Page 209 of The Seven Rings
“You must’ve heard me, and this is perfect. I honestly wonder what I did without you, Molly.”
The bedroom fire simmered low, and as she dressed, Clover boosted her ego with Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
“I feel that way, too. Now, Cleo? She’ll be just ravishing. I don’t have to hope she shines tonight because she will. But I admit it, I’m nervous. Art’s so personal, and hers is so much a part of who she is. I just want everyone to love it.”
She studied herself in the mirror. She’d given her hair some curl for what she thought of as a touch of festive, added her braided hoop earrings. And she’d wrapped Clover’s beads around her wrist as a bracelet for that emotional connection.
“Job done. I’ll go check on Cleo.”
She walked down the hall, knocked. “It’s Sonya.”
“Come on in. About done.”
Cleo’s fire simmered as well as she stood, putting on her earrings—long dangles with multiple strands of crystals.
“All right. Nail. Hit. Head.”
Cleo gave her head a little shake, watched the crystals catch the lamplight. “I think so. Molly and I consulted, and I think we hit the mark.”
Curving patterns of old gold and silver covered the copper field of the dress with its swinging mid-calf skirt. Soft boots in the same copper hue laced to under the hem. In addition to the black tourmaline, she’d added silver chains.
The tones made her skin glow against the wild glory of her hair.
“And you?” Cleo turned toward her. “Perfect. The ladies of the manor are styling tonight.”
Doors slammed, the doorbell bonged. The window glass shook.
“Oh, up your butt with a cactus,” Sonya snapped, and made Cleo laugh like a loon. “It’s your night.” Reaching out, she hooked her arm with Cleo’s. “She’s not spoiling a second of it.”
Cleo grabbed her purse off the bed as they headed out.
Trey and Owen rose from their seats in the parlor as they came down.
Owen shook his head. “Talk about hot babes.”
“Poole’s Bay may not be ready for the pair of you.”
“They’ll have to get ready.” Sonya took Trey’s hand. “’Cause here we come.”
She bent to scrub at whatever pet came to hand. “We should be home by ten, maybe ten-thirty. Be good.”
The lights of Bay Arts shined, and through the display window, Sonya saw people milling. Several more gathered outside, chatting in the cool autumn air.
“We’re early, as planned, but there are already people inside.”
“I’m going to drop you off. I’ll find a place to park.”
“It’s a lot of icing,” Owen commented as he got out, reached a hand for Cleo’s.
“Who doesn’t love icing? Marcia, good to see you.”
And in her Cleo way, she began to mingle.
“She’s great at this,” Sonya murmured.
“Go be her wingman. I’ll find you.”
Though she doubted Cleo needed a wingman, she gave Trey a quick kiss, then slid out.
