Carolyn Hector - A Tiara Under The Tree

“Why wouldn’t she get any of your dresses?”

“Conflict of interest,” Lexi’s assistant answered.

“Sorry, let me make the introductions,” said Lexi. “Dominic, this is Kenzie Swayne. She’s my right-hand woman for the pageant.”

Kenzie, all of five-three, stepped forward and extended her hand for a firm shake. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Crowne. I’ve been meaning to stop by your garage. You realize it was once the city jail?”

“I did not,” said Dominic. He flexed his hand to revive the circulation. “You’ll have to tell me about it.”

“Just not today,” said Lexi. “I have a limited amount of time.”

Dominic glanced down at Lexi’s protruding pregnant belly. “How far along are you?”

“Seven months,” Lexi said with a shake of her blond head. “But that’s not why there’s no time. I’ve got to turn the reins over to Kenzie.”

“Because of Waverly?”

“Exactly,” Lexi and Kenzie chorused.

Scratching the back of his head, Dominic sighed. “I don’t understand. I didn’t mean for you to leave your duties as the pageant director, Lexi. I don’t understand what the big deal is.” He stood uncomfortably as Kenzie gave him a blank stare. After a half second or more, she blinked in disbelief. “What’d I say?” he asked.

Lexi pushed Kenzie playfully on the shoulder. “Kenzie is just in shock to find someone who clearly doesn’t know about Waverly Leverve.”

Leverve—that’s right. She did tell him her last name. Hell, it didn’t matter. Like he told Waverly last night, her last name would change soon enough. Dominic squared his shoulders, not sure how to take Kenzie’s question. “I know her now.”

“Then you know she was stripped of her crown a few weeks ago?” Kenzie asked.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Lexi countered. “It wouldn’t be ethical for me to stay on board if Waverly is going to enter my contest. Rumors would spread that I fixed it due to our closeness. I used to coach her, you see.”

“Like Little League?”

Kenzie scoffed. Her mouth dropped open. “You’ve seriously never heard of Waverly? The dethroning, the memes?”

“Oh my God, the memes,” Lexi reiterated with a shake of her head. “They’re getting worse,” she said to Kenzie, who nodded.

Maybe that’s what Waverly tried to show him last night. Dominic held his hand up. “Look, I’ve worked on cars my whole life. I can take one look at a piece of metal that’s been through the wringer and recreate it as a beautiful piece of art. I don’t need to see where Waverly came from. I know what I see now. I don’t need any memes.”

“Are you comparing Waverly to a hunk of junk?” Kenzie asked.

“Not at all.” Dominic chuckled. She was beyond just beautiful. She was captivating and breathtaking. “Whatever happened in her past, I will restore justice.”

Lexi offered Dominic a sweet smile, almost motherly. “And for that, I can’t be any more grateful, which is why I need to step down, to make sure no one can question Waverly’s victorious return to the crown.”

While the three of them agreed their main focus was on Waverly, Alisha stood in her doorway, Hamilton in her arms. “Wait, am I to understand you’re doing this for someone other than Tiffani?”

“This is for Waverly,” Dominic said.

“Who the hell is Waverly?” Alisha asked. Anger filled her cheeks with a red tint. He knew he was in for a cursing out. Dominic glanced up at the dark oak ceiling to avoid her wrath.

“I am.”

Alisha turned. Lexi and Kenzie squealed. Without thinking, Dominic’s hand clutched his heart when he saw her standing behind Alisha. She wore her hair in a ball at the top of her head, no makeup and a tan turtleneck paired with what looked like a pair of denim overalls. Waverly glared at him with her dark eyes. If looks could kill...

“I’ve seen you around,” Alisha said. “I didn’t realize you and my brother were friends.”

Waverly blinked and glanced at everyone in the living room. “Apparently your brother has a lot of friends these days. Lexi? Kenzie? What’s going on in here?”

“Surprise!” Lexi cheered, followed by Kenzie pumping her fist in the air.

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