Kristy glanced down. "Did you bring the dress?"
Zenia nodded. "I hope Jack wasn't lying when he said you'd like it."
"No." Kristy shook her head. "I love it. And I'm so happy to meet you."
She couldn't believe she was talking to Zenia Topaz.
Hunter moved to one side and gestured to the chair he'd been occupying. "Please, Kristy. Sit."
She glanced at Jack.
"You're the guest of honor," he said.
"Zenia's the guest of honor." Kristy accepted Hunter's offer and smiling a greeting at the others around the table, she sat.
"Red or white, ma'am?" asked one of the stewards.
"Red, thank you," said Kristy as Jack and Hunter took their own seats.
"Jack tells me you're entering Matte Fashion," Zenia said to Kristy.
Other conversations started around the table and blended into the background as the staff served a crab salad appetizer.
"I've been working on a collection," Kristy answered.
"Would you mind if I took a look at it?"
Kristy hesitated, but quickly caught herself. "Of course not."
Zenia's dark eyes turned kind. "I understand you're experiencing some frustrations."
Kristy's stomach bottomed out. "Jack told you that?"
"It's why he asked me to come."
Kristy glanced at her husband, not sure whether to be grateful or offended. "He wants you to help me?"
"He thought a professional eye couldn't hurt."
Kristy nodded. It was true, of course. Kind of hard on the ego, but then she was the one who'd expressed her doubts to him.
Then, an idea took root in Kristy's mind. She could show Zenia the fantasy collection. If Zenia liked it, Kristy would have an ally. And there was a chance, a good chance, that Zenia could sway Jack.
Kristy felt a surge of hope.
She couldn't wait to finish dinner and get out to the workshop.
Kristy started with Irene's collection.
"Very nice," said Zenia with a nod, closely examining the last piece.
Dinner over, she and Kristy were alone in the workshop.
"It has extremely strong technical merit," Zenia continued, motioning to the pieces set up on mannequins.
"I like the lines. You were wise to stick to the classics. I particularly like the tailoring on the blouse, and the sleeve detail definitely lifts it from the ordinary."
Kristy tried to pay attention to the analysis, but her mind was galloping ahead to Zenia's reaction to the fantasy collection.
"You might want to rework the bathing suit," said Zenia, moving to look at it. "It's fun, but it's out of step with the other pieces. Have you thought about a single color instead of a print?"
Kristy nodded. But her gaze strayed to the furthest closet.
"You could go with two contrasting colors." Zenia pointed to a blue square on the geometric pattern.
Then she pointed to a red line. Red on top, blue on the bottom?"
"Sure."
Zenia peered at her. "Is everything okay?"
Kristy nodded.
"You seem distracted."
Kristy swallowed, and her heart rate increased. She told herself it was now or never. "There's something-" Her voice rasped over her dry throat. "Would you mind looking at something else?"
"Not at all."
Kristy walked to the closet, forcing herself to measure her steps, her heartbeat deep and thick inside her chest. Sweat was breaking out on her palms. She opened the door and retrieved the waterfall dress.
"They're something … " she said to Zenia as she carried it across the room " … something I've been, you know," she laughed nervously, "just playing around with." She hung the dress on a rack then went back for the next piece.
Zenia cocked her head as the collection grew.
Once Kristy had all the pieces out, Zenia walked around the rack with a piercing stare.
After a full minute's silence, Zenia finally spoke. "I think," she said, and then she paused.
Kristy held her breath.
"It's a risk," said Zenia. "For a new designer."
"Can I take a risk?" asked Kristy.
What was the difference between risk and imagination? How did you get the sparkle without taking a risk? Why were all these people telling her to get creative and then advising her to stick with the standard?
Zenia paused again, clearly searching for words. "Later in your career, perhaps. Especially if you establish yourself in Europe and you're looking for a high-end niche. But you're probably not going to find really broad appeal in the domestic market with this."
Kristy nodded, biting her tongue against the arguments that formed in her heart.
"Have I disappointed you?"
Kristy shook her head, then she stopped. "Maybe just a little."
"It's a tough business."
"I'm definitely learning that."
"You have to be flexible starting out. And it helps to have the hide of a rhino."
Kristy tried to smile at the joke. But she was tired of being flexible, tired of taking other people's advice.
She knew how Jack felt about experts but, honestly, she wished somebody would give her a smidgen of credit occasionally.
"You have a solid start here," said Zenia, turning back to the Irene collection. "Win or lose, take advantage of the Breakout Designer Contest to start establishing yourself. I'll be there cheering for you.
And I know you have a huge supporter in Jack."
"Jack's been amazing," Kristy agreed.
She knew now it was Zenia who'd chosen the fabric and accessories that had arrived in a steady stream from Europe. She knew now that Zenia and Jack were friends, and that Jack had enlisted Zenia's aid.
She should be more grateful.
She owed it to Jack to be a lot more grateful.
Eleven
Jack stroked his fingertip along the curve of Kristy's shoulder, simply because he liked touching her skin.
"You're quiet tonight," he said softly, inhaling the scent of her hair, enjoying the feel of her naked body against his in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"I guess I've been working hard," she responded.
There were only two days left before they said their final goodbyes and she flew to London for the contest. They'd have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together-that was all. She was flying out on the twenty-sixth, and he was purposely ignoring the meaning of that moment.
"Jack?" She turned onto her back, staring up at him, her cheeks flushed. She looked very serious. "Can I ask you something?"
Did he dare hope? Would she broach the future? Because he'd been thinking about their future a whole lot lately. He hoped they had one.
"It's about the contest."
Not quite what he'd been expecting. But, okay.
He nodded.
She sat up, wrapping the sheet around her naked breasts. "I have these ideas."
He waited.
She laughed nervously. "Well, really, they're … " She stopped talking.
"Yes?"
She bit her bottom lip. "I made some clothes."
"I know," he said slowly.
She frowned. "I made some other clothes."
He struggled to understand her point.
She reached out and touched his forearm. "I had some ideas that were different than Irene's. So I made them. And I like them. And I want to show them in London."
"Where in London?" He could probably help.
"At the contest."
"At Matte Fashion?"
She gave a rapid nod.
"But you already have a collection for Matte Fashion."
"I want to show a different one."
Jack didn't know what to say. It was only forty-eight hours before she'd be in London. "Irene helped you with this one. Zenia helped you, too."
"Hear me out."
He cocked his head sideways, biting back the obvious arguments.
"I think mine-the other outfits-are better. I really do. Everybody keeps asking me for sparkle. I think these have sparkle."
This was crazy. "Has anyone seen them besides you? Has Cleveland?"
"Zenia saw them."
"And, did she like them?"
"She wasn't really clear. She said they were a risk."
Jack sighed. "Kristy, I thinkrisk is a euphemism for 'weak'."
"Not necessarily."
"Kristy-"
"Not necessarily, Jack. What if they're a good risk? I feel … " She pressed her palm against her chest.
"In here, Jack. I can't explain it, but I fell like Iknow. You know?"
Jack had to nip this in the bud. He couldn't let Kristy go out there and embarrass herself. And he sure wouldn't let her compromise Sierra Sanchez.