Alice hesitated. “That’s okay, I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Come on,” Deanna grinned gamely. “With your face, that gorgeous skin, and that dream makeup kit in there? I’ll be in seventh heaven.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh my gosh, I’ll be like a kid in a candy store,” Deanna insisted, coming and taking Alice’s hand. She led her to the bathroom. “Now you just sit down right there,” she said, urging Alice to one of two stools pulled up before a large vanity. She spun Alice so that she faced away from the large mirror and began scrutinizing the contents of the makeup kit on the counter. She picked up a small tub of powder and selected a brush.
“Okay, let’s make some magic.”
Alice was wary and bemused at first, but soon relaxed under the influence of Deanna’s warm banter. Watching the older woman, she grew fascinated. She liked observing Deanna’s graceful hands as she wielded wands, brushes, and blending sponges so expertly. She’d never really had anyone dote on her before, or touch her with soft warm fingertips.
Like a mother would fuss over a daughter.
Besides, Alice could understand why Deanna had gone into the hospitality business. She was very easy to talk to. Topics that could be potentially uncomfortable—such as Alice’s relationship with Dylan Fall, or how they knew one another—just never seemed to come up. Alice understood it wasn’t because Deanna was stupid, but just the opposite. Deanna skillfully and subtly wove their conversation, avoiding uncomfortable topics.
“Do you ever miss working at Durand?” Alice wondered as Deanna blended her blush with a silky soft brush.
“Once in a while. Not enough to want to ever go back. I love being my own boss.”
A thought occurred to Alice. “You worked in human resources, right? I don’t suppose Sebastian Kehoe was there when you were there?”
“Of course. Kehoe has been at Durand for ages. He’s the top man in human resources globally. He had his thirtieth anniversary at Durand just before I left, and that was over three years ago,” Deanna said as she exchanged some powder for some eye shadow. “Eyelids closed, please.”
Deanna began applying the shadow. “He doesn’t really look old enough to have been there that long,” Alice mused.
“Kehoe? He’s held up well, but he’s probably fifty-seven, fifty-eight? He rose up the ranks at a young age and has held mighty sway ever since. Of course, he’s an exercise- and health-aholic. Completely rigid about his daily routine. No,” Deanna said firmly as she transferred her attentions to Alice’s other eyelid. “I definitely don’t miss having a boss.”
Perhaps Deanna hadn’t intended to allow the wry, sharp edge into her tone, because she fluidly changed the subject as she picked up some mascara.
“Look down at the floor,” she directed. “Did Mr. Fall tell you that Twelve Oaks and Castle Durand were designed by the same man?” she asked as she whisked the mascara wand over Alice’s lashes.
“Yes. Twelve Oaks is like a miniature version of it, almost,” Alice said.
“Alike in nearly every way. Okay, look up now,” Deanna said with the air of someone concentrating on a task. “The castle and Twelve Oaks are alike down to the crown moldings, the type of marble used for the fireplaces and secret cubbyholes.”
“You’ve been to the castle before?” Alice asked.
“I have,” Deanna said as she began applying the mascara to Alice’s other eye. She straightened after a moment and picked up a tube of lipstick. “I wasn’t a Camp Durand manager,” she said, referring to the class of elite managers culled from the Camp Durand experience. “But I was invited to the castle for a human resources retreat when Mr. Fall first took residence there. He knew my husband and I had bought Twelve Oaks and about the houses’ common history, so he was kind enough to let me explore to my heart’s content. Okay, blot,” she directed as she held a tissue up to Alice’s lips. Alice was confused at first, but then pressed her lips gently to the tissue to mute the cosmetic.
“All finished,” Deanna said with an air of satisfaction as she regarded Alice. She spun her on the stool.
Alice stared into the mirror. She blinked, her brow crinkling slightly in confusion. Who was that woman? Her skin looked flawless and glowing, her lips pouting and sensual, the rich berry color mak
ing them appear as full and ripe as summer fruit.
And her eyes. Alice was stunned. She’d had no idea that they were so large, or that rich brown and subtle peach shadows could make the midnight-blue shade of the irises so stunning by contrast. Everything Deanna had done with the cosmetics had been to subtly accentuate her features, to highlight them.
While all Alice had ever used cosmetics for was to obfuscate.
“You’re beautiful,” Deanna said smugly. “Absolutely gorgeous.” She picked up a comb from the vanity and brushed back Alice’s short hair behind her ears. It’d almost dried since her shower. When Alice combed her hair in a similar manner, it looked merely convenient and shorts-and-T-shirt-ready. When Deanna did it, she looked polished and sophisticated.
Her. Alice.
“You’re naturally a redhead, aren’t you?”
Alice blinked in surprise at Deanna’s question. She peered closer in the mirror. “Can you see my roots?”
“No, it’s not that. They aren’t too bad. It’s your eyebrows. I see you have an eyebrow pencil there. Would you like me to darken your brows?” Deanna asked matter-of-factly.