The Family Jewels Read Online Free

once she found a radio station to her liking.
    “I was just thinking about that.”
    Sadie and her father had always managed to shield Clarissa from their nighttime activities. When he passed away, Sadie had created the illusion that he’d left them with a moderate life insurance policy and that, between it and her odd jobs waiting tables or tending bar, they were making ends meet.
    Whenever she could, though, she peppered her lies with truth. Clarissa knew she was going to a gala in Long Island that evening, but thought she was going as the guest of a handsome, rich date she’d met at the restaurant. In fact, her sister was probably picturing her on the arm of someone like Jake Callahan.
    A shiver ran through her and she turned down the air conditioning.
    Damn Jake Callahan and that warm, wicked smile of his. It had been at least half the reason she’d spent the past couple nights tossing and turning. She had long since accepted that professions like cat burglar and con artist didn’t lend themselves to a satisfying love life, but lately she’d been feeling lonely and out of sorts. And something about Jake made her feel even lonelier and even more out of sorts. That had left her vulnerable.
    He’d looked at her. Really looked, like he was stripping away the façade with his penetrating granite-colored eyes.
    Not good. But at least she’d never have to see him again.
    Somehow the thought gave her far less comfort than it should have.
    “Hey, space cadet?” Clarissa snapped her fingers in front of Sadie’s face. “Anyone home?”
    She managed a grin and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. “Sorry, I was trying to think of what kind of dress to get.”
    “Well, it’s your lucky day then, because I’m here.” Clarissa folded one leg under her bottom and tugged the cell phone from her pocket. “I was looking at red carpet styles for the past few days, and I think this long and sheer trend would be so hot on you with those curves.”
    Sadie flicked a glance at her sister and smiled for real this time. Clarissa’s face was still drawn and she still had bruise-like circles under her eyes, but she was in her element talking about fashion, and seemed lit from within.
    “Now, is this a super chic-chic kind of black tie thing or is this more of a cocktails and hors d’oeuvres type of thing?”
    Clarissa grilled her for the rest of the ride and, less than an hour later, she found herself at Play It Again, Samantha’s Frock Shoppe trying on the last of four dresses her sister had picked for her. All of them had been stunning and all of them had cost more than she made at Roberto's in a week.
    She peered down at the tag of the one she was wearing and gasped. “Four hundred dollars?” She popped her brows at Clarissa, who sat on a little chair in the corner tsk ing and shaking her head like her own personal Tim Gunn.
    “You can't look at it like that. It's an investment,” her sister reasoned. “Do you want to be known as the girl who showed up at a fancy gala wearing a cheap-ass dress? It’s gorgeous. It’s Prada. Make it work.”
    Four hundred dollars, though. And that didn't even account for the shoes. Even with the ten bucks she’d found in her jeans that morning, she was still --she mathed mentally and frowned-- two hundred and eighty dollars short.
    She turned to face the mirror again and opened her mouth to argue.
    “That's the one, sis, so cut the crap. You look amazing. Like, seriously. J-Lo at the Grammy's kind of deal.” Her sister sniffed in mock disgust. “Who woulda guessed that underneath that beautiful dress is an oatmeal-colored sports bra and a pair of Wonder Woman boy-cut underpants.”
    “Hey! I like my superhero panty collection. They make me feel like I can kick ass if I need to.”
    “Well, I'll tell you what's not kick-ass. That god awful hair-don't you’re rocking.” Clarissa closed one eye and framed Sadie with her fingers like a picture. “I'm thinking blowout. Fat