Silver Linings

What do you think?”
    Mattie looked at the beautiful workmanship on the red dress. She knew art when she saw it. “I think you'd be terrific at it.”

    Hugh was smiling with anticipation as he bounded up the inn stairs an hour later. He had a bottle of rum in a paper bag under one arm, and he'd splurged on a new shirt at the little general store on the waterfront. He was ready for the big date with Mattie.
    “We're going to party tonight, babe,” he announced as he opened the door of the small room. “Got it all planned. A real date. First we'll hit that little place that serves the great burgers, have a couple of drinks and some food, and then I figure later we can come back here and—Holy shit.”
    Hugh came to a dead halt just inside the door and stared at the exotic creature sitting on the side of the bed.
    “Hello, Hugh. As a matter of fact, I am rather hungry.” Mattie smiled at him.
    “Mattie?” Hugh slowly closed the door behind him without taking his eyes off her. He could not believe what he was seeing.
    She was wearing a minuscule red dress that almost revealed her nipples. It clung to her hips like a lover and rode halfway up her thigh. She had her legs crossed, her feet daintily arched in impossibly high, spiky red heels. Her tawny-brown hair danced around her shoulders, soft and loose and inviting. Her green-and-gold eyes were brilliantly outlined and accented with glittering turquoise eyeshadow. Her mouth was a dark red flower. Rhinestones glittered on her fingers and wrists and in the small cleavage revealed by the dress.
    “What do you think, Hugh? Is it me?” She grinned at him, her eyes full of an unfamiliar mischief.
    “What the hell happened to you?” Dazed, Hugh moved slowly over to a table and set down his packages.
    “I met the nicest lady down the hall. A working woman. Just like me. When she realized I had nothing suitable for tonight, she loaned me some of her things.” Mattie got up and pirouetted.
    Hugh's mouth went dry. His gaze traveled down the length of her spine to where the red dress curved tightly over her hips. “There's no back to that dress.”
    “I know. Good thing it's warm here on Brimstone, hmmm?”
    Hugh took a step closer, eyes narrowing as she turned back to face him. He had never seen that particular expression in her eyes. “Mattie, have you been drinking?”
    “Just a couple of rum punches.” She waved her hand in an airy gesture, and the rings on her fingers glittered like diamonds. “Don't worry, I'm in complete control. My friend Evangeline says you can't work drunk. Men tend to take advantage of you if they think you're tipsy. Men are like that, you know. Always trying to take advantage of a woman.”
    “This Evangeline person. What exactly does she do for a living, or should I ask?”
    “I told you. She's a working woman.” Mattie laughed up at him. “And she thinks I'm one, too. She took pity on me because I had to flee Purgatory without the tools of my trade.” Mattie tossed a handful of little foil packages into the air. They rained down over the bed. “Evangeline is a very nice person, Hugh.”
    “I don't believe this.”
    “I know.” Mattie giggled. “And neither would anyone else back home in Seattle. I wish I had a camera so you could take a picture of me. Evangeline says I look terrific in red.”
    “You do,” Hugh admitted. “But you need a little more of it.”
    “Now, Hugh, don't be a prude. Are you ready to go out to dinner?”
    “Yeah, but I'm not taking you anywhere dressed like that.”
    “Then I'll go out by myself.”
    She was at the door and through it before Hugh realized she meant business. He swung around and went after her. “Now, just one damn minute, Mattie.”
    “You can't come along if you're going to lecture me,” she informed him from the top of the stairs. “I'm sick and tired of your lectures. I intend to have fun tonight.”
    “Mattie, hold on a second. Damn it, come back here.” Hugh started down the hall with long, determined strides.
    But Mattie had already scampered down to the lobby and was waving at the clerk as she went past the front door.
    Hugh was right behind her.
    “Got a navy ship in the harbor,” the old desk clerk said as Hugh went past. “You'd better hang on to her or yer not gonna see her till morning.”
    “Damn,” said Hugh.
    He caught up with Mattie outside on the street. A beautiful scarlet butterfly flitting through the tropical night, she was already attracting