“Yeah, you were.”

“Whatever,” I muttered, refusing to acknowledge that he was right.

Barrett sported a crisp navy suit, a white shirt underneath, and crimson red tie. As much as I hated to admit it, he exuded a decidedly suit-porn vibe. What was it about a suit that made men look so damn delectable?

After giving me a onceover, Barrett said, “I see Everett’s gotten to you.”

“Are you trying to say I was some fashion-less hack before?”

“Easy now, it was just an observation.”

“A snarky one.”

He grinned. “I’ve never been accused of being snarky before.”

“Well, it’s the truth.”

“Look, I’m sorry if I sounded snarky, as you say. It really was just an observation. All the women in my family have had the Everett overhaul.”

“He is a very gifted stylist.”

“That he is.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry for sniping at you. I’m really nervous about today.”

“Don’t be.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Hey now, this is my first presidential campaign, too.”

“But you have all the experiences from the senatorial races,” I countered.

“You’re going to do fine, Addison.”

I was surprised by the sincerity in Barrett’s eyes. “Thank you. I hope you’re right.”

Saundra stuck her head out of the bathroom door. “I’m ready for you now.”

With a nod, I headed into the bathroom. I’d never known so much could go into making someone camera-ready. I’d always been a girly-girl who loved makeup and doing my hair, but I never spent more than half an hour getting ready. It took Saundra an hour to do my hair and makeup—of course, I’d never been into highlighting or contouring or any of that.

Once she was finished, I couldn’t help doing a double take at my reflection. “You are so talented,” I murmured.

“Thank you. It helps when you have something gorgeous to work with.”

When I came out into the main suite, Barrett and Ty awaited me, and their eyes bulged. “You look beautiful, Addison,” Ty said with a warm smile. Have I mentioned the man’s smile? It made me a little weak…and that fact made me a cheap hussy. After all, I was a fake-engaged woman.

“Thank you, but it’s all Saundra’s magic.”

Saundra shook her head. “Like I said before, with your features, I don’t have to do anything magical.”

Although Barrett continued staring at me, he hadn’t complimented me like the others. After Ty nudged him in the back, Barrett said, “Yeah. You look nice.”

Nice?

That was the best he could come up with? You look nice is what you say to a dressed-up teenage girl going through her awkward face with braces and acne, but what could I expect? I knew the women he was attracted to, and I wasn’t them.

Interrupting the awkward silence, Saundra said, “I’m ready for you, Barrett.”

As Barrett and Saundra headed back into the bathroom, I sat down at the table that overflowed with room service goodies. Ty took a seat across from me. “He’s spinning right now,” he stated as I slathered cream cheese across a bagel.

“Excuse me?”

“Barrett is spinning with you as his fiancée.”

“Ah, so your definition of ‘spinning’ is when someone has emotional whiplash and says rude things?” I countered.

Ty smiled. “I’m not condoning his behavior, Addison. I’m just trying to explain some of it to you. The idea of engagement itself is extremely confining to him, not to mention the fact that he doesn’t know what it’s like to have a woman not fall at his feet.”

“Yeah, that’s certainly not going to happen.”

“And that fact is driving him crazy. He can’t compliment you too much because then that gives you the upper hand.”

I rolled my eyes. “That is so immature.”

“That is so Barrett, at least with women.”

I munched thoughtfully on my bagel. After swallowing, I asked, “With as much time as you spend with Barrett, how is it possible that none of your good attributes have rubbed off on him?”

With a laugh, Ty countered, “Don’t put me on a pedestal I don’t deserve.”

“You seem pretty genuine to me.”

“I appreciate the praise, but just like anyone else, I’m a work in progress.”

With a smile, I said, “It’s good work though.”

“Thank you.” I hadn’t expected Ty to be so forthcoming. He knew Barrett’s taste in women, and surely he knew it would never be me, but it was still nice of him to try to smooth over Barrett’s inability to compliment me.

I’d managed to polish off my bagel and a cup of berries when Barrett emerged from having his hair done. While it didn’t look that different to me, I supposed Saundra had some special product that kept it in place in windy situations or what have you.

Ty’s phone buzzed. After glancing at it, he said, “The car is here. It’s time to go.”

My stomach instantly cramped at the thought of leaving the safety and security of the suite. The next three weeks would thrust me not only into the spotlight, but into a whole new world of being on the road. Even during my parents’ missionary days, it was only our summers that were somewhat rootless, and in most cases, we spent the entire two months in one country or area. From the schedule I’d been given, some days I’d wake up in one state, have lunch in another, and go to bed in yet another, pinging from north to south to east to west. It was overwhelming.