Skinny Dipping (The Au Pairs 2)

Doll rink? Mara was confused. Doll tint? What the hell was Mitzi saying? Dog fink? It was hard to follow her rat-a-tat delivery.

"I'm Anna Perry's assistant," Laurie cut in.

"Sure. Whatever," Mitzi said as she motioned the delivery men to grab the rest of the bags from the truck.

"Mara is an au pair," Laurie said indignantly.

"An au pair! How cute! Groovy!" Mitzi said. "Listen, Mara, I've got a hot new designer who wants to dress you--several, in fact--and these are all gifts for you to wear around town."

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"For me?" Mara said, watching the guys set down bag after bag on the grass next to the driveway.

"Sure, sure, sure! Just make sure to mention their names when people ask you what you're wearing. Shoshanna sent her whole summer collection. She loved the photos of you in her dress last year, and she thinks you might like a few pieces. Okay to just leave them here?"

"This is really nice, Mitzi, but uh, I don't know."

"Wait! Wait! Best part. Almost forgot." Mitzi grabbed a black velvet case from her oversized Birkin bag. "A gift. Open."

Mara opened the case. Inside was a strand of luminescent pearls nestled on a velvet pillow.

"Mikimotos. They're only the cultured ones, sorry. But if you could remember to mention them if you can ..." Mitzi smiled.

"I don't know if I can accept these," Mara said nervously.

"What are you talking about? Please! You deserve it! You're so fabulous! God, why can't I get my hair to do that?" Mitzi said, sticking out her tongue and pulling at her hair. Mara had never met anyone as full of energy and enthusiasm as Mitzi Goober. She was like your new best friend, cheerleader, and guru all in one. She was giving Mara a headache.

As the messengers began to unload a second rolling rack, Mara tried to get them to put it back on the truck, with Madison and Zoe, wide-eyed at all the loot, at her heels. "Mitzi! Wait! Really, I can't!"

"Nonsense! Do you know how hard it is to find someone who

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fits into a sample size? Please. It would be such a great favor to my designers. They are your biggest fans."

Fans? She was an au pair who'd posed for a few pictures, and now she had a following?

Mitzi rattled a key chain in front of Mara's nose. "What are you driving? That Range Rover over there? It's so bulky, don't you think?"

"It's the Perrys', actually."

"I'd really love it if you could test-drive this new BMW convertible," Mitzi said, thrusting the keys into Mara's hands and motioning to a shiny black car on the driveway.

"A car?" Mara said, her mouth hanging open.

"For the whole summer. Every day we'll get someone to fill the gas tank and put some treats in there for you. Fun-fun-fun! So you won't have to worry."

Mara stared at the BMW keys. This was crazy. And exciting. She could actually keep all this stuff?

Zoe' and Madison had begun rifling through the racks. "Oooh, look at this!" Madison said, holding up a black jersey Gucci halter top. "Pretty!" Zoe said as she wrapped herself in a lacy shawl.

"Wait! Mitzi!" Mara said, running to catch up with the publicist, who had hopped into a vintage Citroen and was pulling out of the driveway. "I just--I don't know if this is right," Mara said, leaning in the window.

Mitzi put a hand to Mara's mouth, smushing her lipstick. "Dollink!"

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Doe wink? Door blink? Mara wondered.