Deeper Than Dreams by Jessica Topper Read Free Book Online Page A

the look, but her outlook still needs help. Perhaps if she had the master makeover manipulators on her side . . . ?” Liz shrugged and capped the lipstick once more. “Maybe she’d leave that sad excuse for a husband.”
    â€œI have a feeling it’s slightly more complicated than that,” I said. But thanked Mindy just the same as she passed us the business card for the show’s producer. We chatted some more about our favorite episodes, and Mindy regaled us with stories from the inner sanctum of the television studio.
    â€œI’ve got a tip to share,” she said, staring into my eyes. I know she had to do that in order to smudge the perfect amount of eyeliner above my lash line, but it still felt like Mindy Carmichael was looking deep into my soul. “Channel your inner mermaid.”
    â€œMy inner . . . say what now?” Here I thought she was going to give me some top-secret cosmetic intel, beyond making a fish-face when applying bronzer, or refrigerating your lipstick.
    â€œThink mermaid when you get in and out of the limo.” A few more deep stares, a few more light strokes, and she stepped away to view her work. “The first time I rode in one, I ducked in headfirst. E! network had the red carpet exclusive on my big sequined butt.” She laughed, twirling her eye pencil through the sharpener before using her hands for emphasis. “Not glamorous in wide-screen HD, believe me.”
    Up until that moment, I hadn’t thought about a limo. Or much about a red carpet or cameras of any kind. Instantly, my palms began to sweat and my mouth dried to a pucker. “Thanks,” I managed, as she began to prime and plump my lips.
    â€œYou’ve already got that mermaid allure going on,” she added. She pressed her own lips together, prompting me to do the same.
    â€œYou think?”
    â€œTotally. You’ve got a confident, beautiful energy. But you’ve got an alluring mystery about you, too. Very muse-worthy, Kat . . . with the emerald eyes.” She gave me a wink.
    It seemed Adrian’s new song had yet another vote.
    She pressed a tissue to my mouth, but instead of blotting, she dusted powder right on top of it to set the color, beforewhisking it away. “My little secret for perfect lips. Velvety and totally kissable.”
    â€œKissable is crucial,” I heard Adrian murmur.
    â€œHow long have you been standing there?” I demanded, smiling up at him. All he could do was raise his shoulders and hands in a helpless gesture and grin. Liz gestured for him to come closer, but he declined, claiming he didn’t quite trust himself.
    â€œWe know Adrian has a weakness for sirens.” Mindy referenced another of his songs with a wink. She gave a few more joyous sweeps of her big brush and stepped back for the last time.
    â€œI love using makeup to help transform a woman’s attitude about herself. It’s all about enhancing her natural beauty, and empowering her to embrace it. But you, sister.” She shook her head. “You’ve been rocking it all along. Look at you!” She presented me with a mirror. My expertly made up eyes widened. She had played up all my strengths in ways I never could have. Coupled with Liz’s dynamic ’do, I was certainly on my way to being red-carpet-ready.
    â€œThank” came with my inhalation, and “you” was exhaled happily. My eyes danced across all of their faces in turn, including my brother’s, since he had finished kitchen duty and joined us.
    â€œIt was Mindy’s idea,” Adrian supplied. “I ran into her in the elevator the other day.”
    â€œYeah, he was carrying his tuxedo from the dry cleaner’s . . . and I had to ask what the occasion was. I figured he wasn’t going to wear
that
on stage!” Mindy’s teasing was affectionate and adoring, like a little sister’s.
    Adrian’s eyes