Page 105 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
The party fell on the eighth anniversary of Rebel’s disappearance. If she hadn’t known from Zero’s unusual quiet and Winter’s dour disposition, every headline on her news app informed her of that fact.
A Rebel’s Cause: A Retrospective of Rebel Cayne.
Questions Remain Unanswered Regarding Musician’s Death.
Winter’s Return: What Secrets are He Keeping?
Of course images of Chase, Winter, and Zero graced all the media outlets.
Cayne Family Turmoil.
Questions About Cayne Inheritance Swirl.
Mari turned her tablet face down onto the table. She poured herself a cup of coffee. Well, not Earth coffee, but a coffee-like brew from a bean grown locally on Corra. It was brown, bitter, and packed with caffeine.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go to Chase’s party this evening,” she said. The setup, the party on the anniversary of Rebel’s death, felt like a trap.
“No.” Winter held a fork in one hand and knife in the other, like he expected his omelet to fight back.
“I don’t want to go and you don’t want to go. Let’s just stay in and watch a Christmas movie. I found a bunch of animated cartoons from Earth that are super old and weird. There’s one, get this, with a walking, talking snowman.”
Zero perked up, as if finally waking. “Yes. Stay home with me. That sounds much better than Uncle Chase’s party.”
Winter sighed. “I agree, but this party is an obligation for the company. It must be done.”
Yeah, it was a trap.
So that was how Mari and Winter put on expensive clothes they would otherwise never wear and went to a party neither one wanted to attend. Peaceable, Winter’s assistant, delivered a dress box and said that Mr. Cayne special-ordered it for her to wear to the party.
It was a beautiful sleeveless gown of gold fabric, covered in small sequins that shimmered in the light. The fabric flowed between her hands like water and fit her perfectly. She didn’t know how Winter got her measurements, but the dress hugged her like it was made for her. Considering the quality did not seem off-the-rack, it might have been. An ivory velvet wrap accompanied the dress, and Mari adjusted it around her shoulders.
She checked her reflection in the mirror, pleased at how the dress highlighted her curves.
Mari found Winter waiting at the bottom of the stairs. For once, his hair had been tamed. He wore a simple black suit, tailored for a slim fit, and looked impeccable.
Zero ran a lint brush over Winter’s shoulders, quietly scolding his father. Probably instructions on how not to ruin the suit. He looked up, as if sensing her watching father and son from the top of the stairs. “Merry-gold!”
Mari beamed. “What do you think?” She gracefully lifted the dress so as not to trip on the hem and made her way down.
Winter stared at her, horror on his face, then bounded up the stairs with his long legs, taking them two at a time. He grabbed her elbow and steered her back toward their bedroom.
Once the door closed, he turned to her, his eyes alight with anger and tail lashing violently. “What are you wearing?”
“The dress you bought me.” She jerked her arm away.
“Is this your idea of a joke?”
“Wearing the dress you wanted me to wear? Yeah, Winter, hilarious. I’m a comedy genius. What’s your problem?”
“This.” He waved a wild hand at the gown. “Where did you get this atrocity?”
“Atrocity is harsh and fromyou. Peaceable delivered it a few days ago. Aren’t you listening?”
They stared at each other.
“Peaceable?” His tone implied that he didn’t know the woman.
“Your assistant. She said you ordered this.” Mari ran a hand down the front, smoothing away an imaginary wrinkle. “I don’t know how you got it so perfectly tailored, but it fits like a dream.”
