Genuine Lies

finery. There was always basic black, she thought, and pulled out a simple number that had served her well for five years. She smiled to herself as she laid it on the bed. CeeCee would probably gag. Julia dove back into the closet.
    “My choices,” she said when she heard CeeCee come in, “are pitifully limited. But with a little ingenuity, who knows? She turned. “What’s that?”
    “Delivery.” CeeCee set the box she carried on the bed, then stepped back. “I guess you should open it.”
    “I didn’t order anything.” Since the box was unmarked, Julia shrugged and ripped at the packing tape.
    “Here, let me.” Impatient, CeeCee grabbed a nail file from the nightstand and raked through.
    “I’d love to see you on Christmas morning.” Julia blew the hair out of her eyes and opened the top. “Tissue paper,” she said. “My favorite.” But her laugh changed to a gasp of astonishment when she lifted the paper aside.
    The shimmer of emerald silk, the dazzle of rhinestones. Hardly breathing, Julia gently slid the dress from the box. It was long, slim, and spectacular, a slither of silk that would sleek over the body like air. The high neck was topped with a banded collar that glittered with stones and was repeated at the cuffs at the end of long, snug sleeves. The back dropped off to nothing from shoulder to waist.
    “Oh, my,” Julia managed to get out.
    “There’s a card.” With her bottom lip caught in her teeth, CeeCee handed it over.
    “From Eve. She says she’d appreciate it if I’d wear this tonight.”
    “What do you think?”
    “I think she’s put me in an awkward position.” Reluctantly, Julia laid the dress on the box, where it glittered up at her. “I can’t possibly accept this.”
    CeeCee looked down at the dress, then back at Julia. “You don’t like it?”
    “Don’t like it? It’s fabulous.” Giving in to temptation, Julia ran her hand along the skirt. “Stunning.”
    “Really?”
    “And outrageously expensive. No.” She wavered. “I don’t suppose I’d have to worry about it respecting me in the morning.”
    “Huh?”
    “Nothing.” Julia caught herself and spread a layer of tissue paper over the dress. The rich emerald shimmered through, beckoning. “It isn’t right. It’s very generous of her, but it’s just not right.”
    “The dress isn’t right?”
    “No, for heaven’s sake, CeeCee, the dress is perfectly beautiful. It’s a matter of ethics.” She knew she was groping. She wanted that dress, wanted to feel it slide over her and change her into something, someone, elegant. “I’m Eve Benedict’s biographer, and that’s all. I’d feel better—” That was a lie. “It would be more appropriate for me to wear something of my own.”
    “But it is yours.” CeeCee grabbed the dress and held it in front of Julia. “It was made for you.”
    “I’ll admit it’s my style, and certainly seems to be my size—”
    “No, I mean it
was
made for you. I designed it for you myself.”
    “You made it?” Stunned, she turned full circle so she could study the dress held against her in the mirror.
    “Miss B. asked me to. She wanted you to have something special for tonight. And she likes surprises. I had to go through your closet.” CeeCee began to wipe her damp palms on hercutoffs when Julia remained silent. “I know it was sneaky. But I needed to get the fit right. You like rich colors, so I thought the emerald was a good choice, and the style … I figured I’d try for subtly sexy. You know, classy but not prim or anything.” Running out of steam, CeeCee sank to the bed. “You hate it. It’s okay,” she hurried on when Julia turned around. “I mean, I’m not like sensitive or anything. I understand if it’s not really your type.”
    Julia held up a hand, realizing CeeCee was getting her second wind. “Didn’t I say it was beautiful?”
    “Yeah, sure, but you didn’t want to hurt my feelings.”
    “I didn’t know you’d made it when I said that.”
    CeeCee pursed her lips as that sunk in. “Right.”
    Julia laid the dress aside again and placed her hands on CeeCee’s shoulders. “It’s an incredible dress, the most terrific dress I’ve ever had.”
    “Then you’re going to wear it?”
    “If you think I’m passing up the chance to wear a McKenna original, you’re crazy.” She laughed as CeeCee bounced up and hugged her.
    “Miss B. told me I could pick out some accessories too.” Running full steam, she spun around to