Escape With Me (Love With Me 1)

If someone had told her that it was possible to feel this pampered and relaxed from a haircut, she never would have believed them. The price suddenly made much more sense. Cesar washed her hair, giving her a luxurious scalp massage. She had cucumbers over her eyes and paraffin wax on her hands as he worked her hair into a lather.

She could feel her shoulders coming down from by her ears as Cesar worked out tension she didn't even know she had.

Then came the haircut itself. Cesar worked quickly and efficiently, cutting her hair and then styling it up. He worked with curls and braids, twists and pins, all the while keeping Cassie comfortable with easy conversation.

When he was done, she looked like something out of a magazine.

Her long hair swept up to a sparkling pin that dazzled against a dark braid. Curls cascaded down her back. Cassie couldn’t ever get curls like this, but Cesar had made them look effortless. She looked ready for a photo shoot.

And that was just the hair. Cesar left, and a woman named Katrina came in. Katrina transformed Cassie's face into something smooth and feminine without looking like she wore any makeup at all. Katrina used th

e same effortless grace as Cesar to create something stunning.

When they were done, Cassie stared at the woman looking back at her in the mirror. She was stunning. Gorgeous.

She looked worthy of dating a billionaire. She looked worthy of a magazine spread, and she was still wearing just jeans and a t-shirt.

Cesar came back in when Katrina finished.

“Do you like the results?” he asked her, a smile saying he already knew the answer.

“Very much,” Cassie replied. “Now I just need someone to do this for me every day!”

She meant it as a joke, but Cesar looked thoughtful.

“I could probably work you into my schedule,” he mused. “Not the full up-do, but at least the cut. I'm not sure of Katrina's schedule.”

Cassie wasn't sure what to say. The idea of having this kind of lavish treatment every day seemed almost absurd.

“But, there is time for scheduling later,” Cesar said, waving his hand. “We must get you in your dress. Come with me.”

He brought her to a small, intimate room. There were no windows and candlelight flickered from the corners.

“This is usually one of the massage rooms,” Cesar explained. “But, it will work as a changing room for today. Your dress is here.”

Cesar motioned to a hook on the wall at the most beautiful dress Cassie had ever seen.

Stunning dark red lace covered the bust and made thin sleeves. It then cascaded down into a full and sweeping skirt. Just hanging on the wall, the silhouette was beautiful. Cassie hoped it looked as good on her as it did hanging.

Cesar left her to try on the dress. At first, Cassie was almost afraid to touch it. It was akin to art, and she wasn't sure how to put it on. Slowly, she found her courage and slipped the satin and lace skirt over her head. She then realized she should have stepped into it the moment she had to protect her hair.

She managed to get the zipper most of the way up her back, but she couldn't get the last few inches. But, the dress fit. It clung to her curves, and she loved the soft satin sound the skirts made when she walked.

She opened the door to find Cesar waiting outside. His eyes went wide as he did an up and down of her body.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, shaking his head with awe.

“I can't get the zipper,” Cassie informed him.

Cesar quickly pulled the zipper the rest of the way up for her. “Come see,” he said, stopping once again to admire her. He motioned her to a full-length mirror.

The woman in the mirror was a movie star. She was a model. She was a fairy tale queen who any mortal would fall instantly in love with only a glance.

“Wow.” Cassie could scarcely believe it was her. “Amazing what the right dress can do,” she whispered.

“The dress only highlights beauty,” Cesar informed her. He carefully smoothed a flyaway strand of hair. “The beauty is you.”

Cassie blushed a crimson to match her dress, but Cesar didn't seem to notice.