The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel Read online

Chapter 1

  July 2013

  I bent over to secure the strap on my new pair of Steve Stone metallic snake sling-backs. They’d set me back a few hundred dollars but were worth every penny. I sat upright to finish my makeup and complete my “get ready for work on time” routine. The round mirror on my dressing table reflected the fact that I had loose strands of my blond hair escaping my updo of the day. I secured them with a few bobby pins and plastered on the hair spray like all good Texas girls do. After putting the finishing touches on my eyeliner, I swiped some mascara across my lashes, and voilà, I was ready for my day at the best job ever.

  I sighed as I relished my good fortune of landing the perfect job. Jennifer Cloud, assistant merchandiser for Steve Stone Shoes. The sound of it made my heart dance.

  Steve Stone Shoes was a specialty shoe store in Dallas that sold tons of designer shoes and was located in the most exclusive mall in Texas. I loved it. I had the luxury of being the first one to preview the new spring lines, not to mention I received a fabulous discount. A good portion of my paycheck was left behind to pay for my purchases, but I had cute shoes, shiny shoes, shoes in every color, shoes for wet days, and shoes for hot summers when I didn’t even wear shoes. I was a lucky girl. My face smiled back at me in the mirror. I caught a glimpse of something glistening around my neck. The silver necklace my great-aunt Elma Jean Cloud had left me in her will sparkled in the mirror. Tiny blue gems in the shape of stars encircled a piece of stone that resembled a crescent moon. I reached up to touch the necklace and remembered the first time I laid eyes on it.