Free Hero Book 3 - The Battle: Military Romance by M. S. Parker Page B

fatale. Beautiful!” Her accent was faint, just enough to give her an exotic sound.
    I sighed and managed a smile for her. “Mia, I'm sorry. Just a little problem with my staff.” I took a slow, deep breath. “But a few seconds in this paradise and I already feel better.”
    “Better? No, my dear, we will make you feel glamorous, then all your cares will disappear,” Mia said.
    The door opened and I jumped, spinning around. Haze's brown eyes met mine across the room, and relief overcame the fear that had spiked in me. I was safe. The shop was secure, and Haze was on high alert. As much as I wanted to be brave, I knew it wouldn’t be some instant thing I'd just get over.
    The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. What if La Pomme had just hired a backroom worker and he was waiting to snatch me from the dressing room and haul me out the back? Had Haze thought to check that out?
    Mia took my arm, ignoring me when I jerked. She patted my arm and gave me another smile. “I have given most of my staff the morning off. Only my top workers who have been with me for years are here. The main floor dressing room is yours. Now, let us try on some dresses.”
    I squeezed her hand, grateful for the accommodations as well as the consideration. My story had been plastered all over the news and social media for days now. Grandfather wanted me to go out for me, but I knew there was another reason why tonight was so important. Not only did I have to show the kidnappers they hadn't taken anything from me or diminished me in any way, I had to show the world.
    And the first step to that was finding a killer dress.
    The first one was black, a tight sheath with spaghetti straps. Mia paired it with a pair of sharp patent leather heels. As Mia praised the fit, Haze glanced over then looked away.
    The next dress was a vintage Dior. A strapless corset in dove gray, fitted above scalloped layers of black chiffon. Each scallop was edged with black rhinestones and the entire ombre effect made me look like I was floating. I twirled around, but Haze didn't even blink.
    I frowned.
    “Something a little more eye-catching?” Mia asked.
    “How about jaw-dropping,” I said.
    Mia flashed a wicked smile and sorted through the rack of dresses. She pulled out an emerald green dress and my breath caught in my throat. The velveteen fabric was heavy and felt wonderful against my skin. The color made my hair flame and the blue of my eyes pop.
    “Vintage Yves Saint Laurent,” Mia said, her dark eyes glittering as I changed into it. “The wrap dress suits your curves. Full length for formal, but with a wicked high leg slit.”
    The neckline plunged in an open v almost to my waist, while the rest of the dress clung to my hips and the slit ran high on my left thigh. Mia paired it with delicate gold heels that gave me another four inches of height. When I stepped out to the three-way mirror, Haze's eyes locked onto me. I posed in front of the mirror, loving the combination of long, demure sleeves with the revealing neckline and dangerous amount of leg. I could feel the heat of Haze's gaze and knew without looking that he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off me.
    I looked over at Mia. “This is the one, but I'll take the others too.”

    I was disappointed as I came down the stairs to see Haze wearing his reflective sunglasses on the day of the movie premiere. The emerald green dress was going to cause a sensation on the red carpet, I knew, but it was really Haze I wanted to knock on his ass.
    “And they say wishes don't come true,” an unfamiliar deep male voice said.
    Before I could panic, Grandfather spoke, “Leighton, I'd like you to meet my newest discovery, Bastian.”
    Right. Movie star.
    He was devastatingly handsome with dark brown hair, a chiseled jaw, and a dimple that appeared when he smiled, which he did now. He held out his hand to me and I took it. Instead of shaking it, he raised my hand and brushed his lips across my knuckles.
    “When