Page 30 of My Faire Lady

“So, all I have to do is sit at the register and make change?” Kelsey says, adjusting the radio volume. “And you’ll give me five percent of everything?”

I take a left toward the Queen’s Gate. “If you make correct change, yes.”

Trees hug the curve in the road, and I press on the break as a sign comes into view on the shoulder. My fingers curl against the steering wheel, and I smile at the freshly stained wooden post clearly directing traffic to the two entrances.

Scarlet fixed the signs.

Kelsey scans the dense tree line. “Did you ever hear the rumors about this place?”

I flick the turn signal. “What rumors?”

Her face reflects in the window as we pull away from the trees and into the grassy field that serves as the parking lot. Her chemise bunches at the back, wrinkling where the corset is loose around her torso, ready to be tightened by me once we’re in the shoppe.

“You never heard the rumors?” She gestures toward the gate. “That this land is secretly cursed or haunted or something like that.”

The iridescent wings flash through my mind, but I shake my head. “It’s not haunted. If it was, my shoppe would be the first place the ghosts would be. Trust me on that.”

I chew on the flesh of my cheek as I shift the car into park. Even though we’ve officially named the shoppe after me, I can’t bring myself to refer to it as that. Like I haven’t quite earned it yet.

Kelsey hums and unlatches the seatbelt, throwing the door open.

“Wait,” I say.

She swings her legs back into the car and lifts a brow.

I blow out a breath. “I’m quitting my job to work here full time.”

“You’re what?”

I shrug and rest my head against the headrest, staring at the gate out the windshield. “I’ve been wanting to leave the craft store for years, and if I can be here during the week, I’ll actually have time to work on my portfolio. I make way more on commission here than I do at my job. And, plus, Scarlet asked me to help her improve the faire.”

She smirks. “Scarlet, huh?”

Rolling my eyes, I throw open the door and heave myself out of the car. My feet land on the packed grass.

Kelsey jumps out on the other side. “Personally, I’m happy you’re quitting your job. You’ve needed something new.”

I press my fingertips against the car door, easing it shut as her words land. “You think it’s a good idea?”

It was easy to say yes to Scarlet last night, when I’d do anything to spend more time with her. But I tossed in bed all night, wondering if I’m making an awful, impulsive decision.

“It’s a great idea,” she says. “Think of how much more time you’ll have to work on the contest. You’re going to win, but if you don’t, the craft store would hire you back in a heartbeat.”

I nod, still not entirely convinced.

And yet, as the bridge lowers, I find myself scanning the space beneath the gate, looking for a head of auburn hair. But the only person waiting for us is Glen, waving with a smile on his face.

The wooden planks groan under our feet, and Kelsey leans closer. “Is he always dressed like Bigfoot?”

“You get used to it,” I whisper. “Wait until you see Frankie’s tail. I don’t think she ever takes it off.”

Kelsey makes a noise under her breath, and I shield my eyes against the rising sun as Glen waves us through the gate. The faire opens before us, and I lead her to the shoppe. Its roofline peeks through the trees, and I fish the key from my pocket.

But the door is propped open.

Kelsey and I share a look, and I step forward, shielding her as I ease the door open the rest of the way. The hinges squeal, and I peek my head into the interior, where everything is exactly as I left it last night. I swallow and take a single step into the building, the hair lifting on the back of my neck.

“Hello?” I say.