All That Glitters

by Laura Westbrook

  “I think you’re being pig-headed, as usual,” she said before taking a slurp of her pure, Jamaican coffee. “We can’t do everything your way. I need to choose some elements.”

  “I’m not asking to do everything my way, Lori,” Blake said. “And I’m not going to argue about it. We can’t purchase the Delocini range until we see some movement of the Milani Collection. We can’t put our fingers in every single pie, no matter how popular they are.”

  Despite her snippy tone, his was calm, level-headed, and just a little stern, and Stacey could only imagine how his eyes looked. Does frustration bring out the hazel in his eyes or turn them more into a light chocolate?

  “I won’t discuss it now,” Lori said. “I deserve some time off, and I’m late for my day spa appointment. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  The bell above the front door thrashed about as Lori shut it harder than she needed to. Lori acted as if everything was about her, as though she alone called the shots, and Stacey couldn’t imagine how Blake “co-owned” anything with her help. Stacey found her stomach tightening again, this time with worry about what would happen if Lori took her frustrations out on her instead of Blake.

  She wasn’t used to witnessing such aggression. She’d seen it at a distance, but rarely close up like this. One might think living in NYC would make this impossible, but people in the city were overall nice people, at least in her experience. She’d been lucky, she knew—her parents had split without any of the nasty arguments and fights that so many kids had to witness. She just hoped the stress was something she’d become used to and that her insides would stop scrunching up every time Lori opened her mouth. Her dad had once said that some people “have a beef with life,” explaining that they were never content, no matter what they did.

  At the time, she’d been distraught after watching a horrible fight between two older women. She’d been with her friend at the mall, both impressionable nineteen-year-olds, when these two women had started arguing. The fight escalated until one of them threw a drink in the other’s face. Stacey told her father all about it on the phone when he was in New Orleans, and he managed to help her sort out the drama.

  Still, she didn’t feel like she truly understood such people, and she felt sorry for Blake. He seemed so kind and generous compared to Lori, yet they owned a store together and might—just might—be married. How could they be friends, much less business partners? She told herself she wasn’t going to think about their personal lives.

  It wasn’t her business, and she wasn’t going to pry, though it would probably still intrigue her. Curiosity can’t be helped, she told herself, but she felt slightly guilty for listening in on their conversation. She was never one to gossip and even if she couldn’t have avoided hearing, she could at least put the whole thing out of her mind and focus on her work.

  Then, in a split moment, it dawned on her. She was alone with Blake. This charming and handsome man was going to train her. Suddenly, the room felt warm and she couldn’t breathe normally. The butterflies were back, swarming inside her stomach as if they’d just broken out of their cocoons, and then, in that heartbeat, he was there, pushing aside the maroon velvet curtain that cut off the front of the store from the back.

  “Hey, I’ve got a tablet if you get bored on your breaks,” he said. “You can play games on it or look up something interesting. It’s got an eReader, too. A lot of them are books most would consider boring, though. Some are about gems and minerals. You can call it employee education if Lori says anything.”

  Stacey felt like she’d stumbled onto a movie that she was directing, casting, and starring in…with him. He was being incredibly sweet, and he was just standing there, beaming a heartwarming, delicious smile at her.

  She felt like she needed to pinch herself to make sure she hadn’t fallen asleep on her break and started dreaming. “Thanks,” she managed to say as she got up to get her tea. “I actually love scientific stuff. I watch more documentaries than I probably should. I love learning about how geological formations are created on earth, and in space for that matter.” She sounded more like an eager fan of his rather than his co-star, and she quickly took a sip of her tea, hoping to hide her face partly behind her cup, at least until she regained her self-control.

  “Really? Me, too. I think that’s how I stumbled into jewelry, through the science of it all. The way light reacts to the different cuts and how the gems are found and polished and…looks like we have a customer. To be continued.”

  “Okay. My break will be done in a few minutes anyway.” She hastily finished her tea, then rinsed her cup and saw the tablet sitting on the counter. She’d have to look over his digital library on her lunch break, even if it might be a little bit prying, because now she wanted to know what his taste in books was like. Married or not, he might’ve found some great reads she’d never heard of, and it was a temptation she couldn’t resist, especially not after he’d gone out of his way to offer it. It’d be rude not to accept.

  She glanced at the clock. Two minutes early, but she couldn’t wait in the back any longer. She took a deep breath, then walked back through the curtain to the front of the store. The customer was still there, yet Blake turned her way and looked at her as though she was someone special.

  She’d never felt so noticed by anyone, not since Edgar, a high school crush that had never come to fruition. They’d been friends, and she’d hoped for something more, but then he’d been swept up by Sally Werner, one of the popular girls. She watched their relationship flourish from a distance and cried over him many times in her too-pink bedroom. But that was years ago. She learned not to make castles in the air like that, not without a firm foundation and understanding all the facts, and she wasn’t even close to that with Blake.

  So Stacey watched him, this time not to admire him, but to pick up on his sales technique. He was helping an elderly lady choose a pair of diamond earrings…the expensive kind. The ones she looked at were set in twenty-four karat gold and were from the estate jewelry section. She ooed and ahhed between two pairs she liked.

  “These ones are classy,” she said, holding up the ruby and diamond pair. “But, as they say, diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And this one has more of them.”

  Blake patiently waited. He wasn’t flashy or pushy. He just seemed to care about the customers, as though they were his oldest and dearest friends. In a gentle voice, he said, “Well, I think you’re classy, and I’m sure you already have plenty of friends.”

  The woman chuckled. “You think the rubies, don’t you?”

  He placed both pairs up, one in front of each of her ears as he faced her. “Your eyes sparkle with the rubies. I’m sure your husband will be thrilled.”

  The woman loved the attention Blake gave her, and while Stacey doubted she could quite duplicate his strategy, it didn’t detract from her watching him in action. The customer was probably in her sixties—looking great for her age—and she likely had decided from the moment Blake gave his opinion.

  “Yes, Gerald will love me in these. We’re going to my granddaughter’s engagement party. I’m not fond of the young man, though. I think he’s lying about his size…of his estate, that is.”

  Stacey blurted a laugh around her hand. Thankfully, Blake and the woman were too involved to notice. She didn’t mean to be judgmental, but she never thought to hear such a thing from someone old enough to be her grandmother.

  The woman continued. “Will you two be getting married soon?” she asked Stacey. “You look wonderful together, although I would say he should buy you diamonds without the rubies. A pretty, young thing like you, with all that lovely, long hair…just diamonds would be something special.”

  Stacey stood there, flabbergasted. She couldn’t think of a thing to say. Her cheeks went flaming red and probably matched the rubies as Blake shook his head.

  “Stacey’s my employee. We’re not together. Although you’re right—her hair is lovely.” He somehow turned the awkward situation into a mom
ent. Stacey’s heart threatened to pound out of her chest.

  The woman shook her head, seemingly unconvinced. “I know a good couple when I see one. I used to help my daughter run a dating service, and we were better than these online matchmakers, I can tell you. It didn’t take dozens of pictures and fifty questionnaires for us to find a good match, and you two are peas in a pod. Let’s see…I’ll bet you’re both dog people. And you both have a sweet tooth. Or is it sweet teeth?” She waved it away. “Well, never mind the grammar. Do you?”

  Stacey felt all eyes on her. “Actually, yes,” she said. “My family had a dog growing up. And I like cake. Vanilla is my favorite.”

  Blake’s mouth opened, and he seemed shocked. “Not chocolate?”

  “Yes, ever since I was little.”

  “Fair enough,” he said. “It’s hard to go wrong with cake. I like vanilla, too.”

  The woman clapped her hands. “We have a match. Let’s do favorite colors and your choice of beach or country.” She looked at Blake in anticipation.

  He nodded. “All right, sure. My favorite color is green, and I’d pick the beach over the country. Something Mediterranean maybe.” If he was only doing this to entertain the customer, he was doing a good job of it.

  Stacey knew once she said hers, they would think she was being a copycat, but she couldn’t lie just to appear original. “Green is mine, too.” She held up her green apple keychain fob as proof. “And I went to Greece with my father because we wanted to see the ocean there.”

  The woman nodded as though it was all exactly as she’d expected, but Sophie couldn’t believe it. Even if they shared a handful of similarities—okay, maybe more than a handful—it might not mean anything. But the woman seemed pleased with herself, and Stacey wasn’t about to contradict a customer.

  The woman handed her credit card to Blake and said, “I’ll take the ruby one. And I can see you two have a lot more to discover. You can thank me later.” She gave Stacey a wink. She was the cutest, little, old lady Stacey had ever met, even if she was a romantic optimist in an age where only realists survived. Stacey had expected to only interact with snobby customers at this job, but she was pleasantly surprised so far.

  Blake finished with the woman, and she seemed to walk out with more of a spring in her step than when she’d arrived. Stacey could only imagine how the conversation would go once the door closed.

  Blake turned to Stacey. His lips were doing that thing they did right before he smiled. “Greece, eh? That must’ve been exotic.”

  Stacey tried not to be nervous as she answered him. His eyes gave her no place to hide. “It was great. My dad thought we saw too much of the water while we were there, but I felt at home. Of course, I don’t mind the city, either. It’s why I love New York. He just wanted variety.”

  “I know what you mean. New York has a certain way of drawing you in, the hustle and bustle—but I’ve felt at home elsewhere. When I visited Hawaii, I wanted to cancel my return flight, buy a house, and live there.”

  Stacey felt a spark of adventure. Hawaii was on her top five places to visit. “Maybe it’s a good thing I’ve never made it there yet. To Hawaii,” she added so she wouldn’t sound like an idiot. “I was tempted enough with Greece.”

  “All the same, you should go. It’s breathtaking.” He stood back from the counter. “We deserve a coffee after that sale. Don’t worry, I’m making it. And if you have it the same way I do, I’ll start thinking I have a real-life stalker on my hands.”

  I won’t turn one down. “One sugar and two creams, please,” Stacey said as he passed behind the curtain.

  “No way!” He poked his head back into the shop, his mouth open in mock astonishment.

  “Really?”

  “Just kidding. I do cream and no sugar.” He disappeared again.

  Stacey was relieved. For a while there, the coincidences had been a bit too much, but the moment had passed and they could go back to regular, ordinary life again.

  Chapter Three

  Stacey had Wednesdays and Sundays off, so she took advantage of that Wednesday to go shopping. She only owned a limited selection of business clothes, since her last job hadn’t needed them, and she wanted to look as professional as possible, like Jinese did. A few new skirts and some pretty blouses would suffice. She wasn’t trying to necessarily impress anyone.

  If she knew for a fact Blake was single, things might’ve been different, but he was her boss and probably married. And she didn’t want a workplace fling. She wanted someone who would slip into her life as both best friend and lover, who would want a “forever after” and wasn’t just looking to pass the time. Nothing clingy, but something real.

  Once her shopping was done, Stacey found a bench and sat down. Her best friend, Tiffany, would usually be with her on an outing like this, but she was working a long shift at the hospital.

  Then she heard a familiar voice. “Hey!”

  She looked up, and Blake stood in front of her. He sported faded jeans and a loose-fitting shirt in a light blue color. It was casual, but he still looked well put together.

  “Hi, Blake. Popular day for shopping, right?” She could feel her pulse spike, even as she tried to come across as breezy.

  “It would be if I knew what I was getting. I’m looking for a gift for my dad. It’s his birthday on Sunday, but all I can come up with is aftershave and underwear. Not the most spectacular gift ideas.”

  Stacey laughed with him, feeling some of her tension melt away. His eyes were clear, and they sparkled when he smiled. He looked happy to see her, standing there like all he wanted to do was talk to her. She could hardly believe what he said about his “struggle” to find a gift. His confidence made him seem like the type to always have the right answer.

  “You know, I could really use a cup of coffee right now,” he said. “Want to come? I need to come up with a better plan before the sales staff at these places see me coming in clueless and swarm.”

  Stacey stared at him for a moment. She wasn’t sure she could accept without making a fool of herself. Her legs felt like jelly and she doubted she’d be able to carry her end of the conversation. She was used to talking to him at work, but this was different. Very different.

  “Okay,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too eager. She wished she’d worn something nicer or had time to check her lipstick. She remembered smearing it on in a hurry to get there before the crowds hit the mall, but there was no time for anything. He collected her bags for her and then walked by her side to a nearby cafe.

  “Oh, they make a nice French Vienna coffee here,” Stacey said, noting an advertisement in the window. Mentally, she praised herself for the conversation starter.

  “And they have a Turkish blend. I might try that one. It sounds…what’s the word?”

  “Exotic?”

  He gestured. “Yeah, that’s it. You only live once, right?”

  That made her laugh, and she hoped it didn’t sound like a nervous giggle. She couldn’t help but feel a little awkward standing next to her boss. He was tall, and everyone noticed him, especially women.

  After they ordered, Stacey found them a booth as Blake followed behind, still carrying her shopping bags for her. Within minutes, the coffees were there—one French and one Turkish, just like he said.

  But he didn’t rush into it. He took a sip, then leaned back against the booth, looking at her for a moment. She swept her hair out of her face and played with a few strands, unsure what she should do or say. Then, just as she picked up her coffee and buried her face in it, he asked, “Are you shopping for someone? A boyfriend or husband, perhaps?”

  She nearly spit out her sip. It was the last question she expected. “I’m definitely single. I haven’t been with anyone for a while. On a date.” She realized that could be taken the wrong way, but she wasn’t sure there was any good way to say she’d been continuously disappointed but hopeful for years. “I’ve probably been too busy with work. That, or using the wrong dating website.
”

  Blake smiled as though he knew exactly what she meant. “You must’ve been working like crazy. Even on the wrong website, nobody like you gets passed by.” He took another sip. “Next time, I should try the French Vienna.”

  “You don’t like yours?”

  “No, I do. But I wouldn’t mind trying yours, too.”

  She tried to think of something nice to say about the Turkish one he’d ordered. “But its flavor is far more mild. I’m sure the Turkish one is strong and…well, the kind that might keep you up all night.” It sounded lame, but Blake laughed anyway.

  “Lori’s always talking about that Turkish soccer player—more exotic than the coffee, I’m sure. Sometimes I think that’s the entire reason she watches soccer. Whenever Turkey loses, she turns off the TV.

  She tilted her head. Interesting. That’s a bold thing to do in front of your husband, if they actually were married. She realized the awkward feeling was gone, and she was just enjoying being with him—in fact, she was enjoying herself more than she had in a long time. But still, were they brother and sister, cousins, or married? She wished she could just ask, like he basically had, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. The two being business partners in a jewelry store probably meant they were married…unfortunately.

  “I’ve heard Istanbul is a great place to visit, but I think my next vacation will be to Hawaii again. Not to make you jealous or anything, but it’s picture-perfect. The ocean is so crystal-clear, and everything has a pineapple flavor. You have to get used to the humidity a bit, but it’s worth it. I went with my friend Ben around three years ago. He knows how to surf, so he said he’d teach me.”

  Stacey was glad to hear he hadn’t gone with Lori. It gave her hope, though she knew it shouldn’t. “Sounds incredible. And I’m not jealous. Okay, maybe a little, but I’ll get there someday. Could you tell me more about it?”