When Bruno came back into the salon where Beauty was, her transformation made his breath catch in his chest.

It was only a few minutes he spent outside with Eric but it felt like a whole day because of the transformation.

He stared, poleaxed.

Beauty was asked to open her eyes after the final touch-ups. She looked in the mirror and gasped at her reflection. Then she noticed Bruno staring at her through the mirror. Their eyes met and locked.

He smiled at her, and she gave him a nervous smile in return, though it was the broadest smile she had ever given him.

Bruno swallowed hard.

He couldn't fool...