Read Online After Dark by Nancy A. Collins - Free Book Online Page B

honor to have you in my shop!”
    “Yes, well, I remembered what you said about liking my dress,” Cally replied, blushing at the older woman’s praise.
    “Are these some more of your creations?” Sister Midnight asked, taking the garment bag out of Cally’s hands. “I trust you brought me something fabulous ! Come—let’s go to my office, shall we?”
    “Can my friend join us?” Cally asked, taking Melinda’s hand in her own.
    “If it makes you happy, I don’t see why not.”
    Sister Midnight quickly ushered the girls into a room at the back of the store. She placed the garment bag on her desk and unzipped it. While she inspected the clothes, Cally and Melinda stared in awe at the wall of autographed photographs of famed designers and fashion models, all of them signed to Sis .
    “Did you really meet Coco Chanel?” Cally asked.
    “ Meet her?” Sister Midnight laughed. “Darling, where do you think she got the idea for that little black dress? As for you, young lady, I really like the iridescent midnight blue wrap dress you have here—especially the way it puffs out below the waist. And this appliquéd denim skirt is absolutely precious ! Did you do all this needlework by hand? Most impressive!
    “I’ve been steadily losing younger customers over the last few years to the human boutiques and brands, and I think this might be just what I need to bring them back into the shop. Would you be interested in presenting your collection here at the boutique?”
    “You mean a fashion show?” Cally gasped. “A real fashion show?”
    “You’ll need at least twelve looks,” Sister Midnight warned her. “Is that a problem?”
    “Not at all!” Cally replied, even though she knew she had nowhere near that many pieces ready to go.
    “Very good. I’ll keep these two outfits and have my seamstresses fit them to the runway models we’ll be using for the show. That’ll leave you with ten more.” She pulled a BlackBerry out of her jacket pocket. “How does two weeks from now sound?”
    “Great!” Cally smiled, trying not to panic.
    “This is going to be the event of the season, my dear!” Sister Midnight enthused. “I mean, you’ve already got serious buzz working for you! Slaying the head of the Van Helsing Institute? Sweetheart, you couldn’t buy that kind of PR even if you tried!”
    Cally’s smile evaporated. “You mean, the reason people are going to be interested in my fashion show is because I killed someone?”
    “Not just ‘someone,’ darling! It’s like you got rid of that Al-Qaeda fellow the clots are so upset about! Of course people are going to want to come and see you, Cally! You’re a hero!”
    “But I’m not a hero,” Cally protested. “I’m just me. I mean—I want them to like my designs for what they are, not what I’ve done .”
    “And they will , my sweet!” Sister Midnight said, draping an arm around Cally’s shoulders. “Curiosity will bring them in, but once they’re here, they’ll fall in love with your work, just as I have.”
    “You really think so, Sister Midnight?”
    “Darling, I know so,” she said reassuringly. “And call me Sis.”
     

    “I can’t believe what just happened!” Melinda shook her head in amazement. “Sister Midnight— the Sister Midnight—just offered to host your first collection!”
    “Yeah, I can’t believe it, either,” Cally replied, a dazed look on her face.
    “I can’t wait to tell Bella and Bette!”
    “No!” Cally begged. “Please don’t.”
    Melinda frowned. “Why wouldn’t you want everyone to know about something as cool as this?”
    “I want them to know, but not right now, that’s all. It’s just that I’m afraid some of the girls at school might try and screw it up for me.”
    “You mean Lilith.” Melinda sighed. “Okay, I promise I’ll keep it on the down low, but you’ve got to give me something in return. How about making me one of the runway models? Pleeease ?”
    “I don’t see why