Playing With Pleasure (22 page)

Frustration, anger, and dread clashed inside of Paige. “What am I going to do now? That corset is my finale and what completes the collection. It’s
the
piece that everyone’s anticipating,” she insisted.

Raina and Jillian, who’d been standing nearby, came to her side. When they asked what was wrong, Kendall quickly explained the situation.

“Can you have one of the other models wear it?” Jillian suggested.

Paige shook her head, her distress increasing. “There is no way those size-two models can fill out that couture corset, and it won’t cinch up tight enough. It was designed for a woman with full breasts and curvaceous hips.”

The MC of the runway show came backstage announcing, “Ten minutes until show time, ladies! You need to get lined up! As soon as I introduce the Couture Corset line, the first model will start down the runway. Paige, as the designer, you’ll come out last to greet the crowd, along with one last walk-through with the models.”

A fresh surge of panic sliced through Paige.

“I have an idea,” Raina said quickly. “Paige,
you
need to wear that corset.”

Paige stared at her friend as if she’d lost her mind. “I can’t,” she automatically blurted.

“Yes, you can,” Jillian said, reinforcing Raina’s suggestion and bolstering Paige’s confidence at the same time. “You don’t have a model to do it, and you know that corset fits you perfectly.”

Yes, it did, since Paige had originally sized it for herself, then hired a model with her same measurements. But the thought of walking out in that piece of lingerie, in front of hundreds of people, made a wave of nausea sweep over her, and all her insecurities rose to the surface.

“What better way to show everyone out there that corsets are for all shapes and sizes than to wear it yourself?” Raina asked, adding to the argument. “Those brides sitting in the audience aren’t all skinny runway models. Most of them are average-size women, and they deserve to see that they can embrace their curves and be sexy for their man.”

Paige’s throat grew tight as she looked at the friends who were rallying around her, supporting her, so confident in her ability to pull this off. And suddenly, Paige knew she had to do it, because she
refused
to let her sister win at whatever hateful game she was currently playing.

“I need your help getting into that corset,” Paige said to Raina and Jillian. “And we need to do it super quick before the show starts.”

Jillian grinned at her, and the three of them whisked her away to the dressing area, where they helped strip Paige out of her current outfit, then into the corset and other accessories. Raina called over the makeup artist and hair team, and they bustled around Paige for a few minutes. When they were done, her three friends let out a collective gasp of awe.

“Oh my God, Paige,” Jillian said as she turned her toward one of the mirrors in the small room. “
Look
at you.”

Paige blinked at her reflection, barely recognizing the woman staring back at her. The gorgeous couture corset accentuated her curves in the best possible way, the white silk brocade, along with all the crystal embellishments, gleaming against her creamy skin. There was a peek of white satin panties, and the pair of white lace-top stockings made her legs look smooth, slender, and long. She’d embellished a pair of four-inch heels in crystals and pearls to match the corset, the exquisite shoes sparkling like diamonds on her feet. Glittering jewelry pieces shone from her ears, her wrists, and a double strand of pearls wrapped around her neck.

She felt and looked like a naughty version of Cinderella.

The entire ensemble, combined with her auburn hair styled into soft, shiny waves over her shoulders and down her back and dramatic makeup that emphasized her green eyes and glossy lips, was absolutely stunning on her.

From the front of the stage, Paige heard the MC announce her Couture Corset bridal line and knew the first model had started down the runway.

“Come on, let’s get you in line,” Raina said as they rushed out of the dressing area.

“You work it, girl,” Kendall said, giving her a last-minute pep talk so Paige had no time to give into the fear and back out of this crazy idea.

“You got this, Paige!” Jillian added, then gave her a gentle push toward the runway. “And smile!”

With one last deep breath for courage, Paige lifted her head high, squared her shoulders, and walked out onto the fifteen-foot-long platform that seemed to stretch on forever. As soon as she came into view, the audience let out a collective gasp of surprise and astonishment that was heard above the music. The spotlights and abundance of flash photography blinded her to most of the crowd, but she was able to see the bridal vendors and VIPs sitting at the edge of the runway, who looked up at her with enthusiastic smiles and excitement in their eyes that bolstered her confidence.

Her fears and insecurities fled as she embraced the moment. This was everything she’d been working so hard to achieve, and there was no denying the sense of satisfaction that filled her at knowing that this was
her
moment, and nobody, not even her stepsister, could take that away from her.

She stopped at the end of the runway and glanced down, almost frowning when she saw Raina’s fiancé, Logan, sitting in the front row, with Jase beside him. One more seat over, and her gaze met Sawyer’s, who was staring up at her with a combination of lust and pride in his dark gaze. He was here!
Of course he was here
, her mind chastised, because she hadn’t been so sure.

Her heart leapt crazily, then pumped furiously in her chest as he gave her a grin so hot and sexy it was nearly illegal in a public place. He stood up, clapping hard, and the entire audience followed suit, whistling and cheering in a standing ovation. The rest of her models came out to join her on the runway, and the applause increased in volume.

The reception for her bridal collection was better than she’d anticipated, but it was the man in front of her that mattered the most. The amazing man who made her feel beautiful and wonderful and sexy. The incredible man who loved
her
.

After a few minutes, Paige and her models returned backstage, which quickly turned into a crazy scene jam-packed with people wanting to take pictures and congratulate her, along with the bridal shop owners already expressing interest in her collection. There were even a few women who came up to Paige to thank her for creating such gorgeous corsets for brides who loved their voluptuous curves.

It was overwhelming insanity, and when she saw Sawyer trying to make his way through the throng of people, she started forward, meeting him halfway, her heart filling with love. He caught her up in his arms, and right there in front of everyone, he kissed her—a quick, hot melding of lips that was filled with desire and so much more emotion.

“Thank you for coming to the show,” she said once he lifted his head and set her back on her feet.

“There was no way I’d miss it,” he said gruffly. “You were breathtaking out there. And so brave and confident and sexy. I am so damn proud of you.”

She grinned at his words, feeling lighter than air, even though she felt pulled in a dozen different directions at the moment. “I need to change before the after party so I don’t ruin this corset. How about I meet you there?”

He nodded, though she could tell he was reluctant to let her go. Paige understood, because she felt the same way. She had so much to say to him, but this venue wasn’t the time or place, and she knew any kind of talk about
them
would have to wait until later.

Once he was gone, the backstage gradually cleared out so the models, and Paige, could change. Fifteen minutes later, she was dressed in black slacks and a purple off-the-shoulder blouse and walking into the private party that Raina had put together for her. Guests were already drinking champagne and enjoying the desserts, but all Paige could see was Sawyer. He was talking to the guy friends he’d brought with him to the show, along with her best girlfriends. He glanced up as if sensing her presence, met her gaze with a smile, then started toward her.

Halfway there, his eyes shifted to something behind her, and a startling dark look transformed his features. Unsure what had caused such an abrupt change, Paige glanced over her shoulder and saw that Ashley had just walked into the party, uninvited, though she acted as though she had every right to be there.

Paige noticed that her group of friends—who also knew that Ashley had tried,
unsuccessfully
, to sabotage her show—were watching her stepsister’s approach with worried looks on their faces.

“I’ll take care of her,” she heard Sawyer say, his tone vibrating with anger.

Paige shook her head at Sawyer and touched a hand to his chest to stop him from following through on the threat. She was so tired of Ashley’s shit, so tired of her trying to ruin her happiness at every turn. It was ending, here and now.

“No,
I’ll
take care of her,” she said, knowing it had to be done.

Turning around, Paige started toward Ashley, stopping the vindictive woman before she could make her way into the party and cause another embarrassing scene in front of her guests.

“You’re not welcome here, Ashley,” Paige said, trying to keep things civil. “This is a private party.”

She just laughed, the sound as ugly as her personality. “Do you know how ridiculous you looked out there on the runway in that stupid corset?”

Paige knew better, and there was nothing that Ashley could say to bring her down. Not anymore. “I’m done with you, Ashley,” she said, knowing she had no choice but to cut her out of her life.

A bitter sneer curled her lips. “You can’t be done with me,” Ashley said. “I’m your sister.”

“No, you were
never
my sister,” Paige said, not backing down for a second. “You were someone I had to live with because my father married your mother. A mean girl who thought it was fun to torment me and break me down so you could feel good about yourself. And now that my father is gone, I have no ties or obligations to you.”

Ashley’s hands fisted at her sides, and her gaze flared with hostility. “You don’t deserve any of this attention,” she said bitterly. “And as for Sawyer, he’ll leave you as soon as someone thinner and prettier comes along, and then you’ll have
nothing
.”

Paige actually felt a moment of pity for Ashley, because thanks to what Melissa had said last weekend, Paige now understood that her stepsister’s insecurities and anger were a result of her own father walking away from her and never choosing to be a part of her life. Ashley wanted Paige to be just as miserable as she was, and Paige refused to give her that power any longer.

“That’s not my future, Ashley,” Paige said steadily. No, Ashley would be the one always alone.

Ashley seemed to grow more furious with every second that passed. “You will always know that Sawyer cheated on you with
me
, and you’ll always wonder if he’ll do it again.”

Paige felt so remarkably calm, despite the fact that Ashley was trying desperately to provoke her. “I don’t care what happened in the past with you and Sawyer. I trust him, and there is nothing you can say or do that will ever change that,” she said truthfully. “I need you to leave
now
, and if you come near me again, I’ll have no choice but to have you served with a restraining order.”

Ashley glared and opened her mouth to say something, but Sawyer’s friend Jase was suddenly there, grabbing Ashley’s arm in an unrelenting grip. “I’ll be happy to escort her out of the building for you,” he said with a bad-boy grin and guided Ashley back toward the door, giving her no choice but to follow.

When Ashley was gone, everything inside of Paige felt lighter, freer. Like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. She turned back around, and Sawyer closed the distance between them, a worried look creasing his brow.

“Are you okay?” he asked gruffly.

Paige glanced just beyond Sawyer, seeing the people who were the most important in her life. The best girlfriends in the world, who built her up, were always there for her, and accepted her for who she was, inside and out. The kind who empowered one another, like
real
sisters should. And Sawyer, who made her feel beautiful, like she could do anything in this world as long as he was by his side. Sawyer, so patient. Sawyer, the man she loved without question and wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

This group was her family, and Sawyer, he was her future.

Paige’s heart overflowed with emotion and an abundance of love as she looked back at Sawyer.

He wanted to know if she was okay. She smiled at him and answered, “Actually, I’ve never been better.”

*     *     *

It was late
afternoon by the time Paige was done for the day—with the runway show, the after party, and the cleanup, which Sawyer helped with, as well. As much as he was dying to be completely alone with her, he bided his time. Today was
her
day, and she deserved to enjoy every second of it.

Since Summer had driven Paige to the bridal expo, Sawyer was able to drive her home. As they walked into her apartment, she floated on air, her happiness and exhilaration tangible. She was high on success, and he absolutely loved the look on her. The flush on her face, the sparkle in her eyes, and the elated smile on her face were sexy as hell.

He set down the bags of runway stuff he’d carried upstairs for her, resisting the urge to sweep her off to the bedroom to celebrate with her in a whole different way. They hadn’t had the time to talk,
really talk
, all afternoon. Once Jase had escorted Ashley out of the after party, Paige had been inundated with attention from all the VIPs. Wanting her to feel free to talk to everyone, he’d watched her work the room from the sidelines, so impressed with her business savvy and that dazzling personality that had new clients and high-end bridal designers eating out of the palm of her hand. There was no doubt in his mind that this was just the beginning of her business becoming a well-known brand name.

She dropped her purse onto the couch and exhaled a deep sigh that was filled with contentment and the last traces of excitement still coursing through her.