Christine Feehan - Dark Possession

Solange sighed. «She's right, Jasmine. We'll probably be safer at the ranch than anywhere else. I need some time to recuperate anyway. And I've always loved horses.»

Jasmine turned around, for the first time more interested in the conversation. «I didn't know that. You never told me.»

Solange tried to look nonchalant. She rarely gave anything of herself away these days, not even to her family. «When I was younger I used to ride.»

«I remember that,» Juliette said. «You were such a daredevil even then. You always rode bareback and scared the heck out of Mom.»

The light faded from Solange's eyes and she lay back again on the couch. Juliette and even Jasmine glanced helplessly at MaryAnn, as if asking what they should do.

MaryAnn waited until Jasmine was seated on the couch beside Solange before she brought out her nail polish. She held up the bottle. «Anyone want to use this?»

«I've never painted my nails in my life,» Solange said, looking faintly shocked. «Can you imagine me with red nails?»

«Not red.» MaryAnn gave a little shake of her head, frowning as if Solange had committed a huge fashion gaffe. «Passion pink.»

«Passion pink,» Juliette prodded her cousin. «That's hysterical. I've never seen you in pink anything, let alone passion pink.»

«Why not red?» Jasmine asked.

«It would be wrong with her skin tone,» MaryAnn said knowledgeably. «She has beautiful hands. You want people to notice them.»

Solange put her hands behind her back. «I'm not interested in men noticing me.»

MaryAnn laughed. «Silly woman. Do you really think women dress up just for men? Some do, but the majority dress to give themselves courage in any situation. If you look good, you have more confidence. For instance, if you and Jasmine have to go to some dinner party, you're going to want to look your best so other women don't make you feel like a poor relation. Women are much harder on women than men are.»

«You always look good,» Juliette said. «What else do you do?»

MaryAnn looked left and right and then lowered her voice. «The secret weapon is cucumber.»

Solange sat all the way up. «Jasmine, cover your ears.»

MaryAnn, Juliette and Jasmine burst out laughing.

«Sheesh, Solange,» Juliette said. «Get your mind out of the gutter.»

«My mind is just fine, thank you. It's MaryAnn's I'm concerned about.»

«You put them on your eyes,» MaryAnn said, laughing even harder.

Solange's answering smile was slow in coming and very brief, but it lit her eyes. «I knew that.»

It was the first time MaryAnn saw a flash of normalcy in Solange, as her guard slipped just for a second.

«I'll paint your toes and fingernails for you, Jasmine,» MaryAnn offered. The key to Solange's cooperation, and maybe ultimately her healing, was her love for her young cousin. As long as MaryAnn kept every suggestion for Jasmine, Solange would push herself to get out of her comfort zone for the younger woman.

Jasmine glanced at Solange and then her sister. «I've never painted either one.»

«Well it's time you did, then,» Juliette said.

«And I think Juliette ought to try the cucumber,» Solange suggested.

Juliette threw a pillow at her.

«On your eyes, your eyes,» Solange said in defense.

«I'll paint my nails if you will,» Jasmine said.

Solange shook her head. «No way.»

Juliette nudged her again. «Solange is afraid we're going to think she's a girlie girl. A little fashionista.»

«Hey!» MaryAnn managed to look affronted. «What's wrong with that? I still kicked vampire butt. I just looked good doing it.» She didn't mention she'd been wearing fur at the time. She held out her nails. «And I only broke one.»

«Your nails are long,» Jasmine said in admiration. «I break mine all the time.»

«But not polished. Come on, Jasmine. Solange will let me do her toenails. She can cover them up so no one knows. Kind of like wearing ultrasexy underwear and no one knows. It makes you feel beautiful, but you're the only one aware.»

Juliette frowned. «Underwear? Who wears underwear?»

«Eew!» Solange threw the pillow back at her. «You're just wrong.»

«Okay,» Jasmine said, «I have to agree with Solange on that one. That's way too much information. I'll never be able to look at you again without picturing you…» She broke off, making a face.

Solange actually smiled. A genuine smile. It changed her entire face, lighting her eyes and making her look years younger. «Now you've got that image in my head, too.»

She and Jasmine exchanged a look, making a face and simultaneously saying, «Ugh.»

«Then my mission here is complete. I've managed to disturb you both.» Juliette folded her arms, looking smug.

Jasmine laughed and held out her hands to MaryAnn. «If Solange is passion pink, what color am I?»

Everyone waited. MaryAnn glanced at Solange, who raised an eyebrow. «Hmm, I think you're more of a bubblegum.» She extracted another small bottle from her bag.

«That's pink!» Solange pronounced, sitting back against the cushions.

«It is not,» MaryAnn said indignantly. «There's a subtle difference.»

«What else do you have in there?» Juliette wanted to know. She peered into the bag with the neat rows of polish shoved through loops. «I don't believe this. Check this out, Solange.» She snatched up the bag and

exposed the contents.

There was a small, awed silence.

«Just how many different bottles of nail polish do you have?» Solange asked.

MaryAnn took the bag back and opened the bottle of bubblegum polish. «I rarely leave home without at least ten. You never know what might happen, and a woman needs to feel good about herself no matter what.» She heaved an exaggerated sigh. «I have no idea what the three of you did without me.»

«Well,» Solange said, sitting so far forward her nose was nearly in the nail polish as she watched MaryAnn apply it to Jasmine's fingernails, «we didn't wear passion pink or bubblegum, that's for sure.»

«Here.» Juliette grabbed the passion pink. «Stick your foot out, Solange.»

«Wait!» There was panic in MaryAnn's voice. «You can't just do it that way. Here.» She pulled out two small pieces of purple and orange foam. «You have to use these. They'll separate her toes.»

Solange drew her foot up and tucked it under her. «Back off, cousin. You're not sticking anything that weird on my foot.»

«Don't be such a baby.» MaryAnn slipped the foam onto her feet and lifted them up into the air. «See. It doesn't hurt at all. I have another pair and they aren't purple.»

Jasmine let out a cry of delight. «Look, Solange, they're pink.»

Solange rolled her eyes but allowed Juliette to put them on her toes. «You'd better never tell anyone about this.»

MaryAnn worked happily on Jasmine's nails, occasionally glancing over at Solange's toes. Juliette was making a mess, and making Jasmine laugh so hard she could barely keep her hands still. MaryAnn glanced several times at Solange. She seemed to be relaxing and allowing herself to have fun. It was a small step, but it was still progress.

MaryAnn found her favorite polish and began on her own toes while Jasmine blew on her nails and Juliette allowed Solange to work on her toes. Solange suddenly stiffened and glanced toward the door.

Manolito? MaryAnn felt his presence close. Be careful with Solange. She really has suffered trauma; both she and Jasmine need help. Warn Riordan and Luiz as well, please.

He flooded her with reassurance as he strode into the room. «Good evening, ladies. I trust you are well.» He bent to brush a kiss on top of MaryAnn's head, pretending not to see Solange wince at his close proximity.

«How is Luiz?» Jasmine asked.