Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [50]
Looking up, she saw Robin and offered the other woman a smile. Though quiet, Robin was one of the nicest of the women left in the house, the other one being Sukie.
“I guess so,” Tori replied, wondering why Robin couldn’t read the wicked truth all over her.
I had headboard bangin’ sex with the man all night last night, you’re dang right it’s fun to be alone with him!
“Would you like me to help you pick out something to wear?” Robin said as she strolled into the room and sat on the edge of the other wicker love seat. She lowered herself into it so gracefully. Good to see those etiquette lessons had rubbed off on somebody around here. “Or I’d love to help you do your makeup.”
Tori gulped. Because one thing that hadn’t rubbed off on Robin were the makeup lessons. The other woman still wore inches of the stuff on every exposed bit of her face and neck. Tori suspected Robin must have a bad skin condition or something, because Ginny, Robin’s roommate, swore she even wore the makeup to bed every night.
Too bad, really. Robin wasn’t exactly a beauty, but she was nice and ladylike. Not pretty, exactly. More like what her old granny would call a handsome woman. Regal. Tall and commanding respect. Plus, she had that sexy throaty voice most men liked, and a good sense of humor.
Not for the first time, Tori wondered why on earth Robin had decided to appear on this TV makeover show. Because as far as she could tell, Robin hadn’t needed much making over from the minute she walked through the door.
Finally, seeing the look of expectation on Robin’s face, Tori remembered her offer. “Uh, thanks anyway, but Evelyn’s going to do it.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t ’spect I’ll even be allowed to choose my own underwear.”
Robin nodded in commiseration. “Too bad. But I’m sure she’ll pick out something nice.” Then she leaned close to whisper, as if afraid the cameras and microphones would overhear—which they would— ”Just make sure you go over your makeup again after she’s done. She goes way too light on the eyes.”
Tori bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing as she stared into Robin’s eyes, which were accentuated by a thick black, chipmunk eyeliner ring and the longest, fakest-looking lashes she’d ever seen. “I’ll remember that.”
“Sukie and I are so excited for you,” Robin said with a big toothy smile that dominated her lean face. “We know you’re the only one who might actually have a chance with Dr. Bennett, given how…close…you two seem to be.”
Tori’s jaw dropped open. “What?”
Robin waved an airy hand. “Don’t act so surprised. We’ve seen how he looks at you. And how you look at him. You’re not in this for the money, are you?”
Shaking her head, Tori remained silent.
“We could tell. It’s so romantic.” Then she laughed. “Of course, on the practical side, a million dollars would provide a very nice honeymoon.”
A million dollars. The prize for getting Drew to say he loved her by Wednesday. Tori had nearly forgotten about it. She’d been so focused on the other women trying to get her man that she’d lost sight of why they were trying to get him.
“The money isn’t important.”
Robin gave a sad-looking nod. “I know. That’s what makes it so funny. You’re the one who’s got a real shot at it, and you don’t care about the prize. While everyone else wants nothing but the money and he won’t give them the time of day.”
Tori noticed an obvious omission. “What about you? What are you after?”
“Not him,” Robin said quickly.
“Good,” Tori said, feeling slightly relieved that at least one woman here wasn’t after Drew. “But that makes you the only one.”
Robin reached over and covered both of Tori’s clasped hands with one of her own. “It’s okay, sweetie, he has never once looked at anyone else here with the pleasure he always shows when you’re around.”
“Thank you,” Tori said, genuinely touched by Robin’s niceness and support.
Robin squeezed her hands, then pulled away and sat back in her own seat.
“So,” Tori said, “what do you