Before he met his actual client, Terrance had spent an afternoon with Fran browsing through his sketches of dresses and gowns, so by the time he met Joanna face-to-face, he already knew what was expected. It was called perfection. Stunning and unequivocal perfection in the form of a black evening gown which would turn every head in every room it was in. Terrance’s ego told him it could be done, but it wasn’t until he finally met Joanna when he realized he was already halfway there. Now all he needed to do was to try to turn a black evening gown into something more than just a black evening gown...and he did.

Strapless, with a low cut notched neckline, the A-line gown was made of the finest silk duchess satin on the planet. The fabric’s sheen alone outdid all others in the room and even those who had dared to wear sequins that night faded into obscurity. But the uniqueness of Joanna’s dress wasn’t truly appreciated until she took a step, and as she and Addison walked slowly down the stairs, the intake of breath around the room was audible.

It had taken four solid weeks and a staff of twenty seamstresses to carefully stitch a red silk lining inside the black satin, and as the front split opened to allow Joanna freedom of movement, the shimmering, ruby-red lining appeared. Between the shock of the red and the awe of Joanna’s shapely legs, before she reached the bottom step, there was not a person in the room who would ever forget her entrance...especially the woman standing to her right.

Chapter Twenty-Four

As Fran had predicted, the attention drawn by Addison’s and Joanna’s appearance at Bradley’s party caused the man to forego his hosting duties toward everyone else in the room. At first, it was merely a photo session. Wrapping his arms around their shoulders, Bradley smiled left and then smiled right to the photographers he had invited inside the house, but eventually the need for drinks and conversation took precedence. Well aware the night was more about business than pleasure, in a feigned search for the ladies’ room, Joanna politely excused herself, leaving Bradley and Addison alone for the first time that night. For over an hour, standing far away from the hubbub of the partygoers, Addison and Bradley spoke in hushed tones, and by the time his other guests demanded his attention, the deal was done.

Celebrating with a scotch, Addison found a quiet corner and sipping her drink, she scanned the crowd of tuxes and gowns. With her business all but done, there was no need to stay, and checking her watch, she tried to decide if she should just find Joanna and suggest they leave before dinner began. Addison scanned the room for her wife, but when she saw a familiar figure walking in her direction, her backbone instantly grew rigid.