Hostile Makeover by Wendy Wax Read Free Book Online Page A

eyelids. Again.
    Nina picked up the empty carton of ice cream, holding it at arm’s length. “Go get dressed.” She sniffed in Shelley’s general direction. “After you shower, we’re going to Nordstrom’s designer shoe sale; it just started this morning.”
    Shelley waited for her usual thrill at the sound of “shoe” and “sale” in such close proximity, but she didn’t feel so much as a quiver of excitement.
    Nina must have read the panic in her eyes, because she came over, took Shelley by the arm, and led her toward the master bedroom closet. “Don’t worry, Shel. I know you, girl. When you get your first sight of those Weitzmans at thirty percent off, you’re going to snap right out of this. I guarantee it.”
    Nina pulled a pair of black capris and a crop top off of their hangers and pushed them into Shelley’s arms. “In fact, if you can make it through that sale without experiencing a complete recovery, the first pair’s on me.”
    Twenty minutes later they were inside Nordstrom’s and approaching the shoe department. Shelley’s first whiff of leather was promising and so was her first sight of the racks of markdowns, but her sense of relief was fleeting.
    “Blahnik . . . Spade . . . Choo.” Nina repeated the designer names like a mantra while waving the gorgeous spring concoctions under Shelley’s nose.
    “It’s not working!” Shelley tried to keep the desperation out of her voice, but she was completely surrounded by the best shoes in the universe and she didn’t have the slightest urge to whip out her charge card.
    “Don’t give up. Here—” Nina ran to the next department and returned with a Furla handbag designed in the same bright pink and lime green as the sandals she’d just dangled in front of Shelley. “Look at this!”
    Shelley tried to summon the appropriate level of enthusiasm, but it was no use.
    “You’ve got to work with me here, Shel.” Nina dashed to the accessory counter and brought back a chunky necklace and earrings that complemented the shoes and bag perfectly. “What about these? Come on, admit it.” She held them up over the bag. “They’re perfect.”
    Nina was right, but for some reason Shelley just couldn’t get excited about owning them. “I’m sorry, I guess I’m just not in the mood.”
    Nina gasped. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” Her friend studied the Nordstrom sales floor. “What about a spring makeover? The Trish McEvoy counter is right over there. Or we could go upstairs for a bite and then come back down to finish shopping. You are not leaving this store without a purchase; we have reputations to uphold.”
    Shelley eyed her oldest friend, the one who’d preferred making mud pies until she’d been enticed into her first Little Miss Scarlett Boutique. If she didn’t buy something they’d be here all night. “OK.” She forced a cheerful tone. “I’ll take the shoes and the bag. And that pair of Ferragamos. But I think I’ll hold off on the jewelry.”
    Nina’s eyebrow went up.
    “Fine, I’ll take the jewelry, too.”
    “That’s my girl.” Nina walked with Shelley to the register. “And you know what else? I think you should check your messages. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if there was one from Ross Morgan begging you to come back to work. Why, you’re an important part of Schwartz and Associates. In fact, you’re the main Schwartz now.”
    Shelley felt a mild glimmer of interest. Despite her initial misgivings, the shopping and Nina’s company had cheered her up a little. If she kept hiding in her condo eating ice cream, she’d be too big to squeeze out the front door. She needed to go in and set things straight, but a little discreet begging from Ross Morgan would allow her to go back to work with her head up. After all, she had to do
something
every day.
    Handing her purchases to the salesclerk, Shelley located her cell phone.
    There were messages from her mother and, unfortunately, a painfully