Page 20

Solene is standing there in the middle of the store, looking… nothing like I remember her.
The Solene I knew was always dressed in some edgy outfit of her own making, with pin straight hair cropped just above her shoulders. This Solene looks like a living doll in a dress that barely brushes the tops of her thighs, and layers upon layers of tulle. She’s grown her hair out and the jet-black locks are styled into perfect ringlets.
“Juliet.” Like her appearance, her voice is completely different. Tighter, colder than I remember it, and it’s her voice that stops me in my tracks.
“Solene. God, I’m so happy to see you.” I step forward, but stop again when Solene blinks, then frowns.
“Why would you be happy to see me?”
“Um, well.” It’s not often I find myself at a loss for words, but I’m so taken aback by Solene’s ice-princess demeanor, my usual chattiness abandons me. “Because I missed you. You just sort of disappeared and nobody knew where you went.”
“You missed my clothes, you mean.”
“No. Well, I meanyes. Nobody holds a candle to you, as far as I’m concerned. But mostly I just missed my friend.” Okay, that might be laying it on a little thick. Am I happy to see Solene? Yes. Did I spend a few days worrying about her when word got out that she’d vanished? Also yes.
But did I actuallydoanything to try and find her? Did I actively miss her as part of my social circle?
Not really. And I’m not exactly sure what that says about me as a person.
It’s not a question I’m very comfortable with.
The frown on Solene’s face deepens. “We weren’t friends, Juliet.”
Before I can ask her what she means, the door behind me opens and I spin around to find a very annoyed Jasper and Auntie Cat glaring down at me. “Come here, Juliet.” Mybrother’s words are steel, and my hands instinctively fly behind me to protect my bottom.
“Why? I didn’t do anything!”
“One.”
Embarrassment heats my cheeks at being treated like a child in front of Solene of all people. I mean, I guess she’s into this kind of thing butstill.“Why are you counting?”
Jasper only raises a brow in that stupid look he has that makes my bottom clench instinctively. “Two. Do not make me get to three, little girl.”
Dragging my feet, I force myself to cross the distance between us. Jasper grips my chin, tilting my head back and forcing me to look into his unreadable eyes. “You do not get out of the car without an adult. When we are in public, I expect you to hold my hand, or the hand of whoever is responsible for you. I am not going to spank you, because you didn’t know, but if it happens again I will bend you over right on the sidewalk and blister your bare bottom. Am I making myself perfectly clear, Juliet?”
“Yes.” Relief at not having to endure another punishment overshadows the embarrassment of being scolded like a naughty little girl in public. At least for a moment.
“Yes, what? Who am I, Juliet?”
I don’t want to say it. I especially don’t want to say it in front of Solene. But I also don’t want to risk provoking him. “Yes… Daddy.”
Pride lights up his whole face. “There’s my good girl. Are you ready to see what Solene has for you today?”
“Yes, please.”
Auntie Cat runs a hand down one of my braids, warmth beaming from her smile. “I do love a well-mannered Little girl,” she says with a soft sigh. “I’ve already had Solene set aside some pieces I think you might enjoy, but you can look around if youlike and pick some things out for yourself. Everything in here can be customized.”
“Any customizations will take at least two months,” Solene says, her lips pressed into a tight smile. “I do have clients off island and I’m afraid I have a bit of a backlog.”
“Oh?” Ice coats Auntie Cat’s voice, reminding me more of the Catharina I once knew and I step to the side, straight into Jasper’s arms. “Well, that will never do. We can’t have our favorite designer working herself to exhaustion. Where’s Myra?”
A woman steps out of the back room, her lips curved up in a welcoming smile. Generous curves are highlighted by a tight pinup-style dress that cinches in at the waist to further accentuate her hourglass figure. The look is topped off by a pair of cat-eye glasses and dark hair pulled up in a severe bun that gives her the appearance of a sexy school teacher. “Cat, Jasper. So lovely to see you both. Is there something I can help you with?”
I watch, fascinated as Auntie Cat presses a hand to her heart, a look of faux concern on her stunning face. “Your darling Little Solene just told us how backed up she is. We don’t want her overworking herself, poor thing. Is there anything we can do to help?”
Myra’s lips turn down in a frown that only adds to the stern schoolmarm look. “We have a couple of orders in the queue, but nothing we can’t handle.”
“Oh. So if we needed something customized, it wouldn’t take very long at all?”