Dancing Naked in Dixie by Lauren Clark

Author:Lauren Clark
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Monterey Press
Published: 2012-04-16T18:49:43+00:00

Chapter 21

“It’s broken,” I cry out, holding my ankle. The shoe has snapped in two, leaving a gilt-covered cylinder nearly five inches long in the palm of my hand.

This is what I get for trying to balance in stiletto heels, I tell myself.

Shug rushes over and kneels down; Roger is two steps behind, with his hands fluttering in the air like bird wings. Mary Katherine is glowering red hot between the two men, so angry I think that she might self-combust into flames.

“Julia, are you hurt?” Shug asks, taking my foot in his hands and examining for broken bones. With careful fingers, he slips my toes out of the broken shoe. At his touch, I tremble. His dark eyes find mine and I can’t help but feel lightheaded.

“She’s fine, sweetheart,” May Katherine pulls at his coat sleeve. “Now, be a good boy and let PD in the door. I’ll look after Julia.”

With the mention of his sister, Shug relinquishes his position and gets to his feet, brushing off his pants. “Be right back,” he murmurs.

Wide-eyed, Roger shoots a look of pure terror in my direction, then watches as Mary Katherine sidles nearer to inspect the damage.

“Oh, Julia, my goodness, bless your heart,” Roger exclaims as he practically pushes her tall figure out of the way to get to me first. He bends down and pulls me closer, tilting his face toward my ear. His voice is hushed but emphatic and clipped. “Didn’t you hear me the first time? I said—it might be your shoe.”

“Oh no, I thought you…” I cover my eyes and shake my head back and forth.

Mary Katherine is closer. Hovering. Circling like a bee to pollen. And ready to sting.

Roger stops talking. Shug’s girlfriend is inches from my foot.

“Princess?” Roger shoots a half-annoyed, half-amused look in her direction. “You run along with the other girls and play nice.” He shoos her with an adoring look. “Pretty please? Don’t miss all of the fun. Besides, Miss Shirl is dying to know where you picked up those stunning earrings.”

Mary Katherine brightens, “Oh?” She tosses her long blonde hair over one shoulder to reveal an intricate design of gold and diamonds.

“They are lovely,” Roger gushes. I sit still, not breathing, watching in awe as Shug’s girlfriend softens before my eyes. “I took a guess. That little antique store in Charleston? Or the one in Savannah?” He taps his upper lip. “But, when she asked me, I told her to go straight to you.” Roger takes Mary Katherine’s hand in his. “Let’s walk, shall we dear? Shug and PD will be along in just a moment.”

Open-mouthed, still sitting on the floor, I yank off my other shoe. My toes are red and pinched, but when I stand up, I almost sigh in relief. I hobble to the foyer of the Mansion, feeling much like Cinderella after the ball, and step outside. The naked soles of my feet retract against the cold marble and I practically dance down the steps, my broken heels swinging next to my bare thighs.

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