Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [73]
She’d never seen anything that looked better. Sucking in a deep breath, she threw herself into his arms. Hugging him tightly, she said, “I’m sorry I left. We have a lot to talk about. I’ve learned so much. I know I can’t blame you for what’s wrong if you don’t even know what’s happening.”
He kissed her softly, cupping her face in one hand to stare at her with those deep brown eyes. “Welcome back. And we do have some talking to do. You won’t be running out on me again anytime soon, will you?”
Burt, who’d been standing there watching them with a knowing smile on his face, stepped over and clapped Digg on the back. “Well, you know I’m counting on my daughter to be part of my next few projects. I need her help…in a few areas.”
For the first time, Jacey noticed a troubled frown on her father’s face, but she didn’t have time to evaluate it. Right now she had to introduce him to the man she loved.
After she did, they shook hands and Digg murmured, “I don’t know if I can take these long separations. We might have to do something about that.”
Jacey was distracted by the arrival of some of the girls from the show, so she didn’t have time to question that funny twinkle in Digg’s eye, or the way he and her father exchanged a secretive look. Swinging her camera up and into action, she focused on Sukie and Ginny, who’d arrived together and were being escorted by two studs Burt had hired for the evening. Judging by the way Ginny was rubbing the arm of hers, there might be some romance here tonight, after all.
“Is our lady fair here yet?” Burt asked, whispering softly.
Jacey shook her head, zooming in on the girls as they entered the ballroom and oohed and aahed over the decorations. There were already a number of people here; invitations had been sent out all over the place and a lot of New Yorkers who’d have otherwise spent the holiday home alone had ventured out for a festive Christmas Eve.
Sukie didn’t seem to mind not having won. Jacey figured she’d been shocked just to make it into the final two. They all had been, once Tori had removed herself from the running.
In the end, the crown had gone to Robin, by a five to one vote. Only old Mr. Halloway had gone the other way, mumbling something about not entirely trusting Robin. Since Robin was one of the few Jacey had actually liked, she’d ignored the old man’s mutterings.
“Ahh, here she is,” Burt said, clapping his hands together as Robin came in on the arm of yet another stud.
She looked beautiful, tall and slim and so elegant in her long sapphire-blue gown. It was tailored to deemphasize her rather broad shoulders and flatter her slim waist and hips. And she looked so happy, Jacey almost wanted to clap for her.
This reality show thing had been pretty stupid. But it had had its moments. This was shaping up to be one of them.
As the party progressed, Robin met with some of the members of the press who’d been invited. She did on-the-spot interviews, and agreed to make the rounds on some network morning shows. Then, at close to midnight, Burt took the stage and cleared his throat to make the final announcement about Robin’s triumph.
The writers had written his speech, so it went off like clockwork, including his grand flourishing bow as he concluded, “And now please welcome the lady of them all, Miss Robin Calvin.”
Robin was blushing, tears streaming down her face as she walked toward the small stage set up on the dance floor. She continued to cry, causing her makeup to smear down in thick black streaks as she was escorted up the steps.
“Please accept this as a token of our very high esteem, Miss Calvin,” Burt said. He extended a velvet box, which Jacey knew held a sapphire necklace worth a cool ten grand.
Robin accepted it, kissed Burt on the cheek, then turned to face her clapping audience.
It