Only His (Fool's Gold #6)(50)

The statements were amazingly self-absorbed, Nevada thought. Yet with Cat saying them, they seemed exactly right.

“Are you hungry?” Cat asked. “Can we talk before dinner? Would you mind?”

“Um, sure,” Montana said. “That would be fine. We’ve been eating the appetizers. They’re really good.”

“I’m so glad.”

Cat walked toward the sofas against the wall, then paused and furrowed her pale brow. “Oh, if only two of the sofas faced each other,” she said, sounding disappointed.

Instantly the servers leapt into action, pulling one sofa around so it was across from the other with only a slender table in between.

“How perfect.” She blessed the young men with a smile.

The four of them settled on the couches. Cat insisted Nevada sit next to her, then sipped her champagne and studied the triplets.

“I see differences,” she said. “In the light, there are minor shifts in structure and color.” She touched Nevada’s chin and turned her head slightly. “Maybe a hint in the profile. I’ve never been one to sculpt people, but there is something very special about the three of you.”

She dropped her hand. “I’m entering my feminine period.”

The words sounded more like an announcement than a moment of casual conversation. Nevada blinked, not sure what they were supposed to say to that.

Dakota recovered first. “How nice.”

Cat beamed. “Yes, it is. Until now, I’ve considered my inspiration to be either male or androgynous. But the earth is female and we all come from her. Dust to dust, as they say in the Bible. Now I see the possibilities of female energy. I would love to sculpt you three together.”

She closed her eyes and swayed slightly. “Yes, I can see it. So beautiful and perfect. Larger than life, of course. Your three bodies draped across each other.”

Montana choked. “Bodies?”

“Mmm.” Cat opened her eyes. “Naked. That would be best.”

Dakota’s eyes widened. “I don’t think so, but thanks for asking.”

“What she said,” Montana added quickly.

Cat turned to Nevada. “Then maybe just you.”

Nevada managed to swallow the mouthful of champagne before she spoke. “I’m busy that day.”

Cat only smiled.

She waved away the tray the server brought by. “If I remember correctly, the three of you grew up in this town. Is that right?”

“Yes,” Nevada said, surprised she would recall anything that specific.

“It’s charming. I can see why you like it here. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a home. Restful. The familiar heals us, don’t you think? Perhaps I should talk to a real estate agent. Do you know one?”

She directed the question to Montana, who nodded frantically. “Um, sure.”

Nevada did her best not to choke or run screaming into the night.

Cat nodded. “I travel constantly, driven by forces I can’t control. Searching for my next inspiration. Once I know what I’m doing, I work fanatically. It’s exhausting.”

Nevada had seen Cat work. The hours were grueling, as was the physical task of moving sheets of metal into place. While she sometimes had men helping her with the heaviest pieces, she handled most of it herself.

“Are you close?” Cat asked her. “You and your sisters?”

“Yes. We’ve always been close.”

“When our brothers finally went to college, we still shared a room,” Montana told her. “We didn’t want to be apart. By the time we went to college, we were ready to be in different schools. Being separate was hard, but good for us.”

Cat leaned forward, as if interested. “No matter what, you’ll have each other. That’s a true gift. I don’t have many friends. I’m not a very good friend myself. Some of it is my schedule. Some of it is how I work. I give myself over to whatever I’m doing. I can be unavailable for weeks at a time. My brilliance is demanding.”

She turned to Nevada, tears in her eyes. “Sometimes I get so lonely.”

Nevada instinctively touched her arm. “I’m sure you do.”

Cat drew in a shaky breath. “I should probably cut myself off from people. It’s not right to let them believe I’m like them. I can never be like them. But they’re drawn to me.” She turned to Dakota. “I’m very transcendent.”

Nevada drew back her hand and didn’t know if she should burst out laughing or simply run for the door.

EVENTUALLY THEY MOVED to the table and dinner was served.

Cat focused on Dakota and Montana, asking questions as if she were sincerely interested, then managed to switch the conversation back to herself. Nevada thought it was quite the trick. Even though she did her best to figure out how Cat did it, the other woman was too practiced.

“Do you have pictures of your daughter?” Cat asked.

Dakota pulled out her phone and pushed a few buttons.

“She’s a jewel. You’re so lucky. A baby on the way and this little angel.”

“I’m very grateful,” Dakota said.

“I would make beautiful babies.” Cat handed back the phone and turned to Montana. “I couldn’t help but notice your diamond ring.”

Montana held out her left hand and laughed. “I know it’s kind of big, but Simon was insistent.”