Knox took in every detail. “It really is.”
“This is sensational.” Glori held up a robe. “How much?”
Hailey laughed. “I’d be happy to make robes for all of you.”
“That’s not what I asked,” the older woman said. “I asked how much you’re charging.”
“They’re free in exchange for babysitting.” Glori and Knox gave her pointed looks, making her laugh again. “Okay, fine. They’re a hundred bucks. And don’t ask for a break just because we’re friends. I’m a businesswoman.”
Their serious expressions cracked into grins, and Glori said, “Three hundred it is. A perfectly reasonable price for a hand-sewn robe of this quality.”
Knox rubbed the material between two fingers. “Is it weird that I want to get naked right now?”
For a woman who worked with fabric for a living, not at all. She understood. “We could give you some alone-time,” Hailey said.
Rosie shrugged out of her sweater and yanked off her jeans. When she saw everyone watching, she said, “What? I’m not naked.” Yet, she stood there in nothing but sexy scraps of pale pink lace.
“That’s what I started out making.” Hailey pointed. “Lingerie like that. But when I found this fabric, I had the same reaction as Knox.”
“You wanted to roll your naked body all over it?” Knox asked.
“Oh, my God,” Rosie said. “Is your husband out of town? Do you need some Gray lovin’?”
“Asks the woman who literally stripped out of her clothing to try on a robe,” Knox said.
Rosie lifted her arms and gently swung the bell sleeves. “I didn’t want to ruin it with my street clothes.”
“But it’s okay to ruin it with your skin?” Knox had a teasing glint in her eyes.
“Oh, I didn’t think about that. I did shower before I came over here.”
“And slathered lotion all over your body,” Knox was quick to point out.
“I did. Now it’s going to smell like my perfume.” Rosie cut a sheepish look over to Hailey. “Sorry.”
“That one’s yours.” She didn’t mind a bit. It fit the princess perfectly.
Rosie’s eyes went wide. “Look at this. I love how it’s got these dark pink, green, and yellow flowers, but then you’ve got this peacock with its wings spread, and it’s just so feminine, bold, and romantic all at once. I love it.”
“Thank you.” Hailey set about turning off machines and lamps. Her work for the day was done.
“You know, the Petticoat Rulers offers business loans,” Glori said.
“Oh, I don’t like debt. I’m still paying off my student loans. And if the business doesn’t work out…then, I’m screwed.”
Knox turned serious. “I want to tell you something, and please don’t take this the wrong way.” The wedding gown designer had a quiet elegance about her, and when she spoke, people listened. “I grew up with nothing. I had no connections, no family money...nothing. But not for one second did I ever question whether I’d become successful. Failure never entered my mind.”
“I agree with Knox on that,” Rosie said. “My family’s made Nocturne for generations. For years, I begged them to expand our brand, add lotions and other products, and they refused. So, I became a chemist and created my own line. It was frustrating because I didn’t see how to get where I wanted, but I never stopped marching forward.”
“Well, I’m marching.” Hailey went on the defensive. “I sketch and design. I’ve made dozens of robes, and I’m serious about saving money. I just want to be smart about it. I don’t have a safety net.” Not like Rosie who came from the royal family of St. Christophe, or Knox who married into the billionaire Bowie family.
“Are you suggesting we’re successful business owners because we married wealthy men?” For the first time, she saw the hardness underneath Knox’s elegant demeanor.
“No, not at all.” Well, not exactly, anyway. “I’ve seen your wedding gowns, and I know you’re unbelievably talented.” She turned to Glori. “And I’ve had your protein bars. They’re delicious.”
“But you still think we had the backing of our husbands before we launched our businesses,” Knox said. “And you couldn’t be more wrong. I worked at House of Bellerose Atelier for years and had my own showing at New York City’s Bridal Fashion Week.Then,I started dating Gray. And Rosie? Sure, she’s a princess, but she came to Calamity with no support. She would’ve been a chemist and created her own perfume if she’d grown up in a trailer like me. Nothing would’ve stopped her from living her passion.”
Hailey wanted to assert herself, declare that shewasliving her passion, but how could she do that when her full-time job was designing flannel nightgowns for Abbott’s? She lived her passion in stolen moments.