Steel and Lace(4)

"I don't know..." my voice trailed off as I touched a delicate petal with my fingertips.

"Eva, look," Cate pulled out a small blue box that was nestled amongst the petals. My eyes widened. The perfect eggshell blue was contrasted with the words Tiffany & Co emblazoned across the top. I slowly opened the box with tentative fingers. Nestled amongst the Tiffany blue padding was a delicate diamond cocktail watch with a square face surrounded in pave diamonds. The strap was in the style of a bracelet with fine diamonds, easily totaling 2 carats or more. A small note was nestled amongst the soft fabric.





This reminded me of you. Carter





I sat in stunned silence, the wheels in my brain frozen in shock.

"Eva! Who is it from?"

"Carter Morgan," my eyes were riveted on the elegant watch. The way the natural light caught the diamonds and sent technicolor shades gleaming in every direction was mesmerizing.

"Let me see," Cate snatched the box from my hands. "Eva," Cate said my name in a whisper. "Do you know how much this must have cost? It's vintage. Probably the 40s. Tiffany was known for their art deco cocktail watches," she looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "Did something happen that you’re not telling me about? Did more happen in the coffee shop that day? Did you have a bathroom tryst with Carter Morgan?" Cate's eyes widened.

"Cate! No! I can't believe you just said that!" I could always count on Cate for her inappropriate comments.

"Well, you must have made some sort of impression for him to send this," Cate began to take the watch out of the box.

"Don't take it out!" I scrambled to get the box out of her hands. "I’m not keeping it."

"What? Are you kidding?"

"I can't keep it, Cate, I don't even know why he sent it. And I’m not keeping a gift like this from a man I’ve met exactly twice," I stroked the diamonds of the watch lovingly, realizing this would probably be the only time I held a vintage Tiffany anything in my hands.

"Yea, I guess not," Cate had the same dejected look in her eyes. "It is beautiful though." I closed the lid of the box and set it on the kitchen counter next to the lilies.





Later that evening Cate and I were getting ready for our night out at The Roxy. The club was now officially called Royale and had undergone an ultra-modern makeover, but most still called it by its former name. My thoughts had been consumed with Carter's gift all day. I had a feeling he wouldn't take my returning it very well.

I was just running a brush through my long, dark hair when Cate stepped up behind me. "I've got the perfect dress for you," she pushed an obscenely short silver dress into my hands.

"I don't think so. I’ll be pulling it down all night for fear of showing the goods to everyone in the room!"

"That's the point, Eva! If you want to get noticed, you've got to be a little more daring."

"Who says I want to get noticed?" I mumbled. Cate only smiled and shoved the dress into my arms. I pulled the slinky dress over my head and shimmied it down over my hips. I looked in the mirror with a sense of uncertainty.

"Oh, Eva… it's perfect," Cate pulled the hair back off of my shoulders to highlight the embellished halter straps. There was a sexy keyhole outlined in sequins at the bodice, making it impossible for me to wear a bra. The crinkled satin and chiffon hugged my curves and ended at mid-thigh. I turned to find the back was open. I smoothed my hands over the soft fabric and sighed. It was perfect. I still feared that I would be pulling the dress down all night, but to wear something so beautiful would be worth it.

"OK. I’ll wear it."

"Yay," Cate clapped her hands together. "Now to tackle that mess of hair on your head."

"What? What's wrong with my hair? I always wear it straight," I whined.

"Exactly, which is why we're going to give you some soft waves tonight." I sighed and slumped down into the chair in front of the vanity as Cate ran for her curling iron.

"I draw the line at lipstick. I’m not wearing it, Cate," I glared at her in the mirror once she'd returned.

"Lip gloss. At least lip gloss," Cate bargained.

"Fine," I smiled at her reflection.





Two hours later we'd just settled into a corner at the club. It was a swank space that walked the line between modern lounge and nightclub. The dance floor was large and packed with bodies, but there were small nooks with oversized chairs and couches tucked around the room. Sawyer had met us outside and we'd just ordered drinks.

"Let's dance, Eva," Cate attempted to haul me out on the floor by my elbow.