Page 46 of Courting Catherine
“He isn’t interested.”
“From the way he looks at you, I’d say you’re wrong.”
“Oh, he’s interested,” C.C. said grimly. “But love has nothing to do with it. He very politely refused to take advantage of my—my lack of experience, as he called it.”
“Oh.” Suzanna looked out toward the cliffs again. Rejection, she knew, was the sharpest blade of all. “It doesn’t help much, but it might have been more difficult for you if he hadn’t been—sensible.”
“He’s sensible, all right,” C.C. said through her teeth. “And being a sensible and a civilized man, he’d like us to be friends. He’s even taking me to dinner tomorrow so he can be certain I’m not pining away for him, and he can go back to Boston guilt free.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Oh, I’ll go to dinner with him. I can be just as damned civilized as he can.” She set her chin. “And when I’m finished, he’s going to be sorry he ever set eyes on Catherine Calhoun.” She whirled toward her sister. “Do you still have that red dress? The beaded one that’s cut down to sin?”
Suzanna’s grin spread. “You bet I do.”
“Let’s go take a look at it.”
Well, well, well, C.C. thought. What a difference a day and a tight silk dress could make. Lips pursed, she turned in front of the cracked cheval glass in the corner of her room. The dress was just a smidgen too small for her—even with the frantic alterations Suzanna had made. It only made more of a statement.
Don’t you wish you had me, it said quite clearly. C.C. ran her hands over her hips. And he could wish until his head exploded.
The dress was a form-fitting glitter of flame that licked down from its plunging neckline to the abbreviated hem. Suzanna had ruthlessly slashed it off so that it hit C.C. midthigh. The long sleeves ended in points over her wrists. And she’d added Coco’s rhinestone ear clips, with their wicked sparkle.
The thirty minutes she’d spent on makeup seemed to have paid off. Her lips were as red as the dress, thanks to Amanda’s contribution. Her eyes were shadowed with copper and emerald, thanks to Lilah. Her hair was as glossy as a raven’s wing and slicked back a bit at the temples.
All in all, C.C. thought as she turned, Trenton St. James III was in for a surprise.
“Suzanna said you needed some shoes.” Lilah walked in and stopped in midyawn. The shoes dangled from her fingertips as she stared. “I must have passed through a parallel universe.”
C.C. grinned and spun a circle. “What do you think?”
“I think Trent’s going to need oxygen.” Approving, she passed C.C. a pair of spiked snakeskin heels. “Kiddo, you look dangerous.”
“Good.” She pulled on the shoes. “Now if I can just walk in these without falling on my face.”
“Practice. I’ve got to get Mandy.”
A few moments later, all three sisters supervised C.C.’s walk. “You’ll be having dinner,” Amanda put in, wincing at each wobble. “So you’ll be sitting down most of the time.”
“I’m getting it,” C.C. muttered. “I’m just not used to heels. How do you work in these things all day?”
“Talent.”
“Walk slower,” Lilah suggested. “More deliberately. As if you have all the time in the world.”
“Take if from her,” Amanda agreed. “She’s an expert at slow.”
“In this case—” Lilah gave Amanda an arched look “—slow is sexy. See?”
Taking her sister’s advice, C.C. walked with a cautious deliberation that came off as slinky. Amanda held out her hands. “I stand corrected. What coat are you wearing?”
“I haven’t thought of it.”
“You can wear my black silk cape,” Amanda decided. “You’ll freeze but you’ll look great doing it. Perfume. Aunt Coco’s got some of that smoldering French stuff left from Christmas.”
“No.” Suzanna shook her head. “She should stick with her usual scent.” Tilting her head, she studied her sister and smiled. “The contrast will drive him crazy.”
Unaware of what was in store for him, Trent sat in the parlor with Coco. His bags were packed. His calls were made. He wished he could come up with a reasonable excuse to stay another few days.
