” Unconvinced, I grimaced. “Regardless of what happens, I am now going to go and finish getting myself ready, so that I am hot enough for Ari not to turn me down!” A girl could dream, couldn’t she?
I padded back into the bedroom and dropped my dressing gown to apply moisturiser to every inch of my body, leaving my skin soft and supple to the touch. Then I sprayed my favourite perfume, Marc Jacobs, Daisy, dotting the delicately alluring scent around the pulse points of my throat, and wrists.
My meticulously planned outfit for the night ahead lay on the bed; black lacy Victoria Secret panties, their delicate lace see-through, giving the slightest of hints to the treasures lying beneath and a simple backless one-shouldered bodycon dress in black. No bra required. Extremely short, the hem barely stopped mid-thigh. I had to say, as I admired myself in the full-length mirror, the fitted dress was definitely worth the expense.
I then moved toward my antique dresser and perched on the chair, slipping a pair of four-inch black strappy diamanté heels over my feet. Cute. I knew the perfect piece of jewellery to complement them too — my square-cut eighteen-carat white gold diamond earrings, a twenty-first birthday present from my grandfather, Barrett McGovern. I pushed the studs into my lobes and took one last look in the mirror before exiting the room to join the others in the kitchen for yet more celebratory glasses of champagne.
“Looking spectacular ladies.” I smiled, handing them each a flute. “Now a toast – here’s to a successful evening – and to hopefully getting laid.”
In our typical manner, we were fashionably an hour late, eventually arriving at the Jaeger’s residence, a sprawling French-inspired mansion residing in the leafy upper-class suburb of Toorak. The town car curved smoothly around the crescent-shaped driveway with our driver halting beside a brightly lit water fountain, it’s centrepiece a mother nursing her child. A sure sign Audrina loved her children I thought.
Dominique clumsily stepped out first. “Oh, whoops! I had better not fall into that.” She laughed loudly, adjusting her fitted cranberry red midi dress.
“I’m so buzzed,” a slurring Poppy announced, sliding across the black leather seat. “That bottle of champagne Audrina had waiting in the car has put me over the edge.” Elegantly swinging her legs and climbing from the car without falling at least, she stood to straighten her short V-neck chiffon daffodil cocktail dress. With her warm, honey blonde hair slicked back and natural makeup highlighting coffee brown eyes, she looked stunning.
“I know what you mean.” God, I was just as drunk. I giggled like one too. Falling out behind her, I was desperately trying not to fall into the fountain myself. Hours spent getting dressed up would’ve been a pointless exercise otherwise. Teetering on high heels while drunk was not a great mix either, making the amble up the cobblestone-paved footpath to the front door quite the tricky task.
Dominique’s parent’s, Jaxson and Audrina stood in the covered breezeway, greeting each guest as they arrived, directing them in through the house and out to the open marquee in the expansive backyard. Ruby red lips mischievously quirked as Audrina embraced each of us.
“Oh, my goodness, girls, you’re sloshed already,” she murmured in her ever-present English accent.
With her alabaster skin and flowing locks of glossy jet-black hair, Audrina had always reminded me of Snow White; classically beautiful. Well, that’s who I’d compared her to as I grew up. Nevertheless, it was a term of endearment she grew to love.
As a small child, whenever our families came together, I’d stand by the doors, eagerly awaiting to see if any forest animals followed her inside. It was a dream that never once took place, quite disheartening really, particularly when you’re only three years old.
“That, Snow White would suggest we drank copious amounts of champagne,” I asserted giggling, returning her embrace. “Which I might add…you just happened to supply.”
She laughed. “In my defence, I only provided one bottle.” Her deep chocolate gaze playfully narrowed, scanning each of us. “But by the looks of you four already, you drank a bottle before you left home.”
“A whole bottle doesn’t go far between four, does it, Daddy?” Dominique insisted, hugging her beloved father.
“Aye, it doesn’t. But then your mother wouldn’t know because she doesn’t like sharing, even with me,” Jaxson dryly agreed, earning a deathly glare from his wife. “You all look positively stunning.” Glowing sapphire blue eyes twinkled as he bent down, kissing each of our cheeks. “You’ll be spending the night trying to run away from those handsome suitors we have here. How in those shoes, I haven’t the slightest? Perhaps I might suggest giving you each a cricket bat to swat them away?”
“No bats needed, Dad. Now promise the girls and me here, you won’t go chasing them off?” she haughtily demanded, grabbing the lapels of his black dinner jacket roughly.
“Now, Dom, the lack of faith in your father’s disheartening. Why on earth would I need to chase any suitor off?” His mouth twitched in wry amusement. Considering the Jaeger’s had lived in Australia for over twenty years, his Northern Irish lilt hadn’t lessened much either. “I’ll just send Ari after them if they dishonour any of you.”
Jaxson