Free Where Dreams Are Born (Angelo's Hearth) by M.L. Buchman Page B

the shocking blue and her accessories the black. Fashion was her life, her shop was as much gallery as boutique, but there was a streak in her that had never left sixteen behind. She giggled merrily at the effect of her news.
    “Pamela and Janice? But I thought they each had long-term boyfriends.”
    Perrin nodded and took a gulp of her Cosmo.
    “I kinda set them up, though I didn’t know at the time I was setting them up, I just kinda did it. Separately I sold them those cute blouses. The ones that were mirror images of each other You know the ones, by Georgie. Who would think such a good designer would be living over his parent’s garage in Duvall, Washington? Anyway, I showed them to you the last time you were in the shop. The green velour with blue silk sleeves and the other blue velour with the green silk sleeves. Isn’t there a song about that somewhere?”
    Jo nodded and Cassidy followed suit even though she didn’t remember the blouses or the song. They’d both learned long ago to never stop Perrin in the middle of a story or she’d sidetrack and you’d never get the ending.
    “Well, two best friends dating two guys who were also best friends. I thought it would be cute. You know, the mirror twins on a double date. Sure to make the guys eyes pop. That’s what I thought. How was I supposed to know they’d decide they were a set and they’d take a trip down the other side of the street? They came in a couple days later to buy the matching pantsuits.”
    Cassidy could remember those. Everything switched, which side of the jacket buttoned over, which lapel had been cut on a different slant, which breast had the pocket kerchief, opposite swirls of the slanted pinstripe. She could picture Pamela and Janice, the Swedish-pale and the Jamaican-dark, both very tall, both very curved, an unlikely pair. They probably looked amazing together.
    Jo was laughing and Cassidy joined in just a moment late, a moment off beat, but neither of the others noticed. No other revelers in the lounge noticed. None of the pretty women nor any of the business-suited men. Thankfully most of her little screw-ups were invisible.
    “How about you, Jo? What adventures in the wondrous world of law? Huh ? Huh? Come on, something juicy,” Perrin begged like a puppy dog eager for a new toy.
    “ Don’t let Perrin be the only one with good gossip. I hate that I always have the best gossip.” She cocked her head sideways and her hair swirled back and forth in a hypnotic spiral. “No, actually, I don’t mind. I kinda like knowing more than everyone about everything. So give me some juicy law stuff to add to my collection.”
    Jo brushed back the long, black hair that her half Alaskan-native heritage had mad as naturally dark as Perrin’s dyed locks. That half-heritage had also granted her a scholarship from the state. Law undergrad followed by corporate law grad.
    Her heritage had also given a broad face that always looked as if it had a nice tan, and round brown eyes that welcomed you in. She brushed some imaginary dust off the navy blue pantsuit that made her look terribly professional and immensely sexy at the same time. There wasn’t a male judge who didn’t smile when she entered their courtroom. Nor an opposition lawyer who didn’t groan.
    “I made partner, does that count?”
    Perrin screamed loudly enough to turn every head in the place and then raised her Cosmo in a toast. Cassidy’s merlot and Jo’s Irish Coffee followed.
    “That’s great! Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Cassidy sipped her wine, they really needed a better house red than Ste. Michelle. Nice enough at the price, but limited. Overly fruity.
    She flagged a passing pretty-boy waiter, “Could we have three flutes and a bottle of Moet and Chandon? The Brut Imperial ’99 if you have it.”
    He scribbled a note and left without saying a word. Clearly he had no idea what it was.
    “Ooo, Cassie’s ordering. This should be good.” Perrin knocked back her