by Scott, Lisa
He held up a hand like a traffic cop. “No need. Keep them, compliments of Save Land.” It was bad timing but he couldn’t help but grin
She rolled her eyes. “Makes it all worthwhile.”
“Let’s get outside and call off the search for you,” the detective said.
She clutched her bundle of clothes and her coat as they headed outside. Alex held it up so she could slip her arms in the gorgeous red Burberry.
Three news crews ran toward the building, leaving footprints in the freshly fallen snow toward the building, their microphones leading the way. “Is that the missing woman?” one of them called out.
“Is she okay?” another asked.
Lindy’s stomach tumbled. She was dreaming. This couldn’t be real.
“Turns out our missing woman wasn’t abducted,” the officer said, hitching up his pants. “She was shopping.” He chuckled.
Lindy’s eyes were wide and she blinked at the cameras. Then she shook her head, like she might be able to make it all go away. “I needed new tights. I got locked in the changing room.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder.
“You were trying on the tights?” asked a young reporter, wrinkling her nose. “You don’t try on tights.”
Lindy looked away, scratching her head. This was like the time she spent an hour chatting with a hot guy at a wedding only to discover she’d had a sesame seed stuck to her cheek from the hors d’euvres! Excruciatingly embarrassing and hard to believe. “I grabbed a few things at the last minute.”
“The new leggings from our Excite! collection. We’re letting her keep those, free of charge.” Alex smoothed his lapels. “And to apologize for the inconvenience, we’d like to offer you a five-hundred-dollar gift card.”
She held up a hand. “That’s okay. I don’t shop here.”
“But, you were last night,” said one of the reporters.
“That’s right, you’re the manager of Sublime,” added another, as he scribbled in his notebook, grinning.
“It was an emergency. I was on my way to…” She bit her lip.
“A blind date?” another reporter offered.
She turned to the detective. “Can I go home now?”
“How did she get locked inside? Don’t you have procedures to prevent this sort of thing?” one of the reporters asked.
Alex stepped forward. “We do. And I’m afraid with the holiday rush yesterday, those procedures were overlooked. I’ll hold an emergency briefing with the staff before we open today. This won’t happen again.” He grinned so charmingly, Lindy imagined anyone would believe anything this man said.
The reporters finally ran out of questions and hurried back to their news vans to prepare for the next update when Lindy would officially and publicly be named the biggest fool in upstate New York—maybe of all the East coast. She started toward her car, then turned back to face Alex. She was angry, but she really didn’t want anyone to get sacked because of her. “Please don’t fire whoever did this.”
He grinned. “I won’t.”
She exhaled. “Good.”
“Because it was me.”
Lindy felt her fists clenching again. She forced a smile, but felt her lips tighten instead. “You. You locked me in.” She’d been envisioning some poor old woman beat from a long day who’d skipped closing procedures after the day from black Friday hell—not the smug, sophisticated manager.
Pursing his lips, he walked toward her. She gulped and took a step back. He smelled good. She couldn’t imagine what she smelled like after a night in the stuffy dressing room.
He rubbed his chin. “My apologies. I don’t usually close up, but the gal who’d been supervising the dressing rooms nearly collapsed from exhaustion.” He shrugged. “I didn’t follow our own company procedures. How can I make it up to you? I insist on the gift card.”
She marched to her car and flung open the door. “There’s no fixing this.” She closed her eyes and exhaled. Truthfully, she was at fault, too. She’d left her phone and her purse in the car. She could’ve called for help if she’d had it. She looked up at him. If he weren’t the man responsible for the most humiliating moment of her life, she’d have concocted a few fantasies on the spot; he was hot. “Let’s just forget about this.” She looked away from his mesmerizing stare, got in her car and drove away, knowing it would be impossible to ever forget this.
She checked her cell on the way home. Spencer had left four messages; the last one from the police station. Lindy cringed. That would be an awkward call to make later. She dialed her sister’s number, and she answered on the first ring.
“Hey, I saw you on TV! It’s too bad you couldn’t have touched up your makeup before you were on camera.”
She turned down the road, never more grateful to see her condo complex in the distance. “I’m fine, Jessica, thanks for asking.”
“I know you’re fine. I saw the TV report.”
“Well, I just didn’t want you to worry any more.”
“I wasn’t worried. I didn’t know you were missing until I saw the report that you’d been found. I didn’t know you shopped at Save Land. I thought you only wore uppity clothes now.”
Lindy groaned. “I don’t shop there.”
“But you were at the store, right?”
“It’s been a long night. I’ll talk to you later, Jessica.” She hung up, wondering what her dad would’ve said about this if he were still alive. He probably would’ve found a way to make her laugh about it.
Frowning, she went inside her condo. Darcy was asleep on the couch, her phone in her hand. Lindy felt sick realizing how worried she must have been.
Darcy must have heard her, because she opened her eyes and ran to the door. “You’re alive!”
Lindy found herself in a stranglehold. “Where were you?” Darcy demanded.
Lindy sighed. “I got locked in a dressing room.” She gulped. “At Save Land.” With poor Darcy at her wit’s end, she felt even more embarrassed than she had admitting it to the cop and the store manager.
Darcy backed away from her. “Really? When Spencer called here looking for you…” She took a giant gulp of air. “…I thought something horrible had happened. I called the police—I was on the news!” Her cheeks were flush with excitement as she rattled on. “I knew you wouldn’t miss your date, so I figured he must have done something to you. And… and… cleaned up the evidence with all those bleach wipes you told me about.” She was breathless
Lindy hugged her. “I’m fine.”
Darcy sniffed. “So, nothing bad happened at all?” She seemed a bit disappointed.
“No, but something bad will happen if I don’t get to work on time.” She squinted at the clock on the microwave. It was eight-ten, and she was due at work at nine. She’d have enough time to shower, change—God yes, change—and hopefully, put this whole mess behind her.
“I’m going to bed,” Darcy said, clearly disappointed her amateur sleuthing had led to nothing more than an uncomfortable night’s sleep for Lindy.
***
She thought she’d be the first one at the boutique, but she was wrong. The owner, Michaela Marks, was there, dressed to the nines in a couture black Versace suit. Ooh, sooo pretty, but two sizes too small for me, Lindy thought. She had no idea it was possible to look that good at nine am. Michaela sat on the couch near the dressing rooms—that did not lock from the outside, thank you very much—and blinked at Lindy when she walked in.
“What are you doing here?” Lindy asked, as breezily as she could. Hard to do when your knees are knocking.
“I’m here to work.”
Lindy gulped. Michaela Marks hadn’t worked in her own store in three years.
Michaela looked her up and down. “Where’s your snazzy outfit I saw this morning?”
Lindy forced a smile and tried to sound breezy. “I know, crazy, right? A girl dashes in for a pair of tights and ends up the lead story on the news.” She walked toward the cash register—mostly to grab the counter for
support. While Michaela wasn’t wearing a coat made of puppies, something about her definitely reeked of Cruella de Ville.
Michaela stood up and glided toward the gorgeous marble counter. “Do you know how foolish my boutique looks right now?” Lindy jerked back as if she’d been struck.
Michaela walked around her and turned on the register. “I’ll be running the boutique today. I have to let you go, Lindy.” Her French accent sounded more angry than glamorous.
She sucked in a breath. “It was an accident. I’m sorry. People will forget.” Lindy hated sounding desperate, but she was. She loved her job, helping people find beautiful clothes, like selecting the perfect dress for a special occasion. It was like being a matchmaker. Sure, some of the women were snotty socialites who didn’t deserve such gorgeous outfits. She didn’t like that part. And sometimes it seemed obscene to sell someone a suit for two thousand dollars. But still, she loved the clothes. And the discount! She set her hand on her stomach but it kept flip-flopping.
Michaela slammed the cash register shut. “People will be talking about this for weeks. You’ve damaged my brand. You’re done. No severance pay, and no recommendation.”
Lindy backed away toward the door. “I’m sorry.”
Michaela didn’t even look at her. “You should be.”
Lindy bumped open the door with her hip and tumbled outside, blinded by the morning sun; far too bright and cheery for the mess unfolding around her. How could this be happening? she wondered. It’s the holiday season—the most wonderful time of year. Her favorite season, when magic and miracles happened. Around Christmas, she felt like a little girl again.
Lindy would never forget that incredible year when Santa had brought loads and loads of gifts for her. Things she hadn’t even asked for! She figured it was Santa’s way of saying sorry her mother had died. At five years old, it was the most logical solution. She’d never had another Christmas like that. But the hope was always there that something like that could happen again.
Clearly, not this year, she mumbled to herself.
“Ah, just the woman I was looking for.”
Lindy shaded her eyes and saw Alex Whitney, Save Land manager, heading her way down the sidewalk. She groaned. “Are you coming to lock me in the dressing room here?”
“Ah, she’s cute and funny. No, that’s the first and last time that will happen.”
Cute? “If you haven’t noticed I’m having a really shitty day. And it’s all your fault. Please go away.” She shooed him away with her hands.
Somehow, her harsh words didn’t seem to affect him. He just kept on smiling which made her even madder. He took another step closer. “I wanted to bring you that gift card. And my apologies. Want to show me your store?”
She folded her arms. “It’s not my store anymore. I got fired.” She reached for the gift card in his hand. “Turns out, I’ll be needing this.” That baby went right into her purse.
Alex’s smile fell, taking his dimples with it. “You’re kidding. She fired you?”
“I embarrassed the boutique beyond repair.”
With his hands on his hips, he looked up at the sky sighed. “Let me take you out for coffee. Let’s talk about this.”
“What’s to talk about?”
One side of his mouth curled up. “Maybe I can offer you a spot at our store.” Before she could answer, he bustled her into his Lexus.
Her phone rang as his car lurched through the quiet Saturday-morning streets. “Hello?” she answered. The day couldn’t get worse, could it?
“You’re alive. I didn’t expect my first blind date to end in a police station.”
“Spencer. I’m so sorry. I ripped my stockings and stopped at the store—”
He interrupted her. “I know. I saw the news.”
“Oh.” How many people watched the Saturday morning news, anyway? “So, do you want to try again next week?” She chewed her thumbnail; a habit she’d kicked a decade ago. She sat on her hand.
He was quiet for a moment. “Remember how you talked about signs the other day?”
Lindy had told Spencer she thought it was a sign they should go out because she’d had a record-breaking sales day the same day he’d responded to her online profile. He’d told her it was sweet, and agreed. “I remember,” she said.
“This is a sign things are not meant to be. I’m glad you’re okay, but this isn’t going to work out. Especially after seeing the inside of your car on TV.”
God, they showed that? Tears pricked her eyes and she blinked them away. “I understand. Goodbye, Spencer.” She hung up and dropped her head back against the seat. She looked at Alex. “And I thought the worst was over when you showed up this morning.”
“Who was that?”
“The blind date I stood up. We’ve been talking online for three months. I really liked him. Now he doesn’t want to meet me.” She glared at him and poked her finger against an impressively hard bicep. “You cost me my guy and the gorgeous Hermes scarf I was saving up for at Sublime. I had it set aside and everything.” She crossed her arms. “I’m not sure which is worse.”
He totally ignored her pouting. “Wouldn’t have figured you for the online dating type.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
***
Alex weighed his words carefully. “You’re sophisticated and beautiful. You’d be the last person I’d expect to find online.” Trust me, I’d be online if I’d known.
She drew in a sharp breath. “Well, now I’m unemployed. I’ll have tons of people lining up to go out with me.”
He pulled into the parking lot of Bean Happy and looked at her. “We’d love to have you on board.” He was desperate, really, to hire her. It seemed like the only solution to keep this from becoming a PR nightmare; and to keep his father from permanently assigning him to this post.
She closed her eyes. “I am not working for Save Land. I shouldn’t even have been shopping there.”
He drummed the steering wheel. “What do you have against my store, anyway? You seemed pretty happy with the fifteen-dollar leggings.”
“It was an exceptional find in the midst of a mediocre buffet of off-the-rack clothes. It shocked me as much as it shocked you.”
“Really, don’t hold back.” But he couldn’t help grinning. He hopped out and opened the door for her, and was greeted by the sight of her long, slim legs. He sucked in a breath.
They walked into the coffee shop and sat at one of the bistro tables. “What can I get you?”
Lindy rubbed her temples. “Does anything here come with alcohol?”
He laughed. “I don’t think so, but I’m sure there’s a market for it.”
“I’ll take a chai latte.”
He got their drinks, and sat down across from her, smiling again.
“Do you think this whole thing is funny?”
He tried to suppress his grin, but couldn’t. “I don’t. I just find you—interesting.”
She rolled her eyes. “No need to schmooze. I’m not going to sue. I’m not that kind of girl.”
“I’m sorry. Really. But you are in a jam.” He decided to hedge his bet. “We’ve been looking to expand the management team at this location. Why don’t I show you the ropes and train you as assistant manager?”
She opened her mouth, but he didn’t give her a chance to protest. “The salary starts at forty-five thousand with stock options, and given last night’s incident, I’m sure I can entice corporate to include a ten-thousand dollar signing bonus.”
Her frown disappeared and she fluttered her fingertips on the table. “Save Land is open three hundred sixty five days a year, isn’t it? You’re probably just looking to get the holidays off for yourself.”
He laughed. “That would be an expensive way to get a day off. No, this time of year is just another retail season for me. I usually work at the store on major holidays.”
She raised an eyebrow. “No kidding?”
“I’m married to my work, and sh
e’s very demanding.”
She looked out the window, blowing on the tea, but not actually drinking it. Her dark hair fell in waves past her shoulders. She had a freckle on the tip of her nose that he knew he’d kiss often if she were his girlfriend.
He took a long drink of his black coffee to chase away that idea. He couldn’t date his assistant manager. Now he was torn over whether he really wanted her to take the job or not.
She looked at him and shrugged. “I don’t have much of a choice. I just bought a condo that I’d rather not sell in this horrible market and I don’t think I’m going to get a better offer.”
“No need to sweet talk me.” He tried to sound insulted, but couldn’t hold back his pleasure. When had he smiled so often in the same day? Given what had happened in the last twelve hours, he should be frowning and swearing up a storm. “Why don’t we head over there now? Then I’ll call corporate and get the paperwork drawn up.” He reached across the table and offered his hand. “And I forgot to mention the twenty-percent employee discount.”
She glared at him, then sighed and shook his hand.
***
She followed him to the store—the very last place she wanted to be after the Night from Hell. Inside, several cashiers turned to look. From their smirks, she figured they’d watched the morning news, too.
In his office, she sat down across the desk from him. “What are my duties as assistant manager?” She’d pretty much handled everything at Sublime, but she’d never worked somewhere as big as Save Land. “Scheduling?” She tried not to frown. “Employee evaluations?” She might’ve groaned out loud; she wasn’t sure.
He steepled his hands. “Tell me what your dream position would be.”
Certainly not anything here, she thought. But she closed her eyes, thinking. She liked how Sublime was known as the most upscale boutique in town. It had an impeccable reputation. She liked the idea of image and branding, of making a mark on the community. But she also liked helping people. She opened her eyes. “What would you say Save Land’s position is in the community?”
He laughed. “That isn’t obvious? Big savings, 365 days a year.”
She waved him off. “That’s your slogan. I mean, how does the store fit in the community? What role do you play?”