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“And he sent you here?” That was at least a good sign. It was nice knowing Billy liked her shop enough to give a recommendation, even it if was to someone like this guy. Giving up on making a sale, she finally took a good look at him. Damn, he was gorgeous. He looked like he could be on the cover of a magazine.
“He did. But it just proves he doesn’t know me like he thinks he does.”
She shrugged. “I know this type of décor isn’t for everyone, but if you took a moment and looked around, maybe you’ll see something that suits your taste. How about we start with your favorite color?”
“This isn’t a date. I was here because Billy said I’d find something…rare here,” he said, his tone filled with sarcasm.
“Rare? I’m not sure about that, but my work is all original. Take a look at that bowl. Have you seen anything like this before?” she asked. Shanda picked it up off the table and held it out to him. “To you it might look like just a bowl. But if you don’t heat it to the right temperature, keep it turning and in constant motion, or blow just right, you can crack or warp it.”
“Blow it?” he asked.
Finally he was looking around. “Yes. If you want, my offer still stands.”
The man burst out laughing. “You were asking me if I wanted to learn how to blow glass,” he said.
“Yes. What did you think?”
The man just laughed harder and asked, “I think I have found what he sent me here for.”
She still had no idea what he found so humorous. “And what is that?”
“You,” he replied.
Now she was lost. “I’m not for sale,” she stated firmly.
He nodded. “So I understand. Why don’t you show me around your shop?”
For the first time, Shanda felt uneasy with him. “Why?”
“Because you sell things and you never know, I might be a potential customer,” he stated.
Something deep inside her said he wasn’t any more interested in her glassware now than he had been a moment ago. She took the bowl from his hand and did the only thing she could: try to sell him something. “Are you looking for anything in particular? Maybe a gift for your wife?” She threw that one in just for his comment about marriage.
“Not married. And no. It’s not a gift.”
“Ah, then something for yourself,” she replied. Once again, he shook his head. “Then how do you know what it is you’re looking for?”
“It’s my job to know,” he said.
She placed the bowl back on the table and said, “Then I guess I have to show you everything.”
Shanda spent an hour showing him everything, from the most elaborate pieces, to tiny hummingbirds she’d made to accent a pot of flowers. He didn’t ask any questions at all, but she could feel him watching her intensely. It had been unnerving, and a few times she was tempted to ask him to quit wasting her time. This was the part of owning your own business that she disliked. If she had her way, she would spend all her time in the back working on her craft. No matter what her granddad said, it didn’t become any easier. If anything, it became more awkward and obviously her customers noticed.
When she finished her spiel, Shanda thought for sure he’d purchase something. Instead, all he did was thank her for her time, and leave.
Alone once again, the smell of his expensive cologne lingered in the air and the memory of his haunting, sexy eyes sent a chill through her. “I didn’t even get his name,” she sighed.
I guess I’ll just have to make one up when I dream about him later.
As Kenneth Heartdrove back to Boston, he still was confused as to why Billy had sent him there. He and Billy had been friends for more than twenty years. When they were in high school, they were known for pulling pranks like this shit on each other. But that had ceased long ago. There was no time for such things if you wanted to be on the top in your field. Billy seemed to have lost his drive for success since getting married a few years ago. Instead of a vacation mixing with business, Billy came back with stories that sounded like they could be in some chick flick: romance this, and love that. Damn, Krissy was making Billy soft.
It wasn’t something that Kenneth was ever going to allow to happen to him. When it came to business, money was everything. Every decision the Heart family made, including marriage, had some financial reasoning behind it. Was it cold? Many people would think so. But Kenneth and his brothers weren’t breaking family tradition.
Definitely not because of some woman.
Yet despite his feelings, Kenneth had lost almost an entire day lingering around Shanda’s shop. It had nothing to do with her product. It was nice and he was sure people would purchase such items, but they weren’t going to turn much of a profit. Home Blown was small and for the most part, hidden away. You need foot traffic in a place like Home Blown, and she didn’t have any of that.
He didn’t need to look at her financial books to know the shop was in trouble. No customers had come in while he was there, and her phone hadn’t rung once. Neither was a good sign.
