Try Me On for Size

by Stephanie Haefner

A mess would not save the shop. It was best to just end it, for good.

  Just as she was about to call, her phone rang. It was her brother-in-law. “Hey, Nico, what’s up?

  “Riley’s in labor. They say it shouldn’t take long. You comin’ to the hospital?”

  She hadn’t spoken to Riley or anyone in her family since the disaster dinner. After that night she’d vowed to stay as far away from them as she could. But now, as her baby nephew was making his way into the world, she couldn’t follow through with it. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  Mia ended the call and searched out Oliver’s number again, hitting send.

  “I can’t wait to see you,” he purred into the phone. Obviously he already knew it was her. “I’m having a hard time concentrating at work thinking about you. But luckily I only have another half hour.”

  “I need to cancel.”

  “Mia, come on. Are we back to this employee-employer thing? It really isn’t a big deal.”

  “It is, but I’ll save that conversation for later. My sister’s in labor, so I have to go to the hospital.”

  “Okay. Call me later then.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Mia shoved her phone into her coat pocket and headed out the door. Part of her really did not want to face her family, but this day wasn’t about her and her issues with her father. This was about her sister and her new nephew-to-be.

  When she got to Riley’s room, there weren’t supersanitized white walls or a standard-issue hospital bed. The place looked like a suite at some upscale hotel. “Wow. This is fancy.”

  Her mom came over and hugged her. “Isn’t it pretty?”

  “Amazing what a nice fat donation to the hospital can get you,” Riley said, lying against her plush pillows, bottle of premium filtered water in her hand.

  “After seeing that disgusting room she had to birth Gianna in,” their father said, “I made sure little Nico could come into the world in style.”

  If your idea of style is gilded antique furniture and a marble statue of a pregnant woman. Reason number 586 why Mia felt so out of place with her family. Statues creeped her out.

  Wait. Was that a cappuccino maker on the counter next to the baby scale? Reason number 587. What happened to the simple life they’d once shared?

  She just shook her head. “So how are you?” she asked Riley.

  “Good. Epidurals are God’s gift to women in labor.”

  “I’m thinking you should probably thank science for that one, not God.”

  “Well, God made the smart science people and gave them the brains to come up with stuff. But the doctor says I’m eight centimeters dilated and 70 percent effaced.”

  Was that gibberish? Mia had no clue so she just nodded. “Good.”

  “Yeah. It should be soon. You staying in the room for the birth?”

  “Oh, no. There’s an uncomfortable plastic chair in the waiting room with my name on it.”

  “Why sit out there?” The Great Antonio Montanari asked. “I paid good money for a luxury suite so we could all be comfortable.”

  “Well, my idea of comfort would be severely tested by having to watch a baby come out of someone’s body.”

  “You make it sound like a dirty crime. And can’t you for once accept something I offer you?”

  Here we go. “I would rather not sit in this room during Riley’s delivery.”

  “What kind of daughter won’t support her family when they need her?”

  He was going to do this now? “The kind who refuses to bow to a family who couldn’t care less about her wants or needs. Will you ever just let me run my life and career the way I want?”

  “I was talking about supporting your sister while she experiences the miracle of life, but if you’re going to go there, we can do that.”

  “Ma,” Riley called. “They’re fighting again. Do something.”

  “No. I don’t want to do that,” Mia replied before her mother could cross the room.

  A nurse appeared, thankfully, and broke the tension. “Hello everyone! Let’s see if we’re ready to have a baby!” She lifted Riley’s sheet, presumably no less than fifteen-hundred-thread count, and stuck her hand in.

  “Look at her,” Mia’s father said, stepping to her and lowering his voice. “She looks so peaceful. So ready to be a mother again. Wouldn’t it be nice if her husband could spend a few weeks with her? And after that, be able to come home by dinnertime every night?”

  Come on. This nagging was supposed to be over. “Yeah, it would be nice. You’re the boss. You can make that happen.”

  “I can’t be without my right-hand man for weeks. There’s just too much work. But if I had another set of hands . . .”

  “I don’t want to do it. Can’t you hire someone who actually wants to be your prodigy?”

  “You know I don’t trust outsiders in management positions. The only reason Nico got where he is is because he’s my son-in-law. Otherwise, he’d still be in detailing.”

  “Well, maybe you need to start trusting people who aren’t family.”

  “I didn’t get where I am by putting faith in people I don’t know. That’s a sure way for failure. And besides, how am I supposed to retire if I don’t have anyone to pass my legacy on to?”

  “Give it to Riley.”

  “She’s a mother. Her place is at home with her kids.”

  This was getting better and better. “So now women can’t have kids and a career?”

  “Your mother never worked. It was best for you girls.”

  Mia could not believe the idiotic and sexist statements coming out of her father’s mouth. And of course it wasn’t over.

  “What’s really keeping you at that rinky-dink shop?” he asked. “I’m sure I can pay you what the entire place nets in a year.”

  “I know this is a foreign concept to you, but it’s not about the money. I love it and I love Bryn. We built it together.”

  “I can find a job for her, too. We always need pretty faces to man the front desk. Besides, no one wants to buy that tacky underwear you sell. And the new . . . stuff? That will just sink the whole place. Best to get out now before you rack up even more debt.”

  Mia needed to calm herself before she spoke again. This was not the place. “Nothing you say or do will change my mind.”

  He turned to her, eyes narrowing like they had the one time she’d seen him play cards. “I guess we’ll just have to see about that.”

  “Tony, come sit with me,” Mia’s mother pleaded and wrapped her arm around his. She also knew what that look in his eyes meant.

  Mia had never been scared of her father, but in that moment, hearing the tone in his voice, she was. Nothing pissed him off more than someone refusing to do as he said.

  He let his wife lead him to an overstuffed leather couch and Mia had never been so relieved to have distance between her and her father, even if it was just across a room.

  “All righty!” the nurse’s cheery voice filled the room. “She’s fully dilated and the baby is crowning. It’s time to push!”

  Mia headed for the waiting room where she plopped into a hard, cold chair to wait for Baby Nico.

  “YOU CAN come back in now.” Mia’s father poked his head around the corner of the stale waiting room.

  Her head snapped and she blinked her eyes a few times. “Thanks.”

  The boom of his voice had woken her from a nap. Mia looked at her watch. Geez. That was a quick two hours. For her, anyway; probably not for everyone else. She stood and stretched. Plastic waiting room chairs were not a good place for a nap.

  She walked toward the birthing room, welcomed by the wails of a newborn.

  “Give him back to me, Ma. He probably wants to eat.” Riley took the squealing baby and without a second of hesitation pulled down her hospital gown and whipped out
her breast. He took right to it. “He’s a boob man, just like his daddy.”

  There were all kinds of things wrong with that statement, but Mia pushed them from her mind. She stepped toward the bed. “Congratulations, Mama. How are you?”

  “Good. He wouldn’t come out, though. Got those wide football player shoulders. I pushed forever and she had to give me an episiotomy.”

  “Do I want to know what that is?”

  “The doctor gave me a little snip in the vagina.”

  “Yeah. I did not want to know that. But Baby Nico is okay?”

  “Yep. Healthy as can be.” She looked down. “He’s really going to town here. I’m starving, too. Who wants to get me something to eat?”

  “I’ll go, sweetheart,” their father said, leaning down to kiss Riley’s forehead.

  “I could use a little something, too,” Mom chimed. “Mia, you coming?”

  “No. I’m good.”

  Their parents left and Mia pulled a chair over to the bed. “So how does Nico feel about having a junior? Is he excited to have his boy?”

  “Yeah. He’s already planning on taking him to his first baseball game.”

  Mia looked around the quiet room. “Where is he, anyway?”

  “He had to return a call. One of the assistant managers at the dealership. His phone rang right while I was pushing. The baby’s head was hanging out of my hoo-hah. But when you have as many responsibilities as he does, you’re never off the clock.”

  “Oh. That stinks.”

  “Yeah, it does. Instead of him being here and sharing these first precious moments of his son’s life, he’s off dealing with work.” Riley looked down at the baby. He’d apparently fallen asleep, so she tucked her breast back in. “If there had been someone else to take the call, someone who was just snoozing in the waiting room, he could be here right now.”

  Was Riley seriously putting a guilt trip on her? “I’m sorry he had to leave. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

  “I hope so. But what am I gonna do when I go home? How will I handle two kids? Gianna’s still in diapers and needs constant attention. Nursing the baby is almost a full-time job. How am I gonna do it all on my own?”

  Um, shoulda thought about that before getting pregnant again so soon. “I can help. I’ll come over whenever I can.”

  “It’s not the same. My kids need their father.”

  “Riley, what do you want me to say?”

  “Tell me you’ll take Daddy’s job offer. It would make my life so much easier.”

  “I can’t. And I don’t want to.”

  Tears welled in Riley’s eyes. “You can be so selfish sometimes.”

  “I’m not selfish. I have a career, a shop I helped build, and I need to do everything I can to save it. Please try and understand.”

  “I do understand. You’re a clueless single woman who can’t possibly know what it’s like to be a mother.”

  “I may not have a child of my own, but I’m not clueless. I’ve watched Bryn struggle for the last two years. Try being a mother whose husband died.”

  “Some days I do feel like my husband has died and left me.”

  Mia had done all she could to stay calm, but her sister had crossed a line. “Don’t you dare compare Nico being at work to what Bryn went through.”

  “Why is everything always about Bryn? I bet if she were asking you to take the job, you’d jump right on it. ’Cause that’s what this whole thing is really about. You won’t leave her to run the shop alone. You’re choosing your friend over your flesh and blood. You’ve always done that and I’ve hated you for it.”

  Rage bubbled from Mia’s pores. How dare she? Mia wanted to spew her anger at Riley. Tell her how mean and selfish she was being. How bratty. To be so crass as to compare her life to Bryn’s? Mia truly wanted to scream at her little sister, put her in her place, make her understand that her life in no way compared to the devastation Bryn had experienced.

  But she couldn’t scream at a woman who’d just gone through labor and delivery. Instead she stood and walked out of the room. It wasn’t until she reached her car that she let tears flood her eyes.

  CHAPTER Twelve

  Work was a good way to make Mia forget about the horrible things her sister had said. They’d hired a photographer to take promotional photos of the guys in the shop and also with a few different backgrounds. It was supposed to be Bryn’s job to direct the photo shoot, but a bout of stomach flu had hit her house. With two puking kids and her stomach starting to feel a little queasy, she’d decided to hole up inside her house until all germs were gone.

  So, even though it was supposed to be Mia’s day off, she really didn’t mind. A busy mind didn’t obsess over every word she’d said to Riley the day before and wonder if any of them had been out of line.

  And currently, her still-pissed-off brain told her no. All words had been justified.

  Oliver arrived first and was immediately taken into hair and makeup. They’d hired a friend, one who worked cheaply, to make sure the guys looked droolworthy for the shoot. Logan showed up looking great, fresh from a haircut.

  “Nice hair. Now go to the makeup station.”

  The photographer, another friend, came over to Mia. “Bryn and I already talked about the shots. Are we still going with what we planned?”

  “Yes. Whatever you guys came up with, we’ll stick with it.”

  “Good.”

  The guys came out, wearing only jeans. Wow. Not even an underwear band. The waist of the jeans hung just right on Oliver, low enough to give a little peek of what was in there. The photographer snapped away. Logan was a natural, posing and smiling, a few serious expressions, then seductive ones. Oliver looked a little shell-shocked.

  “What’s wrong with this guy?” the photographer whispered to Mia.

  “He’s not a professional model, so he’s new to this.”

  “That explains it. But with that face and abs, who gives a shit if he has zero experience?”

  Mia just smiled. It wasn’t really his face that had gotten him the job.

  “Okay, next scene,” the photographer yelled.

  Logan depantsed, with nothing underneath.

  “What are you doing?”

  “They told me the second shots would be naked shots.”

  Mia turned to the photographer. “Did Bryn approve this?”

  “She was very adamant about it, actually.”

  “Okay then. Pants off.” She looked up and Oliver caught her gaze, staring into her eyes as he unbuttoned and edged his jeans down.

  “Oh. My. God.” The photographer fanned herself. “He so totally wants you.”

  “Yeah, that’s the problem. He doesn’t get that bosses and employees can’t date.”

  No dating. No sex. Especially the sex. No hot, mind-blowing sex allowed.

  “If I had an employee who looked like that, the rules would be out the window.”

  That didn’t work in her world. She needed definitive boundaries. Especially with a man who could potentially make her forget everything important in her life.

  “Okay guys,” the photographer yelled and gave directions for poses. For the final naked shot, the guys covered their penises with their hands. Very sexy and provocative. She tipped the camera screen to Mia, Oliver’s body looking perfect. “How can you not wanna take that home?”

  It wasn’t a matter of not wanting to.

  The guys slipped into tiny hot pink briefs for the last few shots. Oliver’s said Classy across the butt, and Logan’s Sassy. They posed individually and then a few shots together. She could hear them mumbling to each other between camera clicks.

  Oh geez. What were they doing now?

  “We’re done!” called the photographer.

  “Trust me, I don’t want any part of your ridiculous reality show,” Oli
ver said.

  “You’re just jealous. When it helps me win, you’ll be crying as you hand over my thousand bucks.”

  “Whoa, wait a minute.” Mia interrupted. “You wagered a thousand dollars on this?”

  Oliver shook his head. “Whoever sells the most in the first month owes the other.”

  “You guys are unbelievable. As your boss, I almost want to nix this idea, but if it helps you promote yourselves better and sell more toys, I’ll support it.”

  “Game on, bro!” Logan laughed and grabbed his jeans, heading in back to dress.

  Mia turned to Oliver. “You can get dressed now.”

  “You didn’t call last night. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. Baby Nico was born healthy and happy.”

  “Good.” He reached his hand toward her waist and she stepped back. “What’s wrong?”

  “You can’t do that.”

  A gleaming smile stretched across his face. “Okay. I get it. No PDA at work. How about we reschedule our dinner for tonight?”

  “I can’t.”

  “There shouldn’t be another baby being born, right?”

  “No. I just can’t. We can’t. This has to stop.”

  “Why?”

  “I told you. I’m your boss, you’re my employee. It’s not right. Plus, I have a lot going on right now and I need to focus on the shop. I can’t get caught up in some fling. And even if I could, I don’t want to.”

  “That’s bullshit and you know it. We’re good together.”

  “It doesn’t matter. This is my decision and I need you to respect it.”

  “Fine. Whatever you say, boss.” He walked away, leaving her to watch his fine muscled behind.

  “God, you are so lucky. I need a man like that.” The photographer was back at Mia’s side. “After these toys come in, I am so buying an Oliver. Maybe two, a vibrating and a nonvibrating. I’ll have a nice photo in my head to imagine while I’m using him.” She laughed and walked away.

  A weird feeling flourished in Mia’s gut. Her heartbeat quickened and she had a sudden urge to walk up to the woman and yank her hair out. Jealousy? No. Mia Montanari didn’t get jealous. But the thought of this woman using Oliver’s replica to pleasure herself, imagining his face as she did it, made her feel like vomiting.