Sex, Secrets and Happily Ever Afters

by Deb Julienne

  Jill took a copy of the sex kitten book and went up to their lone customer. “Excuse me, but I’d appreciate your opinion on something. I’m trying to convince my boss we should consider a book club meeting here one night a week, followed by a fashion show of lingerie and a product party.” Jill handed the woman the book. “Would you be interested in something like this?”

  Angel would never have asked the woman. Not the right kind of clientele. The woman’s almost too perfect nose was in the air, her full lips pursed into a permanent pucker. Angel was biased, but the woman’s behavior was that of one with a torrid little secret she couldn’t wait to share or a case of gas.

  The woman held the book stiffly, batting her lush lashes as she glanced at Jill over the top of her glasses. “Hmm.” She raised a perfectly sculpture brow.

  There was an exotic quality to the woman. She flipped through the pages then handed it back. “What kind of lingerie?”

  Beaming, Jill escorted the woman to the racks. “These are the owner’s sole designs. She’s a genius with a great eye for style and color, don’t you think?”

  The woman fingered one of the satin negligees. “Nice.”

  Angel envied the woman’s seductive voice.

  “Nice? They’re exquisite. Notice the tag. Black Heart has the exclusive on her designs. Surely you’ve heard of Black Heart?” Jill asked.

  “And your idea of products?” The woman blinked steely blue eyes.

  The more Angel looked at the woman, the less she liked her. Everything about her was too perfect.

  Jill had only been at the store for three days and already she was well versed on the products.

  The woman looked bored, but Jill plowed on and finished her pitch. “Now don’t you think women would enjoy an evening out, to feel better about themselves and to learn about enticing a man? Not to mention the terrific selection of naughty nighties and fun, useful tools for the bedroom…”

  “I suppose there are some women who might call that an enjoyable way to spend an evening. Sex parties aren’t my idea of fun. If you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment.” The woman strutted past Jill, halted at the door, and looked directly at Angel. “Nice to meet you.” The woman wiggled her fingers, a sort of toodle-oo wave, flashing the Rock of Gibraltar on her left hand.

  Stymied by the woman’s behavior, Angel said, “You, too.”

  The bell tinkled.

  “Well, la-di-da.” Jill dragged the words out, hands on her hips. She stuck her tongue out at the woman’s retreating backside.

  Angel wanted to laugh. “Don’t sweat it. My store isn’t for everyone.”

  “I know, but geez, how rude.”

  “Forget it. You did an excellent job on the salesmanship. I won’t hesitate leaving you in charge.

  “The hell with Miss Stick-Up-Her-Ass. What do you think about the idea of a book club? I think we could pull it off.”

  “The idea is growing on me. We’ll talk about it tonight. Let’s get back to work. With Valentine’s Day a little over three weeks away, I’m thinking about having a sale. Help me with the window dressing and let’s make some money.”

  Jill went through the boxes in the back room and got creative. She decorated the store with a wide variety of different-sized pink, red, and white hearts. She showed Angel her idea of overlapping them and using them as decorations, with the point of the heart bottom pointed toward a specific item for sale, with an interesting tip about the product. “Mind if I play with an idea for a flyer?”

  “Be my guest. I’ve been meaning to make one,” Angel said. Jill’s idea inspired her. Maybe it was just the ticket to make enough money to pad her savings account. “Do you know any realtors?”

  “I’m sure I do. I’ll check my address book after we get home.”

  “I have to start looking for another place. Some luck, your ideas, and a sale to thin down my stock will make the move a bit easier.” Angel wondered how long it would take to pack up the place once she found another location.

  * * * *

  Angel loved her new apartment. Living with Kat and Jill was a nonstop gigglefest; one of them was always saying or doing something to cause laughter. It was exactly how she’d imagined having roommates would be.

  She missed Marianne, but Kat and Jill shared the fun side of their personalities with her and shared plenty of stories about themselves, Sabrina, and the twins.

  They made her realize that removing herself from life was wrong. It wasn’t living at all. In fact, it was barely an existence. Thinking back on it now and thanks in part to Travis’s kindness, she was slowly coming out of her shell.

  Grant hadn’t broken her heart, but he had badly wounded her pride and destroyed her ability to trust men. Almost eight years had passed and she only now understood she’d yet to forgive herself. Her grief was self-inflicted. She alone gave her daughter up for adoption, which was the only thing she could’ve done back then and was in her daughter’s best interest.

  If only she hadn’t chased off Travis. She missed his voice, his scent, his touch, and how he made her feel. Female. Wanted. Sexy. Alive. No doubt about it, she had been too hard on him. She’d just have to get used to living alone.

  “Hey, boss, I’m home,” Jill said.

  “Knock it off.” Angel snickered. “How did closing go? Any problems?”

  “Not a bit. I tallied the register to the receipts and made the deposit. Here you go.” Jill handed Angel an envelope.

  Angel had hoped for a larger deposit, but it wasn’t a poke in the nose either.

  “Any colorful characters?”

  “Nope, but the owner of the building called and asked you to call him.”

  “I’ll call from the store tomorrow. No use ruining my evening.” She got up from the couch and moved to the kitchen to forest the table for dinner. “Hey, what day are you due to fly out for your mom’s next round of chemo?”

  “I have a week. I need to leave on Sunday. I’ll be gone for two weeks. Will you be okay while I’m gone?” Jill leaned on the kitchen counter.

  “I have my sister’s dress done, so it’s just a matter of finishing the beading before you leave. By the time you get back, I’ll just have to put the finishing touches on it. In the meantime, I’ll make sure to organize my time, and with any luck when you get back the Valentine’s rush will be on so the timing is perfect. How’s your mom doing?” Angel knew that it would be hard on Jill to watch her mother get sick from the treatments, but she was glad her mom wouldn’t be alone.

  “She’s okay, a bit scared. The first-round dose was low and she didn’t lose any hair, so she’s hopeful that this round will be the same. Thanks for asking. Is Kat home yet?”

  Angel ached at the apprehension on Jill’s face. “No, she called to say she’s bringing dinner and to get ready for a treat.” Angel set a stack of three plates on the counter.

  “Oh boy, I love Kat’s surprises.” Jill rubbed her hands together then pulled a diet soda from the fridge.

  “Does this happen often?” Angel pulled open a drawer and removed three red and white checkered napkins.

  “No, but it’s always fun when it does. One time she brought leftovers from the opening of her ex-boyfriend’s restaurant. We ate like kings for a week. Another time it was samples of chocolates from another friend’s store and we ate ourselves sick. Kat knows everyone.” Jill said, leaning against the counter near the sink.

  “Wow, sounds interesting. By the way, I don’t mean to be nosy, but how did you and Kat and Sabrina all meet?”

  Jill laughed. “Sit down. This is a good story.”

  Angel finished setting up the counter then added the silverware on top of each napkin. She grabbed a glass of water and came back to the couch. “Let’s hear it.”

  Jill sat in the chair across from her. “Imagine this if you will. It’s our first day of journalism class. The professor walks in and passes out copies of a popular gossip magazine to everyone. He tells us to take one and pass them around then to pick a st
ory and write our version of that story for the next class session.”

  “I hate those rags. They’re filled with lies and supposition, mocking the lives of the people in it.”

  Jill sipped her drink, set her glass down then leaned forward in her seat. “True. The next class the prof called on a student to read his article. Now mind you, I’m new to the school, not acquainted with anyone. Neither was Sabrina. I’m sitting on one side of the theatre, Sabrina’s on the other. The student stands and starts reading his article to the class. It wasn’t exactly a flattering article either. He trashed some poor little rich girl and her party life and accused her of being a tease and a prude.”

  “That’s horrible.” Angel had been on the receiving end of enough humiliation to last her a lifetime.

  “When he finished reading his article to the class, the teacher asked for feedback. Kat raised her hand, but before the prof could call on her, Sabrina stood up. Ignoring all the snickers from the class and the professor pointing at Kat to speak, she said, ‘If this is how you run a class, promoting libel and slander, consider me dropped.’ Sabrina stormed out. I was so impressed with her moxie I stood up and said, ‘Me, too.’” Jill drained her glass and set it on the coffee table.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” Angel was astonished.

  “By the time I got outside, Sabrina was pacing the hall, furious as hell. I stopped to talk to her. We commiserated about how bogus the class was. Next thing we knew Kat came up to us and thanked us. Sabrina and I looked at each other completely baffled as to why. Come to find out the guy was some schmuck who’d hit on Kat and she’d turned him down flat the previous day. His article was his idea of revenge against her.”

  “What a jerk,” Angel said.

  “So the three of us are standing around debating on going to the dean’s office to complain when the prof came out and told us that he’d reprimanded the student and asked us to return to class. Apparently the idea behind the assignment was to find out what our interpretation of journalism was.”

  “Obviously the jerk failed.”

  “No kidding. We went back and the guy was supposed to apologize to Kat after class.”

  “That was nice of him…well, sort of.”

  “Not really. The prof told him if he didn’t he would be kicked out and the infraction would go on his file.”

  “Better to learn the lesson then, the professor said or he’d be printing retractions the rest of his life if he didn’t learn to curtail his emotions and piss-poor behavior.”

  “So you and Sabrina didn’t even know Kat.”

  “Nope.” Jill shook her head. “Kat was surprised two strangers would defend her. When we explained we didn’t realize his article was about her, she started laughing. She thought it was hysterical that there were two people on campus who hadn’t heard of her. We’ve been friends ever since.”

  “I don’t recognize her name. Does she come from big money or something?” Angel asked.

  Jill threw her head back laughing. “Hell yeah, but she doesn’t talk about it. In fact, we never discuss it. She’s just one of the girls to me. Someone I trust, someone who knows I have her back, and she has mine. Google Grantham Industries sometime.” Jill gave her a conspiratorial wink.

  “She’s very intimidating, though. I mean she’s gorgeous, yet it’s as if she doesn’t see it. She speaks her mind, which I love. But at the same time, she doesn’t know me from the crackhead down the street or the girl behind the ice cream counter, and she still invited me to share her home.”

  “Just remember you said that.” Jill chuckled. “Sometimes she’s too honest for her own good, but she means well.”

  Kat swept into the apartment just then, her arms full, and headed for the kitchen.

  Jill gave her a cheesy grin. “Yeah, Kat’s got it all. Looks, money, and men after her all the time, but she’d rather play with her battery-operated boyfriends.”

  Kat put the bags on the counter and straightened. “Damn straight. They don’t abuse me, they don’t lie to me, and they always satisfy.” Kat batted her eyelashes.

  Angel and Jill laughed.

  “What lies is Jill filling your head with?” Kat unpacked the paper bags.

  “I was just telling Angel how you, Sabrina, and I met.” Jill got a fresh drink from the fridge.

  “Oh God.” Kat rolled her eyes. “I swear I should have neutered the little shit.”

  “You got even, so let it go.”

  The satisfied smirk on Jill’s face made Angel ask, “What did you do?”

  Kat blushed.

  Jill snickered. “Tell her. Might as well tell her and let her find out how vindictive you are.”

  Kat glared at Jill.

  Jill asked, “Why are you hemming and hawing?”

  Kat remained silent.

  Jill said, “She was brilliant. Remember when I told you the prof said the guy had to apologize? Well, he came out of the theatre after class and looked around. Kat, Sabrina, and I were all waiting to talk with the prof. The guy taps Kat on the shoulder and asked for a minute. He mumbled his apology and walked away.”

  “What, that’s it?” Angel asked, frustrated for Kat.

  Jill put up a finger. “Kat said, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t hear what you said.’ The guy stopped. His shoulders sagged. He came back and said a little louder, ‘I’m sorry,’ and walked away again. Kat said, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.’ So the guy whips around and snaps, ‘God damn it, I’m sorry.’ Kat didn’t miss a beat. She said, ‘You’re sorry, all right. You’re a sorry excuse of a man, you’re a sorry excuse of an ass, and you’re a sorry excuse for a journalist. Maybe when you grow up I’d actually consider going out with you, but until then, buzz off.’”

  “Ouch,” Angel said.

  “Oh, that was nothing. The entire class heard it, including the prof, and they laughed him off. He never came back.”

  “Good. What a jerk.”

  “Enough of my scandalous behavior. I have enough dinner so that none of us should have to cook for several days. Dig in.” Kat pointed to the many containers on the counter.

  “What is it this time?” Jill said.

  “Smorgasbord.” Kat opened the first container then continued down the line until all eight containers were opened.

  Angel’s mouth watered from the smells.

  “What’s your pleasure—German, Italian, Chinese, French, Mongolian, Mexican, Vietnamese, or Greek?”

  “You weren’t kidding when you said smorgasbord.”

  “I never kid about food. I love it. Afterward we’re going to the club to dance it off.”

  “Which club?” Angel asked.

  “The Metronome. And you’re coming with,” Kat stated emphatically.

  “I have to be at work early. I think I’ll pass.”

  “Nope, not tonight you won’t. You need a break from everything. To cut loose and have a blast with friends you can trust. If you don’t want to dance with a guy, you can dance with Jill and me. We’re not shy.”

  “I’d say not. Maybe that’s exactly what I need—a night of fun.”

  Angel hovered over the cartons, trying to decide what to eat. The smell of the sauerbraten was heavenly. The vegetable lasagna with the creamy white sauce had her salivating. The kung pao chicken covered in nuts and spices had her licking her lips. She was also torn between the chicken cordon bleu and the enchiladas, but the Mexican food reminded her of Travis. She took an egg roll and a piece of baklava, added a scoop of each of the foods then went back for the Mongolian BBQ. The spicy flavor suited her mood. She needed a bit of heat and sizzle in her life.

  After dinner the girls dressed and headed out in Kat’s car. “We’ll just be there a few hours. You don’t even have to drink if you don’t want to. I need to dance off my dinner.”

  “Yeah,” Jill said. “One thing to learn real quick-like about us, exercise is a dirty word. We go to the club several nights a week and just cut loose and dance the frustrations of the week away.”<
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  “What a great idea. Normally all I do is work, but I could use some down time after the week I had.”

  “Why? What’s going on?” Kat asked.

  “Didn’t Jill tell you? The owner of the building is planning to sell. I need to find a new location soon.”

  Kat gave Jill a look then winked at Angel. “We’ll talk about it later after we’ve had some fun.”

  Two hours later, Jill was on the stage singing karaoke.

  Angel loved the club. It was open and airy, with hardwood oak floors, muted light, plenty of tables, and even a few booths for privacy. The well-lit bar stocked a wide variety of top-end alcohol.

  Kat danced in place next to their table. “Get a load of Jill.”

  Jill jumped off the stage and led the crowd in a line dance.

  “So Jill has a passion for country music, huh?” Angel couldn’t believe it.

  “She loves it. That’s her favorite. Tuesday nights are slow, so it’s karaoke and country. The rest of the nights it’s more modern and varies depending on the bands.” Kat guzzled her sparkling water. “About your building. Mind a suggestion?”

  “Sure. I’m open to just about any ideas.”

  “Can I offer to contact the owner on your behalf?”

  “As long as you don’t offer to help the way Travis did.”

  “So he did try?” Kat asked.

  “Yes, and if you know he offered, you also know I told him no because it’s not his obligation. It’s mine. I’m grateful that both you and Travis want to help, but this is my livelihood. And while I appreciate the offer, from both of you, it’s my responsibility. Please understand, I don’t mean to sound rude or unappreciative. I need to do this on my own.”

  “Actually, I’m impressed. It says a great deal about you. I’ll do as you ask, but I have a friend in real estate who could look for other locations for you.”

  “That’s an offer I’ll gladly accept.”

  “Can I ask you a question?

  “Sure.”

  “Why would it be a problem for me to buy the building and charge you the same rent? I’m just trying to understand.”

  “Because if I could accept that kindness from you, I might as well let Travis help me. The point is to do it myself and not be beholden to anyone. And really, I do appreciate the offer. I hope you understand.”