Page 4 of Desire

“You’re ready,” Colleen said.

And that ended that discussion.

Well, shit.

It was a great opportunity, though. Emma began to brainstorm a few themes on the blotter next to the desk. “What do you think about having a fairy-tale theme?”

“I like it,” Tee said. “They could get really creative with their costumes.”

“Put in an order for crinolines and tulle,” Colleen said. “We’re going to need more.”

Nodding, Emma called up the supplier on her screen.

“I’m going to go as Little Bo Peep,” Tee said. “And Ezina can be a sheep.”

“Cute,” Emma said.

“I bet I could get a cashmere sheep costume,” Colleen said, tapping away on her phone.

Ezina was a doll, but it was going to be very hard to keep her aunt Colleen from spoiling her rotten. Not that Emma could blame her. If Emma had been a billionaire with money to burn, she probably would buy silly little luxury items for the baby too. Like a cashmere Halloween costume that would just get dirty or fussily made toys that were gorgeous to look at but broke after an hour of solid playing.

“I think I’ll do Alice in Wonderland and have Chase as the Mad Hatter,” Colleen said.

“You should be the Queen of Hearts.” Tee smirked.

“I do a very good ‘off with her head,’” Colleen said, considering it.

“What about you, Emma?” Tee asked.

“I just came up with the idea,” Emma said, mortification flooding her cheeks red.

“You must have had something in mind when you suggested it,” Colleen said.

Emma had a flash of Dante as the Big Bad Wolf. “Maybe Little Red Riding Hood.”

“You’d look good in red,” Tee said. “And I think I’m going to go with a supernatural theme for Club Inferno. Or paranormal.”

“We’re going to be up to our asses in vampires, then. You know that,” Colleen said.

“A group of vampires is called a kiss,” Emma said, flushing again when they both turned to look at her.

“Perfect,” Tee said. “I’m going to go as a mummy. Get it?” She pointed to her stomach.

“I thought you were going to go as Bo Peep,” Colleen said.

“I want to attend both parties,” Tee said. “You just have to make it on different weekends, Colleen. That’s all there is to it.”

Emma held her breath, hoping that Tee could convince Colleen.

“This way you can go as the Queen of Hearts for Couture’s party, and a succubus for Club Inferno’s,” Tee said.

“Hmmm,” Colleen said. “Let me think about it.”

Emma found the courage to speak up. “I’d like to go to both parties too.”

“You would?” Colleen looked up at her in surprise.

“And I know Anya would as well,” Emma said, mentioning Colleen’s best friend and business partner.