“So well! I’ve had a TCU sorority order ten dozen Tail Feathers to give as mementos to alumni for homecoming next fall. Means I’ll be dyeing feathers purple for days.”
Carly grinned. Despite the initial enthusiasm for the new word buttlaces, it was determined at a later theme meeting for Flawless that the word might be a turnoff for some. They elected, unanimously, to go with Tail Feathers.
“We’ve sold all but two of your headbands and all of the necklaces. I will take as many orders as you can fill.”
“I’ve been working nonstop,” Indija said from a nearby table. “This guy from UT Arlington collects rocks and minerals. Says he can hook me up with some hard-to-find crystals and stuff. Look at this.” She held up an arm wound with copper wire from her middle finger up to her elbow. Cradled along her arm, three webs of twisted copper held three large soft green spheres. “He called them bubble crystals. They’re from Mali.”
Carly admired them and moved on to her other suppliers. Every one of them was busy demonstrating. A huge amount of work had gone into the last two months, and lessons were learned. She didn’t have to go it alone. It was better to have colleagues. Her vendors were now invested in what she was doing. They felt empowered. And they were going to make a living from doing something they loved. It didn’t get better than that.
Kuppy Cakes Bakery, located next door, had opened the weekend before. That dispelled any lasting horror of the fire. In fact, an employee dressed like a decorated cupcake was handing out samples of one of the random cakes on a platter to passersby.
*
She walked back into her store before realizing that the crowd of ladies and young girls had been joined by two males, one large and one small.
“Noah.” Carly couldn’t find air.
Feelings she’d been denying were suddenly vying for and clogging up her throat. But she wasn’t going to act all weepy grateful he’d shown up after two months. A woman had her pride, even if her eyes were shamelessly taking in his dimensions in lascivious detail. For instance the way his knit shirt didn’t hide at all the warm hard musculature beneath. Or those bulges of muscle beneath the short sleeves that she knew personally were strong enough to carry a woman securely out of a fire.
Nothing below the belt buckle, Carly. Have some pride.
She walked up to him, a bigger smile on her face than was strictly necessary. Behave like yourself, Carly.
She reached up to place a hand on each of his shoulders and gave him a quick kiss on each cheek, continental style. Damn, he smelled the same. No. Better. “Welcome to Flawless, Investigator Glover.”
She saw his pupils expand, eating up the blue, and remembered what that kiss had inspired the last time. Desire plunged through her, going straight to the appropriate lady parts. Ooh boy. No time to get flustered. There was a child present.
She looked down at the boy and knew instantly he was Andy. She could have picked him out from a gaggle of kindergarteners. He was a miniature of his dad, from his curly hair, several shades lighter than his father’s, to the sky blue eyes that crinkled in the corners when he smiled. In fifteen years or so, ladies would be in serious danger of losing their hearts.
“You must be Andy.” She offered him her hand.
Andy took it and shook formally, but he was staring at her.
Noah frowned. “What’s the matter, son?”
He looked up at his dad. “How come she kissed you?”
“Ah.” Carly squatted down, balancing easily on her heels. “What I did is called a continental kiss. Very popular in Europe, where I once lived. Would you like one?”
Andy shook his head, but he was watching her in a kind of curiosity.
Carly smiled. “There are lots of ways people from other places greet one another. Americans shake hands like we did. Europeans kiss both cheeks. Do you know what the Inuit people of the Arctic do?”
Andy shook his head, brows drawn down in concern.
“They rub noses. Would you like to rub noses?”
“No-oow.” The word was broken up by a giggle as Andy pressed back against his father’s long legs. He was smiling now.
Carly nodded. “Okay. Friends?” She held out her hand again.
Andy took it. “You’re funny.”
“Thank you. What can I do for you gentlemen today?”
“We need a Mother’s Day present. For my GiGi.”
“Does she like jewelry? How about a pair of earrings?”
Carly moved over to the table where her personal pieces were displayed. “If she has pierced ears, she might like these.” She held up a small pair of sterling silver earrings in the shape of flowers with the tips of the petals rolled back. Inside, the stamens were made of gold.
Andy looked at his dad. “It’s not for the kitchen or the garden. Will she like them?”
“Guaranteed.” He met Carly’s gaze. “Especially when you tell GiGi you met the lady who made them.”