Page 5 of Never To Be Mine

And why was I intrigued?

Something about her made me stand up straighter. I told myself it wasn’t the way her breasts played the most daring game of chicken I’d ever seen with her blouse buttons, or the way her legs looked in that skirt and heel combo. I had an intense visual of gripping her thigh with my hand, feeling her softness, and⁠—

Focus, I chastised myself and tore my gaze from the sexy blonde. I could not under any circumstance ogle a prospective client looking for my help.

“Here.” I handed the blender pitcher to Toby. “Mix up another batch.”

“I’m just here to film,” he protested.

“Then film yourself mixing another batch.”

I made my way back to the front, and the hypnotizing woman’s blue eyes locked onto me. She didn’t smile. Didn’t blush or giggle like most of the women who’d been hovering around all morning. She studied me like a bug under a microscope.

“Can I help you?” I asked, giving her my best smile.

“I have some questions about your product.”

“Fire away.” I leaned against the table, confident I could answer anything she threw my way.

“You mentioned sustained energy without the crash.” Her tone expressed her disbelief. “What testing have you done to verify that claim?”

“Well, I’ve been drinking it for about a year now, and I can tell you⁠—”

“That’s not testing. That’s anecdotal evidence from a sample size of one.”

I blinked. “Right, but I’ve also gotten feedback from customers.”

“Also anecdotal.” She crossed her arms. “Have you conducted any controlled trials? Double-blind studies? Any actual scientific research to back up what you’re claiming?”

Ohhhh. She wanted to play. “The sustained energy comes from the fiber slowing digestion and the protein preventing blood sugar spikes. It’s simple science.”

Now what? I hated when people assumed I was some gym bro. Like I didn’t know what I was talking about. I was more than a pretty face.

The crowd around us had gone quiet, watching our exchange like it was a tennis match.

“The ingredients may support that,” she said with a shrug. “But it hasn’t been clinically tested, has it?”

I felt my jaw tighten. “Look, I’m not making medical claims here. I’m just saying what people tell me after they try it. They feel better. They have more energy. They’re not as hungry between meals. Science has proven the ingredients. The rest is in the results from people that have actually tried it.”

“So you’re basing your entire marketing strategy on subjective feelings from customers who’ve already bought into the idea that this will work.” She picked up one of my product cards, scanning it. “Buzz words. These are big claims for someone who hasn’t done any actual research.”

I clenched my jaw. I didn’t know who the woman was but I had some pretty strong opinions about what I’d like to say that would absolutely drive my business away. Composure in this moment was crucial. “I’ve done plenty of research. I’m not blowing smoke up anybody’s ass, which is what you’re implying.”

“Not implying anything. I’m saying it directly.”

Holy fuck. The audacity.

“All my products have come with a money-back guarantee,” I said, shrugging. “I stand by the quality of my drinks.”

I could feel the crowd starting to shift. Some of the women who’d been ready to buy were now looking uncertain, their wallets still in their bags. This woman was killing my sales, and she knew it.

“You know what?” I said, trying to keep my voice level. “Try a sample. You might change your mind. If not, that’s okay too.”

She reached past me and grabbed one of the sample cups Toby had just set out. “Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.”

She took a swig, and I waited for the usual reaction. The pleasant surprise that something healthy could actually taste good.

Instead, her face twisted like she’d just licked a battery.