15 Shades Of Pink

by Scott, Lisa

  Zach had left a message that my pillows were in. I stopped by after work and I knew he’d ask how things were going in the romance department.

  The bells on the door jingled and a smile unfurled when he saw me. “I’m surprised you have time to squeeze me in with all the dates you must be juggling.”

  I picked up a stained glass bowl and pretended to inspect it. “Maybe I’m just too picky. There was a very nice fellow I met at a wedding this weekend with a gorgeous toupee who was just dying to take me to bingo.” I set down the bowl and looked at him.

  “I stand corrected; it is working.” He winked at me.

  I turned away from him so he couldn’t see my blush. I blushed easier than a bee made honey. “Wow, who cleared out your shop?” I looked back at him and he shrugged.

  “It’s been crazy busy around here. Stuff that hasn’t moved in months is going left and right.” He snapped his fingers. “And all without feng shui. Imagine that.”

  It was hard to hide my smile. I was dying to drag him over to the chest and show him the hunk of amethyst I’d hidden. But why did he see such quick results and not me?

  He looked at his watch. “I close at seven on Tuesdays. Wanna grab a drink? There’s a new pub down the street I want to check out, the Sundowner. I like to support the locals when I can. And I have a brand new catalog you might want to look through.”

  Hmm, does he want my company or my business? “That would be great.”

  We ordered a bottle of wine and a plate of cheese and fruit. Our fingers brushed as we both reached for the same slice of smoked Gouda.

  He pulled his hand back and fiddled with his silverware. “So, you’re not into Bingo, huh?”

  “Hard to believe, I know.”

  One corner of his mouth quirked up. “Helpful information; I’ll be sure to make note of it.”

  Well, if that wasn’t an invitation to do a little flirting of my own, I don’t know what was. “Enough about the search for my missing love life, how is it you don’t have a girlfriend, Zach?”

  He laughed and set down his wine. “I hate to use the work excuse, but launching a new business takes more time than I ever imagined. And I do all the support work myself—the bookkeeping, marketing, and all that. I’m lucky I get to spend any quality time with my dog. And all I get from her is an occasional lick on the cheek.”

  I fingered the stem of my glass. “It seems to me Miss Moon Child would be interested.”

  “Sherry?” He shook his head. “No, she’s not interested. We’re just friends.”

  My jaw dropped. “You’re seriously telling me you don’t think she’s into you?”

  He looked at me like I was speaking Mandarin Chinese while he was holding a Spanish dictionary.

  I reached over and patted his hand. “Zach, my poor boy. Not only were you born with Foot-in-Mouth disease, but you seem to also be lacking proper flirting radar.”

  He scrunched his eyebrows together and poured more wine. “That’s not true.”

  “When we’re done here, let’s go to her place and tell me you don’t think she’s hot for you.” It was a little strange to be steering Zach toward Sherry when sparks were starting to pop between us, but he really wasn’t my type. He was so different from any other guy I’d dated, I was certain it wouldn’t work.

  “Well, it doesn’t really matter, because I’m not interested in her.” He finished off a slice of cheese.

  “Chicken.”

  “What’s the point?”

  I snapped an apple wedge and pointed it at him. “I think it’s important that you know your flirting radar is shot. Knowing there’s a problem is the first step to fixing it.”

  “Just so long as you don’t try to fix it with rocks or crystals.”

  We finished the wine and cheese, and he led me down to her store, very determined to prove me wrong.

  Sherry’s eyes brightened when he walked in. She set down her magazine and came straight over, smoothing her hands over her hips while nibbling her bottom lip. Then she saw me. “You’re here helping your customer again?”

  “No. Well, yes. We were out for a drink, and Brianna said she needed to stop in for a few more things.”

  Frowning, she looked away. “Out for a drink?”

  “Yeah, I wanted to check out the new pub. Have you been?”

  She shook her head. “Stop by some night after work, and we can go together.” She clenched her hands together in front of her, which pushed her cleavage out. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she hiked up her skirt.

  I smirked and wandered back to the crystal bin, just to make it look like I really did need to pick something up. I grabbed a few more pieces of pink quartz. Maybe the ones I’d bought were duds. I took them up to the register and she rang me out—while talking to Zach the entire time.

  We left the store, and a pouting Sherry. “See?” I said.

  “What? We’re friends. We were talking.”

  I rolled my eyes. “No wonder you’re single.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “If you’re in, she’s in. Trust me.” Surprisingly, I felt a little jab to the gut saying that.

  He shook his head. “I’m still not convinced. But even so, it doesn’t matter.”

  I pulled out a hunk of quartz. “Apparently, you need this more than I do.”

  He stepped back and held up his hands like it might bite him.

  I laughed and moved forward until his back was pressed against the brick building. I held up the rock between us like a shiny little prize.

  He stared at me with those eyes, and I felt a flush down to my toes.

  “Just what do you intend to do with that?” he asked, in a husky voice.

  “The question is what are you going to do with it?” I tucked it in his front pocket and he sucked in a breath. “Give it a shot,” I said.

  “With Sherry? No.”

  I swallowed hard and he stepped forward, closer to me. He reached for my hand and we stared at each other, with our fingers linked. There was definitely something there. But he quickly drew back his hand and smoothed his hair. “There are a few things I forgot to do. In there.” He pointed to his door. “I’ll see you soon, Brianna.”

  He walked into the store, and I didn’t dare follow. We were both surprised by that hot touch of skin. I’d always thought he was nice eye-candy, but now I was imagining maybe he could be more than that.

  And I kept thinking about it the rest of the week. Sarah and I hit a new place for lunch every day, hoping we might find some single guys doing the same. But any time I saw anyone who might be a possibility, I thought about Zach, with his easy smile and his intense eyes, and how his fingers might feel on the rest of me. He was a far cry from Mr. Clean-Cut-and-Corporate who was my current “ideal.” Maybe my ideal was all wrong.

  Friday night, the only thing I wanted to do was see him again and find out if there was really a spark or not. I was going to another wedding the next night, and this time it wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t meet anyone. Not with Zach keeping me preoccupied. I parked on Main Street down from his shop and double-checked my hair and makeup in the rearview mirror. My hair was now more magenta than red and I was feeling sassy. Everything was looking good, so I sauntered over to his door and went in just before closing time.

  His smile made it worth the trip. “Hey, how are you?” He looked me up and down. “More colorful, that’s for sure. I like it.”

  I curled a piece of hair around my finger. “Thanks.”

  “Was that one of Virginia’s feng shui things?”

  I laughed. “No. Changing my hair color is a hobby of mine.” I walked over to a new chair he had on display, sat down and crossed my legs. “Comfy.” I patted the armrests. “Business still booming?”

  He pulled a chair next to me and sat down. “Yeah, it is.”

  My instincts were telling me to wait until I confessed about my secret feng shui treatment. “Great.”

  He reached over and set his hand next to mine. “I had fun with yo
u the other night. Do you have plans tonight? Or are the eligible men finally rolling in?”

  I gave him a slow smile, pleased by his attention. “One possibility. But no one else.” I didn’t get it; why was his business booming while my love life was a bust? Besides Zach, there was no one. The damn feng shui was working for him and he didn’t even believe in it!

  “I don’t have any plans tonight. Other than coming here to see you.”

  “Wanna hit the pub again?” He walked over to his front door and flipped the sign from open to closed and pulled down the shade. He turned back to me and the look he gave me hit me straight in the gut.

  Oh, yeah. There’s a spark. I took that as my cue and walked over to him, cutting the space between us to just inches. “Maybe I don’t want to go to the pub.”

  He raised one eyebrow and smiled. “What are you thinking instead?”

  I pressed my hand against his chest. “I’m wondering if that’s a piece of rose quartz in your pocket, or if you’re just happy to see me?” I wasn’t too bad at flirting once I found a worthy subject. And that was always my problem.

  He looked down and his hair swung in his face, obscuring what might have been a blush. He tucked his hand in jeans pocket and pulled out the rock. “I like it. It feels lucky.” He set it on the counter and wrapped one hand around the small of my back.

  I tipped my head up to look at him. “I guess it is.” His lips covered mine and he cupped the back of my head with his hand.

  His kiss was soft, but demanding, then he broke away. “Hang on one minute.” Holding up a finger, he dashed to the door. He flicked off the lights and grabbed a candle, and a box of long matches.

  “Get two candles!” I called. “One’s unlucky.”

  He laughed and shook his head, but he grabbed another candle and set them on the counter. He lit each one, then grabbed a few big pillows and tossed them on the floor. Taking my hand again, he pulled me down to sit on the cushy seating arrangement.

  “I like this even better than the pub.”

  “One more minute.” He disappeared to a room behind the counter, and emerged with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. “Leftover from my holiday open house last year.” He popped the bottle and poured us each a glass.

  He sat down next to me and I leaned against him. His shirt was soft, yet his shoulder was hard against my cheek. I took a sip of the sweet, bubbly liquid and I looked up at him. Taking my face in his hands, he kissed me, gently at first, then more urgently.

  I tangled my hands through his hair, and he lowered me onto the pillows. His eyes swept over me and he smiled. “Yeah, much better than the pub.”

  We lay next to each other, talking and laughing, in between some very hot kisses. He wasn’t any more forward than that, and it felt like a sweet first date back in high school.

  “I have a confession to make,” I told him.

  “That usually leads to bad news.”

  He sat up and I followed. “No, not at all. Remember you said your sales spiked for no reason?” I wrapped my arms around my knees.

  “Yeah, and I’m still busy.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I might have done a few things in your wealth bagua.”

  He narrowed one eye. “Come again?”

  “Feng shui. I added some purple to the section of your store that correlates with wealth. And your sales took off.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Come see.” I reached out for his hand and led him to the trunk where I’d hidden the Amethyst and the purple napkin.

  He picked up the silky fabric and rubbed it between his fingers, laughing. “I can’t say for sure that’s what did it, but I’ll leave it right where it is.”

  “That’s not enough to convince you?”

  He shrugged. “It’s probably just coincidence.”

  “And the pink quartz I gave you hasn’t helped in the love department?” I gave him a little punch in the chest.

  He kissed my nose. “I’ve been planning to kiss you since I first saw you, so no. The pink quartz had no effect.”

  I set my forehead against his. “Why won’t you believe?” I liked the idea of being in control of my love life for once, and feng shui would give me that control. If it worked, that is.

  “Here’s something to believe—I want to see you again. Can we get together next week?” His lips were still inches from mine.

  Not wanting to throw myself at the man, I said, “I’ll stop by during lunch and we can make plans.”

  After another kiss, I floated home and wondered if he could be honest-to-goodness boyfriend material. Maybe the feng shui stuff was finally working for me.

  “Where’s Charles?” my mother asked as we sat down at the reception. No, not the single girls’ table this time, this was even worse—I was parked next to my mother.

  “I told you it would be hard for him to get the night off.” I sighed and figured I’d throw her a bone. “But maybe you’re right.”

  She perked up at that. “About what?” That’s not a phrase she heard very often from me.

  “About Charles. I don’t think it’s going to work out. I hardly ever see him. Sometimes it feels like we’re not even dating.” Ain’t that the truth…

  She patted my hand. “Yesterday, I was asking the technician giving me my mammogram if she knew any single men.”

  I dropped my head in my hands and squeezed my eyes tight, like she might disappear. “No, you didn’t.”

  She nodded, quite proud of herself. “I did. And her next-door neighbor’s sister has a fabulous son who just got divorced. He’s a lawyer.”

  “Yes, that sounds really, really fabulous. I’ll be fine mom. Just trust me.”

  To humor her, I danced with several men who only reaffirmed for me what a catch Zach would be.

  I brought a picnic basket to his shop on Tuesday and joined him behind the counter for lunch. He loved sweets as much as I did and didn’t touch red meat, I learned. I got a seriously hot kiss before leaving, and we made plans to go out Friday night. I was liking this guy more and more each day.

  Surprising Zach with an unexpected visit right before closing the next night seemed like a perfect, flirty thing to do. I bought a big slice of praline cheesecake from a bakery a few shops down from his, grabbed two forks, and headed for his store. I couldn’t turn down my smile, thinking about seeing him again.

  I walked past the Moon Child shop and froze; Zach was inside with Sherry. His back was to me, but her head was on his shoulder and her arms were wrapped around his neck. They looked very much like he and I had looked the other night. Then he dipped his mouth to her ear. Clearly, he’d figured out Sherry was into him.

  My chest tightened and I swore. I tossed the cheesecake in a nearby garbage can. I stalked back to my car, trying to remember if I’d ever thrown out dessert before.

  I went home and shoved all the heart-shaped pillows in my closet. This whole idea had been stupid. Not only was I not finding love, I was managing to get my heart broken by the first interesting guy I’d met in a long time. Maybe Sherry did give me some bad love charms, I thought. No she didn’t, because none of this nonsense is real. It was stupid and I never should have tried it.

  The next day, I gathered up the candleholders and candles I hadn’t really used. Maybe Zach would give me some cash back for them. I wasn’t wasting my time or money on this—or him—anymore.

  He greeted me with his killer smile, but I didn’t return the favor. “Everything alright?” he asked.

  “You win. You were right. This nonsense doesn’t work, and I was wondering if I could return some of this stuff for partial credit. Or just take it back. I don’t care. I don’t want to see it in my house. And cancel the order for the pillows.” I’d asked for two more heart pillows to scatter around the apartment, that’s how desperate I’d become. Stupid, is more like it.

  He stepped from behind the counter and folded his hand around my elbow. “Brianna, you can’t get discouraged like this. I know you�
��ve met some winners the past few weeks, but I thought we had a nice time the other night. Don’t I count? I really like spending time with you.”

  And how many other women? I didn’t play that game. “It seemed like it, but it’s just not right for me.” I couldn’t have meant that much to him if he was hooking up with Sherry a few days later.

  He crossed his arms. “I’m sorry to hear that. I thought maybe…”

  I shook my head. “Thanks for your help, Zach.” I left his store with no intention of ever coming back to Interior Inspirations.

  I called Virginia to cancel her follow-up appointment that weekend, but she insisted on coming. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so I agreed to let her come.

  “This isn’t working,” I told her when she showed up on Saturday. I wasn’t going to tell her what had happened with Zach. It was too mortifying.

  “It’s not like ordering takeout, dear. Give it time.” She bent down to look under my bed. “And clear out under here. You shouldn’t have anything under your bed. It’s the most important piece of furniture in your life and the energy needs to flow all around it.” She waved her hands in a swooping motion to make her point, but I wasn’t buying it.

  I frowned, but followed along as she inspected the rest of my place.

  “You’ve done good work. Now just get on with the business of living your life and see the changes that come to you.”

  I crossed my arms. I didn’t want to insult her and tell her I didn’t believe in this anymore.

  She poked a finger in my chest. “And change your attitude. You need to be open to the idea of love. It’s not just going to break down the door and find you.”

  I opened the door to let her out, and there was Zach, holding a package for me.

  She looked back and forth between us and shrugged. “Or maybe it will,” she said slyly.

  “Hello, Virginia,” Zach said

  “I wasn’t aware you made deliveries, Zach,” she said.

  “Yes, well…” he mumbled.

  “Brianna, I’ll see you in two weeks.” She winked at me and left.

  Zach turned to me. “Your pillows came in. I thought I’d drop them off.”