Dont be modest, young lady. Youve done so much for the sex drive of Black Oak as a whole. Not just us seniors, either. I heard Lola, my daughters hairdresser who cant be much older than you, telling the gals at the salon how youve saved her marriage with your mead-and sexy-spiced chocolate-dipped strawberries.
What was she supposed to say to that? All she could come up with was a weak smile and a murmured thanks. She caught Fifis wave again and held up one finger to let the girl know she was on her way.
My favorites are those sweet-nothings ginger cookies, Pandora. Id ask for your recipe, but I know you put a little something special in there. You have your grammas magic touch, dont you? Mrs. Sellers joked, poking a bony elbow into Pandoras thigh. Your mom must have been so happy to have you come back to Black Oak. Are you running the store on your own now?
Moms thrilled, Pandora said, the memory of Cassiopeias excitement at her daughters plans to save the store filling her with joy. But if youll excuse me, I need to check in with Fifi. Dont forget to look over the fabulous specials for the holiday season. Were offering a Christmas discount in the store for our diners, if you wanted to do a little shopping.
With another smile for her favorite elderly couple, Pandora gratefully excused herself and hurried over to the wide, bead-draped doorway that separated Moonspun Dreams retail side from the café.
Whats wrong? Pandora asked.
Two months ago, whenever shed asked that question it was because the store seemed to be spiraling into failure. Shed been freaked about vendors demanding payment, customers complaining about a lack of variety in the tarot card stock or, on one horrific occasion, a mouse so big it had scared the cats.
In the past five weeks, Moonspun Dreams had done a one-eighty. Now she had vendors begging her to take two-for-one discounts, customers complaining about waiting in too long a line and the health department stopping in for lunch.
And yet, her trepidation of that question hadnt lessened one iota. Funny how that worked.
Nothings wrong, Fifi said, her smile huge as she bounced on the balls of her feet like a kid about to sit on Santas lap. Sheriff Hotties here again. Lucky girl, this is the third time hes been in this week. Hes the best catch in Black Oak. And hes here to see you.
Pandoras smile was just a little stiff. It wasnt that she had anything against Sheriff Hottie, otherwise known as Jeff Kendall. He was a nice guy. A former class president, Jeff had an affable sort of charm that half the women in town were crazy about. She glanced over to where he was chatting with a shaggy-haired guy who kept coming in to moon over Fifi and winced.
She had no idea why he rubbed her wrong. Her mother would claim it was intuition or her gift for reading people. But Pandora knew she had neither.
She had no idea why he rubbed her wrong. Her mother would claim it was intuition or her gift for reading people. But Pandora knew she had neither.
Christmas carols crooned softly through the speakers, singing messages of hope as she crossed the room. It took a minute, since the space was filled with shoppers, quite a few with questions.
Sheriff, she greeted as she stepped behind the counter. She offered him a friendly smile, then folded her hands together before he could offer to shake one. What can I do for you today?
He gave her an appreciative glance and a friendly smile that made it easy to see why the town called him Sheriff Hottie. Blue eyes sparkled and a manly dimple winked. Still, a part of her wished she could be back in the café, listening to Mrs. Sellers share the details of her last passionate excursion with Merv the sex maniac.
Pandora, looks like business is booming nicely for a weekday, he observed, his eyes on her rather than the store. He was tall, easily six feet, and still carried the same nice build thatd made him a star quarterback in school. Cassiopeia must be thrilled. Is she coming home soon?
Having combined her yearly spiritual sabbatical with the psychics conference, Cassiopeia was still in Sedona, Arizona. Pandoras mother was, hopefully, too busy balancing her chi to be worrying about the store.
Shes due home by Yule, Pandora answered. At his puzzled glance, she amended it to, The week before Christmas.
Ah, gotcha. Your mom is really into that New Agey stuff, isnt she?
Pandora just shrugged. She wanted to hide away from that friendly look. There was no innuendo, no rudeness, but she still felt dirty. Instead, she made a show of lifting Bonnie, cuddling her close so that the cat was a furry curtain between Pandoras body and the sheriffs gaze.
My mothers interests are many-faceted. Right now, Im sure if she were here, shed be asking if youd finished your holiday shopping, Sheriff. Were running a few specials in the café and have a stocking-stuffer sale on tumbled stones and crystals today. Maybe youd like to check it out?
Maybe. But Im thinking if I did all my shopping now, I wouldnt have an excuse to come back and visit you every day, he said, putting a heavy dose of flirt in his tone. Leaning one elbow on the counter, he gave her a smoldering look before he glanced at the shoppers milling around, many with wicker baskets filled with merchandise swinging on their arms.
I really am blown away by how youve increased business here, he said. That whole aphrodisiac angle is really drawing them in, isnt it? Howd you come up with that? Dont tell me its from personal experience or I might have a heart attack.
His flirty grin was easy, the look in his eyes friendly and fun. Pandora still inwardly cringed.
Actually, she corrected meticulously, her fingers defiantly combing through the soft, fluffy fur of the cat, the recipes have been handed down from my great-grandmother. Do you remember her? Shes the one with all the experience.
Pandora tried not to smirk when his smile dimmed a little. Nothing like offering up the image of a white-haired old lady to diffuse a guys sexy talk.
How about dinner Friday night? he said. Ill pick you up at seven and you can tell me all about your great-grandma and her recipes.
What a stubborn man. But she was just as stubborn. She knew she had no reason to refuse-that she was getting a weird vibe wasnt good enough-but still, Pandora shook her head.
Im sorry, but no, she told him. Then, seeing the disappointment in his gaze, she tried to soften her words with a smile.
I really wish youd change your mind, Sheriff Kendall said, reaching over Bonnie to give Pandoras cheek a teasing sort of pinch. She gasped, her fingers clenching the cats fur. Whether it was in protest, or because the sheriff was just too close, Bonnie hissed and leaped from Pandoras arms.
Im sorry, she said again, stepping back so she and her cheek were out of reach. Im trying to focus on the store right now. I need to get us back on our feet before I start thinking about dating.
Okay. I understand. He offered that friendly smile again and turned to go. Then he looked back. Just so you know, though, I plan to keep coming back until I change your mind.
Crap.
She waited until he stepped over Paulie, who carpeted the welcome mat like a boneless blanket of fur, and watched him slide behind the wheel of the police cruiser hed parked to blocking the door. Then she almost wilted as the tension she hadnt realized was tying her in knots seeped from her shoulders.
No offense, boss, but youre crazy, Fifi declared, stepping next to Pandora and offering a sad shake of her head. Id do anything to date the sexy sheriff. I cant believe you turned him down.
What was she supposed to say? That her internal warning system was screaming out against the guy? That same system had hummed like a happy kitten over Sean.
So obviously, the system sucked.
She gave Fifi a tiny grimace and said, I guess I might have been a little hasty turning him down.
A little? More like a lot crazy. Dudes a serious heart-throb.
Pandora grinned as the blonde gave her heart a thump-thumping pat.
Okay, she decided, squaring her shoulders against the sick feeling in her stomach. Just nerves about dipping back into the dating pond, she was sure. Ill tell you what. The next time he asks, Ill say yes.
Fifis cheer garnered a few stares and a lot of smiles, especially from the young man with shaggy brown hair who was watching her like an adoring puppy.
Well, there you have it, Pandora decided with a grin of her own. The town obviously approved.
Ten minutes later, Pandora was ringing up a customer and still worrying over whether Sean had ruined her for all men, when a sugary-sweet voice grated down her spine.
My mother said there was a blown-glass piece in here she thought Id like as a Christmas gift. She probably mixed up the store names again, though, poor dear. I dont see anything in here I need.
Crap. Pandora took a deep breath, gesturing with her chin for Fifi to close up the café for her. This would probably take a while. Shed gone to high school with Lilah Gomez, and eight years later the other woman still held the privilege of being Pandoras least favorite person-which, given the events of this last year, was really saying something.
Knowing the importance of not showing weakness to her sworn enemy, she cleared her face of all expression and turned to the brunette.
Your mother has excellent taste. Too bad she didnt pass it, and the ability to dress appropriately, on to her only daughter, Pandora said sweetly. She made a show of looking the other woman up and down, taking in her red pleather tunic with its low-cut, white fur-trimmed neckline that showed off her impressively expensive breasts. She raised a brow at the shimmery black leggings and a pair of do-me heeled boots that would make any dominatrix proud. What do you call this look? Holiday hussy?
Im the customer here. Why dont you put on your cute-little-clerk hat and show me whatever overpriced joke my mother saw so I can reject it and go shop in a real store.
From where Im standing, which is right next to the cash register, in the handful of times youve been in Moonspun Dreams youve never bought a single thing. So youre not a customer. Youre a loiterer.
Lilah responded with a haughty look. Shed never bothered with her frenemy act before. Probably because she knew that Pandora would see right through it. Instead, the brunette leaned both elbows on the counter and bent forward to say under her breath, Youd know crime, now, wouldnt you? What was it you were busted for? Something to do with drugs? Or was it lying?