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Jenna pulled out three or four dresses. “Why don’t you try these.”

The top one was a short-sleeved cotton dress in dove gray. The bodice had tight horizontal ruffles with some banding at the waist. The skirt had wider ruffles.

Not really her style, Violet thought, eyeing the dress doubtfully. She wasn’t exactly a ruffle person.

“I have a belt that could go with this,” Jenna said. “It actually looks really great on.”

“Okay. I’ll try it.” After all, her goal was to look like someone else.

Jenna handed over the dresses. “Can’t wait to see the fashion show.”

She stepped out of the closet and returned to the bedroom. Violet pulled off her black pants, the tank top and lace overshirt she wore, then stepped out of her boots. She drew the ruffled dress over her head and buttoned the front.

“There’s a full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door,” Jenna said, pointing, then leading the way.

Violet trailed after her. Once in the huge bathroom, complete with separate shower and massive soaking tub, she closed the door and stared at herself.

The color wasn’t bad, she thought, turning back and forth. The fit was great, but the style just wasn’t working.

“I look like I’m twelve,” she said.

“It’s not quite right,” Jenna agreed. “There’s a black dress that should be better. Let me get it.”

She left the bathroom, then returned seconds later. The dress she held looked more fitted. A simple scoop neck, tank straps and a skirt that fell to mid thigh. Some tucking detail on the front gave the shape definition.

“Simple, elegant, silk,” Jenna said holding it out.

Violet’s gaze dropped to the tag still attached. “I can’t wear that. It’s new.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s your dress. You should wear it first.”

“If we wait for that, a millennium will have passed.” Jenna pushed the dress toward her. “You have to at least try it on.”

Violet took it reluctantly. She didn’t have any silk in her wardrobe. It was costly to buy and usually had to be dry-cleaned. Not an expense she needed. But the fabric was whisper soft and the style appealed to her.

After hanging the black dress on the towel rack by the light switch, she unbuttoned the front of the dress she had on and shrugged out of it without even thinking. When she reached for the black dress, she felt more than heard Jenna’s surprise. A second too late, Violet remembered that stripping down to a thong and bra in front of her boss probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

Jenna stood slightly behind her, so she had a full view of the delicate scrollwork on the small of her back and the roses between her shoulder blades. Chinese characters trailed along her left thigh, a Celtic design extended up both arms and a dolphin arced just above her right ankle.

“They’re beautiful,” Jenna said, sounding very close to meaning it.

Violet drew the black dress off the hanger. “It was a geographical necessity,” she said, undoing the zipper. “I lived on the streets for a while. I got my first tattoo on a dare and the next couple to fit in.”

The others had followed because they’d seemed like what she should do at the time. Now she regretted them, but it wasn’t as if they could be scrubbed off.

“Why were you on the streets?” Jenna asked. “Or is that question too personal?”

“I was independent.” Violet slipped into the dress. “This is great.”

Jenna moved behind her and pulled up the zipper. “It’s perfect. You have to wear it. I think it needs a little jacket. I have a couple you can choose from. My mom is very big on accessories.”

Violet was grateful for the change in subject. “She trained you?”

“Actually, she does my shopping.” Jenna shrugged. “I know it’s weird, but she loves to shop and she’s good at it. She’ll show up with bags of clothes for me to try on. I keep the ones I like and she returns the rest.”

“Nice system.”

“It is. I’m spoiled. If things get serious with this guy and you want to change your look, you should talk to her. I’m sure she’d love to help. She can suggest stores or even take you shopping.”

The thought was nice, Violet thought. Impossible, but nice. In her world, the mother of her boss didn’t bother with an employee. Of course in her world, her boss didn’t usually lend her brand-new dresses.

“Let’s go see what jackets I have. I’m thinking short and tailored, but not too severe. We want him to be impressed, not afraid you’re into discipline.”

Violet trailed after her, wondering what life would have been like if her own mother had cared about her. As it was, Violet had run away at fifteen and never gone back. When she’d been younger, she’d dreamed about finding a family to take her in. A place to belong. She’d always wanted that.

Without meaning to, she thought of Cliff. He wasn’t anything like the guys she usually dated. He was normal—at least on the surface. She would bet he’d never gone hungry a day in his life.

They had nothing in common. She would be foolish to allow herself to hope. But maybe, just maybe, a little anticipation couldn’t hurt.

She wasn’t too proud to buy love, Jenna thought humorously as she delivered paper plates filled with lemon bars to the businesses around her store. Or at the very least, good neighbors and potential customers.

She saved Only Ewe for last and was pleased to see Robyn behind the register.

“How’s it going?” the other woman asked when she saw Jenna. “You’ve been getting a crowd over there.”

“Finally.” Jenna handed over the plate. “A little sugar rush to keep you going.”

“Thanks. These look delicious.” Robyn lifted the plastic wrap and sniffed. “You’re killing me, you know that, right? Those brownie-cookies were beyond wonderful. I bought the bag of ingredients and made them over the weekend. It was really easy. What a great idea.”

“Violet came up with it. We’re going to keep offering premeasured ingredients with recipe cards. And not just desserts, for actual meals.”

“It’s perfect,” Robyn told her. “I’m tired when I’m done working and I don’t want to think up what to cook and then have to stop at the store. This is nearly as easy as fast food, but healthier and fresh. Not to mention, it will impress my boyfriend, T.J.”

The front door opened and several older women entered. Robyn waved.

“A few of my regulars,” she said in a low voice.

“You have a great store,” Jenna told her, looking at all the bins filled with yarn. “It makes me want to learn how to knit.”

“We have beginner classes starting all the time. My grandmother teaches them. She’s incredibly patient.”

“I’d like to try.” She thought about the classes she had lined up at her own store. “Maybe when things calm down a little.”

“Don’t hope for that,” Robyn said with a smile. “Not in retail.”

“Good point. How about when my schedule starts to make sense?”