"I told her I had these pictures of all these women dressed in her lingerie. They came out of KISS at all hours, Jared. It was ... it was creepy. And, and men were meeting them out back. She even accepted money from one of those men."
"My husband!” April shouted. “My husband gave Kat money so she could use it to help some very sick women."
Jared glanced at April then at George. “I-I hired a private investigator, Jared. He took the pictures. I-I did it for MegaMart. I did it for you."
His hand lashed out, but he dropped it. From the corner of his eye, Jared saw Fred place an arm around Lilith's shoulders.
Damn George! Goddamn fucking George.
"You're not worth it,” he told George, his tone flat.
Once more, Jared bent his tall frame, caging George in her chair as he placed his hands on the arms. “Listen to me, Ms. O'Reilly. You're going to gather up every picture, every piece of film every..."
"He used a digital,” she replied, her tone mulish.
"Every disk, every CD...” Jared ground out. “Do it now."
He stood upright. When he looked over, he saw Jeanine standing there, a smirk on her face.
"I guess now would be a good time to call the police, huh?” she asked.
* * * *
Hours later, Jared, Fred, Lilith, Doris and Harvey, Annabelle and Evelyn all sat in Jared's office. Lilith sat with Fred on one of the couches, her head pillowed on his shoulder. Everyone else had taken the seats Jared requested be brought in for them.
It was the least he could do. The police spent hours questioning him, George and some other MegaMart executives. She told them the same story she had told everyone else. Soon after that, she was led away in handcuffs, tears pouring from her eyes.
He had ordered in food, the containers and wrappers littered his office, but he didn't much care. He glanced at Doris. The older woman seemed tired. So did Annabelle and Evelyn. They would have a long drive back to Summerville.
"We won't press charges,” Fred's voice echoed in the confines of Jared's office. “We decided we don't want to."
Jared stood by the windows, sipping a cup of lukewarm coffee. The caffeine didn't do much to revive him—he didn't think anything could at this point.
"We're okay knowing you took care of it, Jared,” Fred's voice echoed throughout the office again.
Jared walked over to him, tossing his empty Styrofoam coffee cup in the trash. “You have every right to press charges.” He glanced at the assembled group. “All of you. What George did was reprehensible."
"Like we said, you took care of it."
"She'll go to jail."
"That's fine by us!” Annabelle and Evelyn said in unison.
Jared gave them a thin smile. “I know. But still..."
"Look,” Fred stood, stretching his tall frame. He walked over to Jared. “I once told you it was my store to give away, remember? That very first time you ever came into the Sweet Shoppe."
"I remember,” Jared replied, his voice soft.
"So, this,” Fred swept his hand in front of him. “Is yours to do with as you please."
Jared laughed. “It's not that simple."
"Yes, it is. Business is business, Jared. It's all in how you treat people that gets you more business. That little blonde lady, that assistant of yours, just didn't know how to treat people. It's as simple as that."
Jared sighed. “I don't know anymore, Fred. I really don't."
"I think it is. So, like I said, we won't do anything. Once we tell Kat, I'm sure she'll agree."
"Oh, I don't think Kat will agree to much of anything I do."
Fred laughed. “She'll come around, you'll see.” Fred glanced at Lilith and the assembled group. “Well, I think we better head back to Summerville. We've got a good long drive ahead of us. Harvey, you okay to drive?"
"I'm fine,” he answered. “I got the ladies here,” he motioned with his head toward Doris, Annabelle and Evelyn. “You just take care of yours."
Jared watched them gather their things. His throat felt tight.
"You could come with us,” Lilith told him. “You're more than welcome, you know that, don't you?"
"Thanks, but no, Lilith. I've got some work to finish up here."
She walked over to him. “Don't let what happened get between you and Kat. Talk to her."
"She wouldn't listen to me, Lilith."
"Then I'll talk to her for you. I'll..."
He held up a hand. “Thanks, but no."
"Sometimes, you really don't know what's in a person's heart, Jared.” She looked at Fred and smiled. “And you can overcome anything. Trust me. We know.” Again she smiled at Fred.
Jared stuck out his hand. “Goodbye, Lilith."
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Goodbye, Jared. Come back to Summerville and visit us."
He felt like crying then. Just laying his head down on the desk and bawling like a baby.
He shook Fred and Harvey's hand, said goodbye to Annabelle and Evelyn ... and Doris.
When they left, he flopped into his chair by his desk and shut his eyes. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he went over the day's events in his mind. He hoped George rotted away in jail.
It's how you treat people.
No truer words could ever be said, he thought. He gave a small laugh. Maybe he'd let Fred Meyers write his speech for the Annual World Food Summit. If anyone knew the secret of good business, Fred Meyers did.
He got up and paced, thinking of Kat. Kat..Kat.
The look on her face, the utter devastation. What she must have felt when she thought he betrayed her and her beloved KISS! He loved that store, he loved everything about it. He could have never, ever have done anything to harm KISS or her.
No wonder she went back at him.
Everything changes.
Yes, everything did. He missed Summerville. He missed her. He wanted her back, no matter what. Jared wanted the haven her arms provided, the promise of sensual fulfillment and life that KISS provided. He wanted that constant affirmation in his life.
He wanted Kat in his life.
He shut his eyes, imagining the smell of her perfume, seeing her long, trim body stretched out on the bed before him. His she-cat. He could hear her purr.
Jared grabbed his jacket and flew out the door. He ran past the darkened offices of the secretarial pool, down the long hallway and into the lobby. Skidding to a halt by the front door, he asked a porter, “Did you just see a group of people leave here? Two men and some ladies..."
"Sure did. They're just getting into their cars now."
Jared flew out the door and into the parking lot. “Wait!” Jared called out. “Wait, please!"
They all turned at the sound of his voice, their faces lit with smiles—their dear, sweet, friendly faces—faces he had grown to love. They beamed at him, like the welcoming lights of Summerville, the ones he always saw at night down Main Street. The arms of the town opened wide ... beckoning him in...
The chirp of his cell phone stopped him in his tracks. He looked down at the caller ID.
Dawn.
"Jared?” His breath caught. Held. He squeezed his eyes shut at the sound of her pain-filled voice. “Jared, oh my ... Jared."
He saw them all move toward him, Fred and Lilith, Doris and Harvey, Annabelle and Evelyn, their smiles transformed to looks of concern and worry.
Everything changes.
"Jared, Dad passed away. He died ... just a few minutes ago. I turned my back just for a few seconds, to give him his meds and ... he was gone."
Jared didn't realize he was crying in Fred Meyer's arms until he felt Lilith pat his shoulder, her beautiful violet eyes filled with tears.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Twenty-Two
The funeral for Samuel Thomas Martin took place on a bright, sunny Monday morning. People from all across the United States, people from all over the world, came to bid a last farewell to the founder of MegaMart, the man who inve
nted the phrase, ‘quality merchandise at discount prices,’ a man who changed the face of America's retail industry, and that of the world.
As Jared sat in the front row under the tent that had been set up to shade the mourners, he gazed out onto the crowd of people who stood across the way on the other side, nearest the minister. Two faces stood out from the rest—those of Fred and Lilith. Jared's eyes blurred for just a second. Behind Lilith, he could make out two silvery-blue heads of hair ... Annabelle and Evelyn.
He'd bet his last bottom dollar that Doris and Harvey were there, too.
"Sam Martin was a man of vision,” the minister intoned. “A man, I'm told, who realized what people needed and what their idea of the new ‘general store’ was going to be."
Jared swallowed hard. He grabbed Dawn's hand and squeezed it.
"I tell you this, so that you, too, will go out and be ... people of vision ... who will soar to great heights."
Jared handed Dawn a tissue. From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of red, reminding him of Kat's fiery auburn hair.
"You must live by the rules that Sam lived by ... that his family still holds dear—those of fairness, honesty and good moral standing."
Jared shifted in his seat. The sound of his mother and sister's sobs tore through him, just as the flash of red disappeared from his view.
"May his memory be served by all who stand here today..."
Jared caught Lilith's beautiful violet eyes. They shimmered with tears.
"...and all who will go forth to live life as he did."
Jared helped his mother and sister as they walked by Sam's casket, the flowers they held floated down over the simple, brown wooden coffin. Soon, others followed. Jared watched as Sam's grave filled with blooms. They smelled ... like Kat. Their perfume wafted up, tickling his nose ... his senses.
She was here. He could feel it.
Jared scanned the crowd for just a second, but he didn't see her—just a flash of red again, the same fiery glints like the ones in her mass of long auburn hair. His mind played tricks on him. Maybe he was losing it, maybe it was just like Kat said, that he'd be just like his father one day.
People walked by, murmuring words of comfort.
"Your father would be proud, Mr. Martin."
"He was a good man, you take after him."
"Sam always said his boy had vision—you do—those new stores are super. It's nice to see someone who cares about the environment—about people."
Jared paused, realizing that he was just like his father—in all the ways that mattered.
* * * *
Weeks later, Kat walked up the familiar steps to KISS’ pink Victorian façade. She unlocked the door, balancing her bag with her bagel and coffee in one hand, while she pushed the door open with the other. In a routine that had now gone beyond the familiar, she placed her leather satchel on the counter. She flipped on the lights, letting the soft glow of the power track lighting highlight the lingerie gracing the forms standing on the pink and white tiled floor.
Everything had changed yet, nothing really had.
She glanced at one of the ensembles draped on the form across the room. A bold, tangerine colored shelf bra embellished with bright blue ruffles and tiny bows outlined the bust line of the form. The shelf bra was designed to support, yet it just covered the tip of the breast. The rounded curves of the bust line were highlighted, leaving the promise of passion in its wake. The matching panty and garter belt were made of the same, bright tangerine-colored satin. The garter belt had a sexy, sassy, hook and eye closure in the back and was embellished with the same shiny ruffle and bows.
A feast for the eyes, and the imagination—meant to taunt and tease, and wake the sleeping tiger of love and sensual pleasure in the male. Wearing one of Kat's sensual outfits, a woman could feel like she could conquer the world ... and her man. She could arouse in the male animal his need to mate with the female—a ritual that went on since the beginning of time, and would go on long after Kat and KISS were gone.
She glanced out the windows. The day proved to be cloudy and overcast. Unusually hazy, the weatherman had said that morning, and partly cloudy for most of the day. It had been like that, Kat thought, since Jared had left Summerville. The sun would peek out, expecting to find him, like she thought she would. She missed his magic hands, his magic mouth and the magic that was only Jared. Kat wanted to hate him. He had betrayed her and KISS, made a mockery of everything small town life stood for, but in her heart of hearts, she knew, deep down, she would have done the same.
Anything to save Summerville.
The day wore on—the hazy sunshine remained. Every so often a passing cloud blocked out the sun's golden rays. Kat tried to block Jared from her thoughts, like she tried a hundred times each day, but it didn't work. It never did.
"I'm going to go now, okay?"
Kat looked up to see Melissa standing in front of her. She glanced at the clock. “You should have left half an hour ago,” Kat told her. “You'll be late for your own party.” She gave the young girl a small smile.
Melissa returned it, grinning from ear-to-ear. Suddenly, it faded. “Kat ... do you think I'm doing the right thing?"
Kat angled her head. “You mean, about going to F.I.T?"
Melissa swallowed, nervous. Kat felt her trepidation—it reminded her of how she felt before she left Summerville for the big city to attend college there. She came around the counter and hugged Melissa. “You're doing the right thing. F.I.T is a wonderful school. You'll come back to visit. Everything will be okay."
Melissa nodded and smiled again. “It's just that, I get real scared, you know?"
"Change does that to you,” Kat said softly.
Melissa frowned. “You seem real tired today. Maybe I'll stay just a little longer."
Kat shooed her out. “Absolutely not! Now go, shoosh. Enjoy yourself."
Melissa grabbed her bag. “Will you stop by later?"
Kat shook her head, yes. “Of course. I wouldn't miss your party."
At the door, Melissa stopped and said. “I just want to say—"
"What?"
"That, I'll bet you're real glad this MegaMart thing is over."
Happy as a clam ... that's me!
"And, it took guts to do what you did. You're a real smart person, Kat. You're not like everyone else here in this town, it must be because you spent that time in the city, right?"
Kat walked over to her and took Melissa's hand in her own. “Just remember something—never, ever forget where you came from. Never forget your small town roots, you may need them some day, Melissa. You may need them very much."
"Okay, I'll remember."
Kat squeezed her hand then let it drop. “Now, go. I'll see you later."
Yes, Kat had won. MegaMart had been voted down unanimously by the citizens of Summerville. She had breathed a sigh of relief when that happened, telling herself that they didn't need MegaMart. Summerville didn't need Jared.
The only problem was, she needed Jared.
The bell above the door to KISS jangled. She looked up to see a tall man walk in. Her heart skipped several beats as she watched him finger the delicate white lace that adorned a flirty demi-skirt and matching top. He smoothed the lace over the skirt, using his long fingers to make it lay just so on the lingerie form. His hands held a wealth of sensual promise—of the wonderful, glorious, life-affirming things he would share with the female of the jungle.
"I'm looking for the owner,” his deep voice echoed through the confines of KISS. He removed his sunglasses and gazed at her, holding her captive in his sight. Kat didn't move.
He walked toward her, moving with that lithe animal grace she loved. Lowering his head to hers, he breathed deep of her scent, shutting his eyes and reveling in the heady aroma of her arousal. His blood was up—his senses sharp and keen. This was no ordinary beast—he was king of jungle ... of her heart and soul.
"I've missed you,” he whispered, his voice ragged. “Please l
et me talk to you ... let me explain."
She knew what he was planning to say, had read it in the newspapers. The blurb appeared in a small section of the Summerville Times. ‘MegaMart mogul makes amends to citizens of Summerville. MegaMart employee Georgia O'Reilly arrested for attempted blackmail and coercion. Civic Association voted to reject MegaMart's proposal to build an Inn at Summerville Shops in downtown retail district.'
She should have been relieved when she read it, she should have been overjoyed. Instead, all she felt was a dull, hollow ache in her breast, where her heart had once been.
Kat raised her sea-green eyes to his dark, golden ones. “You've found the owner,” she told him. “I'm Kaitlyn Sullivan, but everyone calls me ... Kat."
"I take full responsibility for what Georgia did to you and KISS. For what she did to this town,” he blurted. His long, lithe body trembled.
She swallowed, her throat constricting, feeling his pain, his betrayal by one of his own. “Lilith told me what happened when she and Fred went to see you. And I've been reading the papers."
"I understand why you said what you did about my father. You were cornered. You lashed out in the only way you knew how."
Her eyes filled. “I was afraid for those women I promised to help, I was afraid to lose KISS, I was just ... afraid."
"Ah, Kat, I wish you had told me,” his voice was filled with regret.
"Would you have believed me?"
He shook his head, ‘no.’ “More fool I, isn't that how it goes?"
"You're not a fool. Far from it."
She watched him prowl around KISS, touching each of her exquisite creations, marveling at their design. Every so often, he'd cast a look her way, a look of longing and pure, hot animal desire.
She sensed his arousal just as sure as she could sense her own.
Everything changes.
Only if you let it.
"Were you there?” he whispered.
She just looked at him and nodded, yes.
"I thought so. Though I didn't see you, I felt your presence, just as sure as I'm looking at you now."
Kat moved closer to him. “Your father's death had nothing to do with ... us. It would have been wrong if I hadn't gone to his funeral."
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