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Paula could be heard taking a deep calming breath before responding.
Better. She threw up half the night, but seems fine now. Kids are so re-
silient. My mom s agreed to watch her so I can go in to work today.
Only if you re sure. I can manage on my own, otherwise.
Nope, I ll be there. Besides I want to find out all the details of your
date with Mr. Hot Stuff. Paula then hung up before her boss could
reply. Stephanie loved her friend dearly, but she did seem to have a one
track mind when it came to men.
*****
Despite the previous night s robbery, Stephanie felt like she was float-
ing around the shop the whole day. Her sleep had been punctuated with
70
the same steamy dreams that had plagued her of late, but now the man
had a face and it was Jake. She was eager to see him again after work,
but hoped she wouldn t blush some of the images in her dream had
been quite& vivid. In preparation for her date, she d dressed in her fa-
vourite coral blouse and off white pants, recalling that he d liked the col-
our of her tank top the night before. Throwing her apron overtop, she
hoped she could avoid staining the outfit while she worked.
For once, everything seemed to be going perfectly. The flowers for the
Johnston wedding were on their way, Paula was back to help and the
traffic flow through the shop was steady, but not overwhelming. The
only down turn was that she couldn t find her name tag. She was sure
that it had been on the apron when she d taken it off the night before.
After finishing the wedding bouquets, she remembered removing the
apron and draping it over her desk chair in the back room, but now the
tag was no longer pinned to the material, nor had it fallen onto the
desktop.
Maybe it got knocked on the floor when the police were here last
night. Paula suggested. The two women crawled on the floor, looking
under counters and behind the filing cabinet, but beyond dust bunnies
and an old pen, they had no luck.
Oh well, it was just a name tag. Stephanie said as she slowly sur-
veyed the room.
Yes, but it was your name tag and I remember how proud you were
when you could finally put the word owner on it.
It was the first time that I finally felt like I had something of my own
and that I was going somewhere with my life. Steph recalled that day
fondly, a smile playing over her lips.
Hey, if it doesn t turn up, I ll get you a new one.
71
You don t have to do that, but thanks for the offer. She gave her
friend a hug. Just then the phone rang and the front bell jingled. Back
to work. I ll get the phone.
And I ll get the customer. Maybe it ll be someone like your Jake tall
dark and scrumptious& Laughing Paula swished through the cur-
tained doorway into the front showroom.
Eight hours later the day finally came to an end. Stephanie had just
finished handing her assistant the night deposit when Jake tapped on the
door. Paula let him in on her way out. See you on Monday, Steph.
You two have a fun weekend. Remember to NOT behave. She d
smiled gleefully at Steph s appalled face. Jake just grinned and wiggled
his eyebrows.
I like your friend, Jake said leaning on the counter, watching her fin-
ish her work.
Sometimes I wonder if she is a friend or not. Stephanie was still
feeling a bit embarrassed about Paula s suggestive comment.
She just wants you to be happy and enjoy life a little.
I know. I just wish she d be a bit subtler about it. She grabbed an
envelope to put Monday s orders in. Ouch! Shaking her finger, she
popped it into her mouth.
What? Jake stood up, a look of concern on his face.
Paper cut, she mumbled from around her finger.
Let me see. He withdrew the digit from her mouth and looked at it
carefully running his thumb over the surface, then slowly bringing it to
his mouth and kissing it. There, it s all better now.
72
Thanks, but that only works when you re three years old. Stephanie
retrieved her finger and studied it critically. Huh& That s strange. I
could have sworn I cut it. She peered at her finger more closely,
squeezing the end and examining it for blood or evidence of a break-in
the skin. Looking up at Jake she frowned. You saw it, didn t you?
He shrugged. Not really. But then again, I was more interested in
the opportunity to kiss you, though your finger isn t as satisfying as your
lips. With that he leaned forward and brushed his mouth over hers.
Stephanie was sure there must be electrical sparks in the air every time
he did that. She leaned over the counter, trying to get closer, to deepen
the kiss. The counter top dug into her stomach and she had to pull
away. Ugh! Rubbing her ribs, she looked at him ruefully. That
counter is not conducive to kissing.
Not when we re on opposite sides, he agreed. I ll pull the blinds
for you while you finish up here. Anything else need doing?
No. Paula and I had things pretty well wrapped up. I ll just grab my
purse and turn out the lights.
*****
He took her to a quiet restaurant on the edge of town that served a
variety of entrées. It was a small establishment, with stucco walls and
small intimate tables separated by strategically placed plants and bits of
lattice.
I hope this is all right. He was looking a bit anxious as they sat
down.
It s perfect. I ve been here a few times and the food is good. She
fixed her napkin in her lap. Actually I was a bit afraid you d take me to
one of those really fancy places up town and I d be too nervous to enjoy
myself.
73
I m saving that for date number four. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
Paula could be heard taking a deep calming breath before responding.
Better. She threw up half the night, but seems fine now. Kids are so re-
silient. My mom s agreed to watch her so I can go in to work today.
Only if you re sure. I can manage on my own, otherwise.
Nope, I ll be there. Besides I want to find out all the details of your
date with Mr. Hot Stuff. Paula then hung up before her boss could
reply. Stephanie loved her friend dearly, but she did seem to have a one
track mind when it came to men.
*****
Despite the previous night s robbery, Stephanie felt like she was float-
ing around the shop the whole day. Her sleep had been punctuated with
70
the same steamy dreams that had plagued her of late, but now the man
had a face and it was Jake. She was eager to see him again after work,
but hoped she wouldn t blush some of the images in her dream had
been quite& vivid. In preparation for her date, she d dressed in her fa-
vourite coral blouse and off white pants, recalling that he d liked the col-
our of her tank top the night before. Throwing her apron overtop, she
hoped she could avoid staining the outfit while she worked.
For once, everything seemed to be going perfectly. The flowers for the
Johnston wedding were on their way, Paula was back to help and the
traffic flow through the shop was steady, but not overwhelming. The
only down turn was that she couldn t find her name tag. She was sure
that it had been on the apron when she d taken it off the night before.
After finishing the wedding bouquets, she remembered removing the
apron and draping it over her desk chair in the back room, but now the
tag was no longer pinned to the material, nor had it fallen onto the
desktop.
Maybe it got knocked on the floor when the police were here last
night. Paula suggested. The two women crawled on the floor, looking
under counters and behind the filing cabinet, but beyond dust bunnies
and an old pen, they had no luck.
Oh well, it was just a name tag. Stephanie said as she slowly sur-
veyed the room.
Yes, but it was your name tag and I remember how proud you were
when you could finally put the word owner on it.
It was the first time that I finally felt like I had something of my own
and that I was going somewhere with my life. Steph recalled that day
fondly, a smile playing over her lips.
Hey, if it doesn t turn up, I ll get you a new one.
71
You don t have to do that, but thanks for the offer. She gave her
friend a hug. Just then the phone rang and the front bell jingled. Back
to work. I ll get the phone.
And I ll get the customer. Maybe it ll be someone like your Jake tall
dark and scrumptious& Laughing Paula swished through the cur-
tained doorway into the front showroom.
Eight hours later the day finally came to an end. Stephanie had just
finished handing her assistant the night deposit when Jake tapped on the
door. Paula let him in on her way out. See you on Monday, Steph.
You two have a fun weekend. Remember to NOT behave. She d
smiled gleefully at Steph s appalled face. Jake just grinned and wiggled
his eyebrows.
I like your friend, Jake said leaning on the counter, watching her fin-
ish her work.
Sometimes I wonder if she is a friend or not. Stephanie was still
feeling a bit embarrassed about Paula s suggestive comment.
She just wants you to be happy and enjoy life a little.
I know. I just wish she d be a bit subtler about it. She grabbed an
envelope to put Monday s orders in. Ouch! Shaking her finger, she
popped it into her mouth.
What? Jake stood up, a look of concern on his face.
Paper cut, she mumbled from around her finger.
Let me see. He withdrew the digit from her mouth and looked at it
carefully running his thumb over the surface, then slowly bringing it to
his mouth and kissing it. There, it s all better now.
72
Thanks, but that only works when you re three years old. Stephanie
retrieved her finger and studied it critically. Huh& That s strange. I
could have sworn I cut it. She peered at her finger more closely,
squeezing the end and examining it for blood or evidence of a break-in
the skin. Looking up at Jake she frowned. You saw it, didn t you?
He shrugged. Not really. But then again, I was more interested in
the opportunity to kiss you, though your finger isn t as satisfying as your
lips. With that he leaned forward and brushed his mouth over hers.
Stephanie was sure there must be electrical sparks in the air every time
he did that. She leaned over the counter, trying to get closer, to deepen
the kiss. The counter top dug into her stomach and she had to pull
away. Ugh! Rubbing her ribs, she looked at him ruefully. That
counter is not conducive to kissing.
Not when we re on opposite sides, he agreed. I ll pull the blinds
for you while you finish up here. Anything else need doing?
No. Paula and I had things pretty well wrapped up. I ll just grab my
purse and turn out the lights.
*****
He took her to a quiet restaurant on the edge of town that served a
variety of entrées. It was a small establishment, with stucco walls and
small intimate tables separated by strategically placed plants and bits of
lattice.
I hope this is all right. He was looking a bit anxious as they sat
down.
It s perfect. I ve been here a few times and the food is good. She
fixed her napkin in her lap. Actually I was a bit afraid you d take me to
one of those really fancy places up town and I d be too nervous to enjoy
myself.
73
I m saving that for date number four. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]