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Austin watch Jillian give him the look over. When she turned around and looked at the interior of the building with its wide-open spaces and tables strategically placed in the store.
“So, what’s your plan? You’re going to have Claudia in here slaving all the time?” Jillian said with a grim line on her face.
“No, my thought was that I would give a large area to Claudia, and she would be able to play with new designs most of the day. Then she and I would meet up to pick which ones she truly loved, and I would draw them with women already in them from the town. Those type of drawings catch the eye and I’ve done it before. It’s like giving a woman a preview of what she might look like before she buys it or even tries it on.”
“I think it’s a little ambitious to put everybody in a drawing, but I do think there is some merit if you use Claudia as your model,” Jillian said.
Austin knew he heard something else in her voice, but he couldn’t quite place it. What he could place was that she was on board and approved of his plans. Sure, there would probably be some adjustments that would have to be made but as long as she was positive, he knew he could fix the rest.
“Are you only going to feature Claudia’s designs?”
Austin was taken back by the question.
“Do you have any designs you want to share Jillian?”
Jillian looked at him over her shoulder and continued to walk through the store.
“Maybe Austin I’m not saying yes but I don’t want to say no either.”
“I’d really appreciate your input and thoughts. I think it will help prepare me when I open up the doors today.”
“I’m no sage Austin. I just read people is all. Now you know all those people over there taking up space and me having to make my quota I may have to let a person or two know a little something to move my sales along for the day you know,” Jillian said.
Austin held his hand to his check in mock shock.
“I couldn’t imagine you doing such a thing,” he said with feigned innocence.
“Pshaw boy, enough of your games.”
As she walked to the front door Austin cleared his throat.
“Jillian, if you could see your way not to say anything to Claudia. I haven’t asked her yet and I wanted to proposition her myself,” he said with a smile.
Jillian laughed.
“You young kids have to do everything the hard way. Of course, I won’t tell her that you are trying to court her without her knowing.”
“I-I’m not saying that. I mean I like her. She’s an attractive woman and – “
Jillian stopped and turned her laser focus glare on him.
“And what? You know you’re a nice guy and you may even be from the outskirts, but Claudia is fragile, and I won’t have you messing with her.”
Austin cleared his throat.
“I’m not playing with her either. I’ve learned that you need to keep business and personal matters separate from each other. I respect Claudia and I think she is extremely talented.”
Jillian held up her hand.
“Listen you do not have to sell Claudia to me. She is a kind and gentle woman inside and out.”
“You do realize that if she is over here designing you will be on the floor and in the other store by yourself more until we can find another person. Are you Okay with that?”
Jillian waved him off.
“Of course, I am. Claudia is a sweet girl but even when she is on the floor and trying to sell items her head just isn’t in the game. “
“Although you should be warned that she is a package deal right now and that may affect you,” Jillian said.
