by Marla Monroe
Chapter Three
“Wow, you did dress to impress today,” Denise said when she walked in at lunchtime.
“Do you think it’s too much?” Cynthia worried that she’d gone overboard once she’d arrived and had so many people comment on her outfit.
“No! You look absolutely hot! I’m so excited for you. You have to call me tomorrow and tell me all about your date. At a reasonable hour, of course,” the other woman teased.
“How did you know I had dressed up anyway?” Cynthia asked, crossing her arms with a frown.
“You know that Angie called me the minute she got here to tell me all about your sexy outfit.”
“I’m going to fire that girl,” she mumbled under her breath.
“No you’re not. She’s the best helper you’ve ever had.” Denise chuckled. “Besides, you have a soft spot for her.”
Cynthia looked down at the slinky sweater dress she had on that hugged her curves but didn’t over exaggerate her rounded belly or wide hips. It hit her mid-thigh and had a cut out just below her bra to just above her ass. The black sweater material had shimmers of silver through it, and she wore a matching black and silver bra and panty set as well as the matching garter with silky stockings. She hoped she wasn’t sending the wrong message.
“Hey, stop looking like that. The dress is amazing and perfect for your date.” Denise gave her a reassuring pat on the arm then proceeded to set their lunch out on the bench she kept in the back for that purpose.
They ate and chatted about their customers. They loved talking about some of the strange ones that came in to browse. They’d seen everything from cross dressers to funky-looking hairstyles they had to fight to not laugh at. Then there were the funny T-shirts they liked to talk about. Sometimes they even got the customers who were wearing them to let them take a picture of the T-shirt to share.
“Oh, have you sold any of the hot and spicy sauces you started carrying?” Denise asked as they cleaned up after themselves.
“Believe it or not, I sold out and had to order more! Who would have thought they’d sell in my store?” she asked with a smile.
“Well, your ideas always seem to pan out. Look how well we’ve done sharing our inventory. I’ve sold more of those lavender purses and shoe combos since you paired them with your negligées than I ever did before. I’ve got a gorgeous silver set that isn’t moving for some reason. We need to figure out what we can do with them next.”
Cynthia laughed. “Actually, I think I have just the thing. Follow me.”
They walked back to her store room where she pulled out a dazzling silver body stocking that Denise agreed would be perfect with her silver heels and purse. She wrapped it up for the other woman to take back to her store and promised to bring over a pair of shoes and a purse later.
When Cynthia unlocked the door and waved her friend off, several people came in as if they’d been waiting on her to open up again. She checked her watch and was relieved to see she hadn’t taken longer than she’d planned.
The rest of the afternoon went by in a blur. She was so busy that she ended up letting Denise arrange the body stocking and her matching purse and shoes for her. As a result, she sold two of the body stockings and sent them next door to get the matching shoes and purse. It really was a great selling method for them both.
She had just finished counting down her drawer and setting up the deposit when there was a light knock on the front door. She hurried over to find Aden in a dark-blue button-down shirt and new-looking dark jeans. He looked amazingly sexy. She quickly unlocked the door and let him inside. He looked her up and down and smiled before drawing her into his arms for a quick kiss.
“You look amazing, Cyn. I’m going to catch hell keeping you all to myself dressed like that,” he said.
She gnawed on her lower lip and looked down at herself. “Do you think it’s too much? I wasn’t sure where you planned to go. I can always change.”
“Oh, hell no! I love what you’re wearing. Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Um, do you mind stopping by the bank so I can stick my deposit in the night slot?” she asked.
“Not at all. It’s on the way if you use the bank down the street.” He frowned. “Do you usually drop it off after work on your way home?”
“That’s the one. Yes. On Saturday nights I do. During the week I might leave it to take the next morning when my help comes in, but it just depends on what kind of day I’ve had.”
She picked up her deposit and locked up after setting the alarm. He guided her toward a large black truck then helped her up into the cab. After closing the door, Aden hurried around to the driver’s side and got in.
“Isn’t it dangerous to carry the deposit to the bank this time of night by yourself?” he asked.
“I’ve never had trouble before.” Cynthia wondered why he had brought it up.
“That’s good. I guess I’m kind of paranoid about safety. I just got out of the army about six months ago.” He glanced in her direction and smiled as he pulled out in traffic.
“How long where you in?” she asked.
“Too long.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she took it as a sore subject. She knew enough not to probe. If he wanted to share, he would. Most of the guys she’d known who’d come back from overseas didn’t talk much about their experiences, and she understood their need to compartmentalize sometimes so they could function.
He pulled up outside the bank she used, and when she would have jumped out, he stopped her with a gentle hand on her wrist.
“Hold up. I’ll come around and get you.”
She nodded and waited for him to walk around the truck. When he helped her down, she smiled and walked over to the drop box. She noticed that he kept close, but he didn’t crowd her. She appreciated that. Once they were back in the truck, he reached over and snagged her hand.
“I thought we’d go to The Peddler Steakhouse on River Road. I love the food there,” he said.
“That sounds great. I’ve eaten there a few times. They have great food.”
Aden nodded and squeezed her hand. “I have a hard time choosing between the steak and the trout. I usually end up getting a combination plate with trout and steak. What about you?”
“I’ve had the trout a couple of times and the steak a few times. They’re both so delicious.”
They pulled up outside the restaurant, and Cynthia forced herself to wait while Aden walked around to help her down. She was so used to getting in and out herself that she didn’t know how to act around a gentleman.
Once they’d gotten seated, they discussed the various dishes and finally agreed as they laughed that neither of them could make up their minds.
“So the best thing to do is for one of us to get the steak and the other the trout. That way we can share and get a little of both,” Aden said.
When the waitress returned with their drinks, she took their orders and left them alone once more. Cynthia hadn’t been on an actual date in so long she wasn’t sure what they would talk about. As it was, Aden was a wonderful conversationalist. She thoroughly enjoyed talking with him about his family’s farm that he’d taken over with his friend.
“Was it difficult stepping into running the farm after the army? I mean, considering that in the army everything is usually pretty structured, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Well, in the beginning it is, but once you’ve been in a while and are overseas, there’s more self-mobilization involved than before. You have to make a lot more decisions, so we really didn’t have much trouble getting into the swing of things here. There’s actually a lot more structure in growing fruit than you might think.”
“I guess there would be since you manage things according to the seasons,” she agreed.
“Right. In the fall we harvest and prepare for winter. In late winter and early spring, we prune and then fertilize, depending on the type of fruit.” He looked at her and cocked his head. “Surely you’re not really in
terested in hearing all of this.”
She laughed. “Actually, I am. It’s fascinating to me. I have been thinking of planting some fruit trees in my back yard but haven’t wanted to do anything until I knew more about them.”
“Just so you don’t get your hopes up. They won’t produce fruit for several years, depending on the type tree.”
“Oh, I know. We used to have them when I was growing up. I love their blooms and the way they grow when they’ve been shaped right.” Cynthia smiled and sipped her iced tea.
“So tell me what made you open Spice It Up,” he asked.
“I got my degree in business management and had no clue what to do with it. I designed storefronts while I was working part time in school, so I decided that opening my own shop would be ideal. The one thing you learn about retail is that unless you really like what you sell, you’re not going to do very well. I love reading erotic romance and wearing nice things that make me feel good about myself. I started out with mostly lingerie and hosiery then expanded as the business grew more stable.”
“I have to say that you have a wide variety of things that somehow all fit together in some form or fashion,” Aden said. “Like the spicy sauces you sell. I can only imagine that the reason for them is that they are spice like the store name and its owner.”
She could feel the blush creeping into her cheeks by the heat there. “Spicy sauces have played a part in a lot of romances around here for some odd reason. The fact that they share the same name as the store was too cute not to try it, and it works. I’ve sold out of almost all of them and had to order more.”
The waitress returned to offer dessert. She declined, but Aden selected the blonde brownie a la mode. When it arrived, he insisted on feeding her some of it. She couldn’t help but be aroused by the way he watched her as she took it and swallowed, licking her lips afterward. He could be so intense at times, giving her the feeling that she was the most important person in his world right then.
“So what made your friend decide to help you with the farm?” she asked as he finished the ice cream at the bottom of the bowl.
“Roy and I go all the way back to boot camp. His only family is a sister who lives in California, and he said living out there to be near her would be something like cruel and unusual punishment for someone like him.” Aden chuckled. “He’s a total redneck, but he’s good people.”
“It’s really great that the two of you can help each other like that. He’s helping with the work, and you’re giving him a home. I bet he really likes being part of something and having somewhere to put his boots at night that isn’t temporary.”
Aden looked at her and frowned for a second. It worried her that she’d said something wrong.
“I’m sorry. I’m totally out of line. I shouldn’t have made assumptions like that.”
“No. I mean you didn’t say anything wrong. I just hadn’t really thought about it quite like that. Yeah, I knew that living here with me and helping me on the farm would be huge for me because he’s amazing with machines. The man can fix anything. I knew that it was probably a relief to him to have a place to live that he knew someone, but I hadn’t really thought about it that way before.”
“Well, I didn’t mean to get personal like that. I’m sorry. Was he the one who was in with you the other day?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Aden looked uncomfortable for a minute then sighed. “Look. He likes you, too. He’s going to ask you out for next weekend. I hope you don’t think we’re playing you or anything, because we’re not.”
Cynthia opened her mouth then closed it again. She didn’t know what to say to that. Both of them wanted to date her? Wasn’t that like against the boy code, or friend rule, or something?
“I, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’m flattered that you both like me and all, but isn’t that going to be hard on your relationship with each other?” she finally asked.
“So you’re saying that you’d like to go out with him, too?” he asked.
She couldn’t read his expression. He had closed it off, much like she’d seen briefly when she’d first met him.
“I don’t know. I haven’t really met him yet, but I don’t want to be something that would cause a rift between the two of you. He was your friend first, and you’ve been through a lot with each other. I’d think your friendship with him would take precedence over dating me.” When he started to say something, Cynthia stopped him and continued. “And I don’t want to be someone you trade stories over or use to settle something between you. I’m a human being and not a toy or prize.”
She hated that she’d gotten worked up over this since he’d freely told her ahead of time that his friend would be asking her out, but she’d been the butt of too many jokes and snide remarks.
“Cynthia, neither one of us would ever treat you that way. Neither would we, I guess the term is, kiss and tell concerning our dates with you. I hope you will give us both a chance. We both want to get to know you. We aren’t going to fight over you.” Aden looked sincere, but Cynthia couldn’t believe that they would both be able to date her without there being words or hard feelings eventually.
“Look, I’m just not sure about this,” she said.
“Let’s talk about it when we’re alone, Cynthia. Maybe we could sit in the truck and talk, or if you’d rather, we could talk at your store. I don’t want to leave things like this. I felt like you deserved to know that we both liked you and wanted to get to know you, that’s all.” He ran a hand over his face.
Before she could say anything, the waitress approached with the bill. Aden pulled out his wallet and settled the check, then stood up and walked over to her to help her from her chair. She couldn’t fault him his manners. She’d never really been around anyone quite like him. It must have been his time in the army, or his parents really had been old fashioned and taught him well.
Once they were in the truck again and Aden had pulled out onto the street, he asked her again if they could talk some more.
“I’m not trying to pressure you one way or the other, but I’d like the chance to talk some more about it so I don’t feel like I’ve screwed things up for me or for Roy.” He glanced her way then returned his attention to the road.
“Sure. We can talk some more.” Cynthia hoped she wasn’t making a mistake.
His audible sigh of relief told her that he was really worried that he’d messed up. Well, he should be worried. She didn’t like that they’d both decided to date her and probably talked about it. She narrowed her eyes in his direction. How had they decided who would ask her out first? Flipped a coin? She crossed her arms.
“How did you decide who would ask me out first?”
He winced, and Cynthia knew she was right.
“Um, well. We flipped a coin. Please don’t get mad about that. We didn’t know what to do. We both liked you immediately and wanted to ask you out. Short of coming to blows, I think that was the most gentlemanly thing we could have done. Right?” His expression didn’t hide how worried he was about that decision.
She sighed and uncrossed her arms. Turning to look out the window, she finally answered him. “I would have kicked you both out if you’d fought in my store. I’m not sure how I feel about you flipping a coin though. Like I said, I’m not a damn prize.”
“Cynthia, you really are a prize. You’re beautiful, sexy, smart, and fun. Any man who managed to win your heart would have won the biggest prize there was.”
She barely held in a gasp. He was talking about more than just dating and getting to know each other. He was talking about looking at a future. Maybe he didn’t feel that way about her now, but by telling her that, it insinuated that there was the possibility of more. Or was he just saying that to smooth over the fact that they’d flipped a coin over her? She wanted to throw up her hands and tell him to screw it, she wasn’t dating either of them, except that she really liked Aden and had been attracted to his friend Roy just as much at first sight. It wasn’t like she had
that many options at finding someone to fall in love with.
“Look, let’s just sit in the truck outside the store to talk. I’m sure there will be a parking place close by.”
“Show me where you’re parked, and I’ll park close to your car. That way I can be sure you get in your car safely,” he said.
She felt her heart sigh and give a little over the entire situation. It felt good for someone to worry about her like that. He’d been worried about her dropping off the deposit at night all alone, and now he wanted to be sure she got safely to her car. What was she going to do about them? All three of them?
Chapter Four
Aden fought to keep from growling over the entire mess. Why had he said anything in the first place? They would have had a great date and ended it on a positive note. He had even gotten the feeling she might have allowed him to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her more than he wanted his next breath. Oh, hell, who was he kidding? He wanted a lot more, but he would settle for a kiss for now. As it was, he would be doing well if he got to take her out again now.
Her comment about how Roy probably felt relief at having a home where he knew someone and felt like he was a part of something had gotten to him. He’d never thought about how his friend might have felt once they’d left the army. He knew deep down that Roy had only gotten out because he had quit. In the army, Roy had a place and a purpose, where once he’d been out, he’d had nothing, no home, no job, no future. But the man had done it for him.
As they got closer to Cynthia’s shop, she told him to turn down a side street, and she showed him where she parked in back. It was dark, and the single street light did very little to light up her door or her car. He frowned. He didn’t like that at all. She was a gift wrapped target for anyone wanting to attack her. She could end up robbed, beaten, or worse. He didn’t want to think about worse.
Parking next to her car, he decided not to say anything about her lack of safety in the back, yet. He needed to settle his screwup first. With her face cast in shadows, he wasn’t sure what she might be thinking right then.