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The bell above the shop door jingled and I jumped, dropping the rope of delicate, gold loops in my hands. They clattered in a heap across the yard of fabric I’d draped over the counter to check for contrast.
My head jerked up, my heart racing with both anticipation and fright.
It wasn’t Darius. I knew it wouldn’t be, yet…
“Hi there.” I smiled at the older gentleman stepping over the threshold.
He greeted me with a smile of his own and a slight inclination of his head. the light shone off the thick helmet of gel slicking back his dark strands into a thin, straggly ponytail at the back of his neck. Under the thick mustache, a gold tooth glinted.
“I’m hoping you can help me. My wife and I are attending an event this weekend and I want to surprise her with a dress.”
“You’ve come to the right place,” I assured him, circling the counter to join him on the main showroom floor.
It wasn’t an unusual request. We’d had the odd male customer buying something for his partner. They rarely ever knew much about the size or importance of color matching skin tones, or even the cut their wives liked. But this man had come with a plan. He knew his wife’s measurements right down to her shoe size. He chose a stunning full-length gown in peacock blue with a waterfall of bead work down the front and full, sheersleeves that he paired with an exquisite set of diamonds from the display case and matching sandals.
He waited patiently while I wrapped everything up and paid a small fortune without batting an eye.
“I really think she will love these,” I told him, setting the bags on the counter between us.
“Oh, I know she will,” he said confidently. “My Ida has exceptional taste and I make sure she gets anything she wants.” He hooked his fingers through the loops and pulled the bags to his sides. “I will have to tell her about this place. There are a few pieces I think she would like to add to her collection.”
Hopeful for another sale like the one we just had, I pulled out one of our business cards from the tiny holder on the counter and held it out to him. “I would be delighted to help her find whatever she needs.”
He accepted the thin, black card with the shop information and looked it over. “Can you put your name on the back, just so she knows who to ask for when she comes in?”
I did. I scrawled my name across the back and passed it back.
“Kamari,” he read out loud. “That is a beautiful name. Is this your shop?”
I shook my head. “I manage it.”
His eyebrows lifted with interest. “Good for you. Must be a lot of long hours.”
I shrugged. “Sometimes, but it’s worth it.”
“Your husband or boyfriend doesn’t mind?”
Despite the slight unease by the question, I chuckled. “I’m not currently seeing anyone.”
The man clicked his tongue as if that were the most outrageous thing he’d ever heard. “That’s ridiculous. You are a beautiful young lady, if you don’t mind me saying. Any man would be lucky to have you. In fact…” he juggled all the bags to his right hand and used his left to pat the front of his blazer, thenhis sides. “Shoot. I left my phone in the car, but I have three sons your age. All good looking with good jobs, and manners. That’s so important, you know?”
It was the most common response I got, but usually from older women trying to marry off their grandsons.
“Thank you, but I’m really not looking right now.”
He snapped his tongue again. “Well, I’ll still send my wife in. She can convince you. She has a million pictures of them on her phone.”
I thanked him again and watched as he left.
The door hadn’t even closed fully behind when it opened again, and a familiar face strolled in.
“Hi!” I greeted, smiling broadly, genuinely delighted to see him.
Lance returned my smile with a little wave from the hand not holding his rusty toolbox hanging at his side. “Morning! I see you made a sale already.”
I motioned him in. “I did. How are you?”
He let the door close behind him as he stepped deeper into the shop. He was in his usual jeans, the denim faded and stained and a clean, white t-shirt under a worn, comfy flannel. His hair was pushed back from his warm, friendly features, intensifying the pale blue of his eyes. He was without question gorgeous. The kind that could play a sexy cowboy in aHallmarkmovie. I’d never considered the idea in the past, but I studied him now, trying to see if maybe…?
