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“Skylar, come on baby. It’s okay. What’s all this fuss about?” Leila cooed as she swept her daughter up and swung the diaper bag over her other arm. She bounced Skylar as she walked into the store.
Skylar was still red-faced and gasping as Leila entered the boutique and walked toward the back.
“Oh, my goodness.” Elizabeth rushed around her desk and took the diaper bag from Leila. “What’s wrong with her?”
Leila sighed. “I don’t know. It was just one of those mornings where the car seat was seen as an evil monster, and she wanted no part of it.” She got comfortable in the glider and prepared to nurse. “I just hope she’s hungry, then she should go to sleep and maybe sleep for a few hours.”
Elizabeth gathered her laptop from her desk. “Well, you relax. I’ll open up, and as soon as she’s set, come on out.” She walked to the door. “No rush.”
Thirty minutes later, Leila walked to the front of the store with the monitor hooked to her waist. “Thank you so much, Liz.”
Elizabeth swiped her hand through the air. “Not a big deal. Remember, I’ve been there.” She worked on her laptop at the front desk while Leila assisted the customers.
About noon, Leila was walking with a customer to the checkout, her arms loaded with clothing, when the bell over the door rang. Elizabeth raised a brow, and a smirk grew on her face. She bent her head quickly to her computer.
Leila quirked the corner of her lip.What was that look for?She placed the customer’s selections on the counter and had just started to ring her items up when she noticed Adler. He stoodat a rack of bracelets, looking interested in the inventory. Leila froze for a split second.What’s he doing here?She glanced at Elizabeth with a raised brow.
Elizabeth shrugged one shoulder.
Ignore him.Leila made small talk with the customer in front of her, trying to stay focused and not be rude. Soon the lady’s purchases were paid for and bagged up. Leila gave her a sweet smile. “Thank you for shopping with us. Have a wonderful day.”
“Oh, honey, I will. You were so helpful. Tell Barbara, Iris stopped by.”
“I will,” Leila promised.
Iris gathered her bags and caught Adler’s eye as she walked past. Adler was walking toward the counter and nodded his hello at the older lady, then his eyes caught Leila’s and a smile filled his face. “Hey.”
Iris stopped, turned around, and gave her a thumbs up while she fanned her face in the universal gesture of “he’s hot.” Elizabeth sniggered next to her.
Leila closed her eyes briefly and breathed.I have no clue why he’s here. This is getting ridiculous.She pinched her lips together before speaking. “What’s up Adler? What brings you in?”
He placed two bracelets on the counter. One had silver beads with a dolphin charm, and the other had light pink beads the shape of roses with a sterling silver plaque that said “You are enough!”
Leila met his eyes. She had noticed this bracelet when she put it out. She loved the colors of the roses. Pink and white roses were always her favorite. They represented royalty, friendship, and her favorite—first love. The saying on the silver plaque spoke to her, even though sometimes she didn’t know if she believed it. She turned it over to read the back. Engraved there was a bible verse that had kept rearing its head since she foundout she was pregnant with Sky—Psalms 139:13-14. It was her favorite.
She cleared her throat before she spoke and noticed suddenly that she desperately needed some water. “These are both so pretty. Are you getting them for someone special?”
Adler shrugged. “Haven’t decided yet. Which one would you choose?”
She narrowed her eyes at him while she rubbed the bracelet mindlessly.
Elizabeth jumped in. “I know you didn’t ask me, but we just put those out yesterday. The one Leila’s holding caught both our eyes. The rose beads are beautiful, and the saying is perfect, not to mention the verse on the back. It’s something we all have to remember.”
“That’s good to know.” He took the bracelet from her and flipped it over. “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Leila’s mouth dropped open and her eyes went wide. What? Did he just quote the scripture verse from memory?
Elizabeth turned toward her, brows raised.
A smirk crossed Adler’s face. “You don’t think I know the bible? My mother and father go to church regularly. This is my mom’s favorite verse, and she made sure I knew it.”
“Interesting.” Leila watched him through narrowed eyes. She still didn’t totally trust his intentions, but there was something about him. Something more than his chiseled good looks, or his large brown eyes which to seemed melt into her soul.
“Do you like the pink roses?” he asked, looking at Leila.
Her eyes popped wide. “What?” Her voice cracked, so she cleared it.Get yourself together.She breathed deeply.
The corner of his mouth curved up. “Pink roses, do you like them?”
