Final Choices

"Whatever my sister's tell you, do not believe it. They will be spreading lies to make me look bad." Jeanette finally turned her gaze to look at Ramon. She had been lost in her thoughts, and sadly yes her worry, over this adventure. Not that his sisters were horrible because they weren't. She rather liked them all and had a wonderful time chatting with them at dinner the previous night. But she wasn't sure she could spend hours with them and not come too long for that type of sisterhood.

 Yes, she fell in love with his strong-willed, but short only in height mother and her no-filter style and it was causing pain to her heart that she wouldn't see her again after this trip. And that pain was only doubling at the thought of having a fun-filled day and never having it again. Her thoughts had been swirling in her mind over and over about that since she woke up this morning. Well, if she was honest, they were forming last night on the way back to her room. Ramon had been talking about it, what she thought, and then it just went into a sense of longing.

 "I'll try really hard not to believe everything they tell me, but since they know you so much better, I don't think everything will be lies." He chuckled and took her hand.

 "Are you okay, cara mia? You have been quiet. You are not worried, are you?" She smiled at him and shook her head.

 "No, nothing of that sort; just many things floating around in my head. Some of which is me leaving and I don't want to go. This time has been so great and I hate to return to my life."

 "So stay longer."

 "I wish it was that simple. But like you, I have a job I need to get back to. I have a book signing tour that kicks off in a couple of weeks since the new book drops in just four days. I need to be there for some marketing promos and some recordings."

 "You made sure you had fun before you left for a busier time, is that it?"

 "Pretty much. And though I was, still am, worried about attending the gala, it's a great way to end this trip." Ramon smiled and squeezed her hand.

 "I have an appointment booked for you to get your hair done. I did not do the makeup because I think you look quite beautiful when you do it." Jeanette blushed at that comment. She was picky when people did her makeup and much rather preferred to do it herself anyway.

 "You'd be right on that one actually, I like doing my own anyway." Ramon stopped the car, climbed out, and opened the door for her. She took his hand and smiled.

 "Enjoy this time, Jeanette. They like you and will want to spoil you, so have fun and let them?" She nodded as he kissed her cheek. "I will be by in a couple of hours to pick you up." She watched him leave, took a deep breath, and walked into the shop, surprised to see no one else around. Where was everyone? She couldn't be the only one in the store, could see?

 "Oh, perfect timing, Jeanette," Britannia said as walked out from the back. "Come this way, Esmi is back there, along with Carolina. Is there any color you prefer?"

 "Uh, no, there's not one I can say that looks better on me. I'm not a stylist by any means."

 "Esmi is with her design skills." Jeanette walked into a huge private dressing room, the other two girls sitting on the lounge.

 "Oh, great!" Esmi said as she got up when she saw the ladies walk in. "Most of the dresses at the gala will be long, how about something asymmetrical to show off those legs?"

 "I trust your expert skills. I know nothing about fashion or colors," Jeanette confessed and Esmi waved her hand.

 "No worries. This is my life, I love dressing up ladies. And dressing up my brother's girlfriend is a highlight for me."

 "Oh, he's not my boyfriend, he is just...."

 "A tryst?" Carolina offered, sipping champagne from her glass. "Trust me; you are more than that to him, regardless of what he says. Mom said it last night; Ramon does not take anyone out, especially more than once." Jeanette smiled and ducked her head as Esmi lead her behind a dressing screen.

 "Take everything off and I will see what I brought over. And if I do not have it, Britannia will." Esmi tilted her head, looked Jeanette over, nodded once, and quickly walked away. Jeanette took a steadying breath and started to undress.

 "Did you have fun in Rome?" Esmi asked.

 "I did. He also took me to Pompeii, Venice, and we even went to Athens."

 "He took you all over didn't he?" Jeanette giggled as she peeked her head around at the ladies and nodded.

 "I told him it was too much, but he kept insisting. That man usually gets his way, doesn't he?"

 "It is what he is good at," Esmi chimed in, walking to the dressing screen. "I got an emerald green one and a blue gown; however there is a scarlet one I'd love to try too." Esmi helped Jeanette slip on the green dress, the off the shoulder look highlighted the longer neck and gave Jeanette a sexy feeling she hadn't felt before. She stepped out and the ladies smiled.

 "Oh I love the look, but I am not sure about the green," Britannia told her. "Sapphire tends to wear the blues and the greens. And you know she will be there." Jeanette looked in the mirror and had to grin. Very rarely did she get all dressed up so it was nice to see her in something so fancy.

 "I don't think I could outshine Sapphire in her color and on her home turf. Do you have something maybe gold?"

 "Gold is not a color for you hon, but let me grab the silver one and the red one." Esmi went to the rack and grabbed both dresses. She held the silver one up against Jeanette and shook her head. "I should have just trusted my gut. Let's try the red one."

 "You said you knew Sapphire?" Carolina asked. "How again?"

 "We were good friends growing up. I spent quite a bit of time at her place and she would constantly talk about her home back here. I swore one day I would visit Rome."

 "Has Ramon talked about their closeness at all?" she asked and Jeanette was starting to wish she could be any place but here.

 "Well, no, not exactly. I don't have the best past with her and I tend to, um, not talk about her in the most positive light so it would lead to heated discussions between us. I learned that anything about Sapphire was a topic that was best left not to mention." The girls shared a look but Jeanette didn't catch it as she slipped behind the screen to get the dress on. "Esmi, can you help me?"

 "Of course. My word, that color looks stunning on you. You will have Ramon's jaw-dropping. And he loves the color of red on ladies." Jeanette blushed and stepped out. The skirt was asymmetrical and stopped about mid-thigh but the sheer material that covered the bottom half and covered the legs was open in front to give her plenty of walking room. And the top was off the shoulder with capped sleeves, giving her a rather sheik and sophisticated look.

 She stepped out in the heels Esmi brought as well and the other two ladies gasped. Jeanette walked to the mirror and beamed. She wasn't sure who the woman was that was standing there. She glanced over as Carolina stepped up and pinned her hair back in a high ponytail.

 "Have them curl and pin it up and you will look like a sex kitten. I also have the perfect pair of rubies to give to Ramon for you to borrow." Jeanette turned and looked at the ladies.

 "This is too much guys."

 "Never, Jeanette," Britannia said, taking her hands. "I know you really do think this a simple holiday fling, but to see Ramon smile, to be relaxed and have fun, I will give you anything in my shop." Britannia patted her hands. "Ramon was very young when he thought he found the one woman he could love. But she hurt him and since then Ramon has stayed as far from relationships as he could possibly be.

 "One night stands made up his life and he liked it. He was never seen out and about with one woman more than once. And he sure didn't escort a woman to a high society event." Jeanette listened with bated breath. She wasn't even aware that Ramon had ever loved before; that was something he had kept locked away, even from her.

 "You are already the talk of this family, Jeanette, and I promise that after tonight, you will be the talk of the town. At least with the upper society of the town," Carolina told her, beaming. "I like that someone other than Sapphire's name will be in the spotlight." Jeanette laughed as Carolina rolled her eyes and it was comforting to know that she wasn't alone in clearly disliking the woman. "Now, it is not my business to know, but I have to admit I am curious as I have heard it mentioned."

 "What is that?" Jeanette asked

 "Is my brother some amazing lover because one of the ladies I used to have tea with raved about him without realizing I was his sister." Jeanette couldn't stop the laugh at that image. She was sure the siblings were close, no doubt, but there would always be things you didn't want to hear. Yes, this bonding time with these ladies had been wonderful and she would miss them, even if the talk of Sapphire had made her ill.

 "I don't kiss and tell but because I like you and feel you deserve to know the truth, then yes, he is. I can say that some of our...moments might end up in a story or two so that others can have their hot moments."

 "Please tell me so I make sure to avoid those!" The girls shared another laugh. Then they all turned as the door opened and a tall, brunette hair beauty walked in.

 "Britannia, you can't be closed. I simply must have a dress for tonight and you.." The woman walked to where the girls stood and Jeanette almost lost her balance in her heels. "Jeanette?" Jeanette would know those eyes anywhere; they always seem to follow her.

 "Sapphire; what a pleasure."