Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series)

by Mary Tate Engels

  Siena shrugged. "Everything’s in the business plan I gave him. He doesn’t care. He could only think about bras and panties dangling in the store window. And he nixed it."

  "We’ll see about that. I’ll give him a call."

  "No. Please don’t. I . . . I’m sure there are other resources. I thought maybe you knew someone in banking in Portland or maybe up in Bangor who might be willing to take a chance. I’ll go to Boston if I have to."

  "Boston?" Claire squared her shoulders. "That just will not do."

  "It may be my only option." Siena sat down and took a bite of the cranberry banana bread. "If I absolutely can’t get a loan to make some necessary changes in the shop, then I’ll have to sell out and leave."

  "Siena, no . . ." Claire dropped a cube of sugar into her tea stirred. "Let’s talk turkey, or clams if you will. A loan, or finding one, will take time, valuable time you need to get this business rolling by summer. Let’s leave the banks out of this. I’ll be proud to loan you the money you need to get started."

  Siena swallowed hard, feeling flush and a little shaky inside. "Oh Claire, you don’t need to worry about this. I wouldn’t dare risk your money."

  Claire shook her finger. "Now listen to me, you can’t have the name of Fairchild in this town without a little something under the mattress. I just don’t flaunt it. I certainly have enough for you and me to grow these businesses. I’d rather my money go for this than be saved to keep me in a nursing home forever."

  Siena felt momentarily lightheaded, as if she’d been spun around and pushed forward. She blinked back tears. "Are you sure? It’s a big risk, you know. That's why Rich wouldn't budge. I'm a financial risk. A great risk."

  "Dearie, I’m willing to take that risk. For you, me, and the town. And especially for Addie's memory. This is something I believe strongly in. I don't consider you a risk. I know you can do it."

  Siena sat up straight and looked Claire directly in the eyes. "I’ll pay you back with interest. We’ll treat this as business loan. Honestly Claire . . ."

  "Oh, yes, of course. We’ll work all those details out later." Claire waved a blue-veined hand in dismissal.

  "I don’t know what to say."

  "Just say yes, then get busy, my dear. Order your supplies and products. Get your new display racks. Hire a decorator. Enlist a painter. I’d recommend Zoey. She has a very good eye for color and style."

  "Claire, you are one special friend."

  "More than a friend, we’re business partners now."

  They worked out the financial details over tea and cranberry banana bread. Siena made notes on the back of a paper napkin and by the time she left, they had a deal, sealed with a hug. Now she had even more pressure to make this thing work. For Claire, the Lacy Ladies and the whole town of Haven’s Point, as well as for herself.

  Within a week, Siena had her loan and encountered more Lacy Ladies than she could imagine who lived around this snowed-in town. They came out in gabby bunches, all eager – ecstatic almost – to do something. The rush to convert the shop and put people to work was on.

  Zoey lost no time in creating a new floor design for the shop. Within a few days, she brought a design board, complete with color swatches. Siena was impressed. She figured it had a lot to do with Claire’s influence. But who was she to argue with progress?

  "Here’s what I’m thinking. You need a dark background that’ll showcase the pale lingerie. And a lighter wall for the black lace and red hot items."

  Siena gazed at the design board Zoey held. "I love your ideas. I can see it now. Perfect."

  "Not just light and dark, think emerald and amethyst and champagne, hues that will showcase your beautiful products to the max. Sensational, evocative, and inviting. And how about this – I can paint lacey designs on the walls for texture and design."

  Siena’s eyes lit up. "Can you do that? Great idea. How soon can we get started? When will you be finished at Claire’s?"

  "That’s why I’m here now. Claire sent me to see if we can get your business up and running quickly. I’ll still have time to get her house ready by late Spring, when the tourists arrive."

  "You sure? Well, what do you recommend about the exterior? The place has gotten pretty weather-beaten over the years."

  "Actually, I know an artist who sells watercolor seascapes in summer, but does odd jobs, like house painting and repairs, in winter. If the weather holds, he could do the exterior this weekend. Let’s look at possible colors."

  "I’d like it to be bright and cheerful."

  "What about . . . shades of purple?"

  "Hot damn! That would create some buzz," Siena said with a laugh.

  A male voice boomed into the room. "Oh yeah! A purple shop that sells bras! That’ll go over like a beached whale."

  Both women looked up, startled to see Zach dressed like a suitable mayor in a brown tweed jacket and slacks. Siena thought he looked fantastic.

  "Hey, whose funeral?" Zoey snapped.

  He adjusted the lapels. "Been out and about on city business."

  Siena realized how much she’d missed him lately. She couldn’t wait to tell him about all her plans. "That’s what we’re working on, too."

  "Our new business," Zoey amended.

  He folded his arms in a defensive posture. "As if the mermaids weren’t bad enough, you want to wrap your bra business in a purple building?"

  "Actually Z-man," Zoey said. "I was thinking about Passionate Plum and Lilac Lure. Aren’t those sexy-sounding colors?"

  Siena could see that Zoey was enjoying every minute of this.

  Zach rebuffed her enthusiasm with a sharp retort. "Is that what you’re selling? Sex appeal?"

  "Oh, come on, Zach," Zoey said. "Get with it. Sexy sells. Why, in Camden, every house or shop is a different color. Call it what you want. It attracts attention and is appealing to the customer. We're tired of gray and white. We want color!"

  He looked away for a breath, and then turned an angry face to his sister. "Zoey, what are you doing here? Is my speech ready? I thought you were working for me another few weeks."

  She shrugged. "Changed my mind. I'm too busy. Now I’m working with Siena. And with Claire."

  "Working? This is working? This is heading for – "

  "Can it, Zach. What do you know about what we’re doing?"

  "Look Zoey, I’m trying to get this town back on its feet – but not through some sexy fly-by-night whim. I’m talking to businessmen who are considering start-ups or satellites here. That’s solid, not . . . fluffy." The muscles flexed along his jaw line.

  "Hold it, you-two." Siena stepped between them. "Zach, last time I checked, this is my business. And it's still my building. According to some, it isn’t worth much. But to me, it is. And I can damn well paint it any freakin' color I want! Now, if you don't mind, Zoey and I have real work to do."

  "I got the message," he said, turning to go. Then he paused and turned around with a broad gesture. "I can't believe you hired my own sister behind my back. If you're so damn broke, how are you doing all this?"

  Siena squared her shoulders. "Well, well, you must know that Rich Fairchild turned down my loan application."

  He shrugged. "I heard."

  "Don’t play innocent with me." Siena felt her cheek flame, along with her temper. "I recognize a conspiracy here. Is this how you planned to beat me? Keep me from getting a loan? I know you have clout in this town, and I don’t, but is this really fair? And necessary?"

  "Beat you? Siena, you know I wouldn’t – "

  "Oh right. You might not, but Rich Fairchild would. He even used your same terminology saying the building isn’t worth much, but the land is." She walked toward him, hands on her hips. "Zach, I will make this shop work. A purple shop that sells bras called Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon. And furthermore, I’m cleaning up the mermaids. Wiping off the paint, taking down the shutters, letting their mighty breasts shine in the sun." Her voice ended up shrill and high. And very determined.

 
; He looked stunned and countered in a low, slow tone. "You’re making a big mistake, Siena."

  "Don’t you want to know who gave me a loan?"

  He glared at her, waiting.

  "I’ll save you the time and trouble trying to find out. It was Claire. Claire Fairchild. She sees the value in my business. And the art in the mermaids."

  "You are heading for a big fall, Siena, and I’m sorry." He walked out and slammed the door.

  "I can pick myself up from a fall!" she shouted. "I've done it before and – "

  "Siena… " Zoey put her hand on Siena's arm. "Let him go. He just doesn't get it."

  "You don’t understand Zoey, this is my dream . . . " Siena said softly, feeling as if she’d made the biggest mistake of her life and Zach had just walked out of it. "And I… oh God, I'm afraid I love him."

  "Well, you might as well get over it," Zoey said. "You know, Siena, it’s because Z wants this to be his idea. When he thinks about it and realizes you’re right, he’ll come around."

  "Or not . . ."

  "He's a jerk. And a man." Zoey hugged Siena. "I’m so glad to see someone like you with vision around here. This is going to work. You’ll see. And I want to help make it happen. And if things don't work out between you and my big brother, he'll be the big loser."

  "Thanks Zoey." Siena pushed her hair behind one ear and tried to calm her pounding heart. "Go ahead with the interior colors you selected. And have your painter friend get in touch with me. Let’s move ahead with this." Even as she spoke, she knew she was digging a deeper trench between herself and Zach.

  "Siena, you must know you’re the best thing that’s happened around here in years."

  Siena laughed and shook her head. "Some people think I don’t fit in at all."

  "I'd consider that a compliment." Zoey began gathering her color swatches. "You are just what we need."

  In her heart, Siena wanted to be what Zach needed. But it seemed that everything she did was just the opposite.

  "We don’t have anyone fighting for us in Haven’s Point, especially the women. Siena, did you know that women can’t get a mammogram here? They have to go to Portland. If they’re older, like many of our residents, and don’t have access to a car or it’s too much trouble to get a ride, they just don’t do it. That's one of the reasons I came back. And Zach, too. So we could make sure Mom was getting the care and treatment she needed and deserved."

  "I assumed the local hospital had the necessary equipment," Siena said.

  "Nope. It’s very expensive, and we just don’t have the money for it around here. Our hospital is small. Just does emergencies and stop-gap measures."

  "There should be something . . ."

  "I really want to push for better medical equipment around here. Mama just delayed getting her mammograms because of the inconvenience. Finally Aunt Addie told me I should take charge and take her to Portland. By that time, she needed surgery and extensive treatment. If she could have had an early diagnosis and treatment, it wouldn't have been nearly so invasive."

  "I'm sorry to hear that. I know it's been tough. She's lucky to have you. And Zach." Siena smiled and made wavy motions around her head. "Her wig is fabulous."

  "That was Zach's idea. I was surprised she'd wear it, but she could hardly refuse. Maybe it's because she knew he spent a bundle on it. It's not cheap to look like Raquel Welsh."

  "Sometimes tragedy spurs awareness." Siena sat upright and snapped her fingers. "You know Zoey, there are Mammo-Vans, portable mammogram machines set up in specially equipped trucks for rural areas that don’t have the expensive equipment in their local hospitals. I worked on that project once in my old company."

  "Never heard of it, but we definitely need a Mammo-van in Haven’s Point."

  "I’ll look into it and we’ll see what we can do together."

  Zoey gave Siena a high-five and gathered her materials. "Are you planning some kind of spectacular opening for the new and improved Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon? Like maybe a style show? That would attract a lot of customers."

  "Style show? Women walking around wearing bras, out in public?" Siena laughed out loud at that one. "In this town?"

  "Well, it could be tastefully done." Zoey covered her breasts with her hands and did a neat pirouette.

  Siena smiled as wild ideas started forming in her head. "If – big if – we had a lingerie style show, where would we get models? Certainly not the ladies around here. I’m sure they wouldn’t even consider --"

  Zoey’s brown eyes snapped. "Don’t drape all the women around here with the same wet blanket of lace. We could ask around. Why not?" Zoey said with a shrug. "It would be a private affair in the shop. The customers would be women only. We’re all the same, some more fully endowed than others. But it could be great fun. And great publicity - full-figured promotion for Amazing Lace." She paused and laughed. "Heck, I’ll do it."

  "You’ll model? You're sure?"

  Zoey shrugged. "Well, ye-ah. I have nothing to hide. And I can think of a handful of my friends right now who would love to shock this town."

  Siena put a finger over her lips. "But, what about Zach?"

  Zoey pointed a finger. "Don’t go there. What he doesn’t know is best for all of us." She laughed on her way out. "See you soon."

  Siena sat on the counter, looking over the mess of half-filled boxes of lobsters and lighthouses. "I’ve ruined my chances with Zach – and I’m in too deep to swim out," she said to Venus, who quietly wore her lace with pride. "I’ve got too much on my plate. He’s not with me on this. What am I thinking?" Siena stared up at the mermaid window. A soft green glow filtered through the glass, almost giving it motion. The tiny mermaid seemed to frolic happily in the ocean. Beautiful.

  Sally and Harry hopped up on the counter with her, winding around her, purring. She cupped a hand around each sleek body. "I guess I now have cat-acceptance. And that’s something."

  But the one she wanted most was Zach. And that prospect was looking dimmer by the day.

  Chapter Sixteen

  A rush of noise and laughter accompanied the Lacy Ladies who pushed their way inside the shop. Claire led the way, followed by Roberta, Carrie, Camille, Annabelle and Zoey. "Siena! Siena! Show us the samples!" They all called to her in shrill, excited voices.

  Siena looked up, surprised. She grinned at the eager faces. "How did you know they’d arrived?"

  "Not much happens around here that we don’t know about," Roberta said with a knowing smile. She fluffed her Raquel Welsh wig and made everybody laugh again.

  Nothing they didn’t know, huh? Including that she and Zach had spent nights together, including right here in the shop? And that she hadn’t heard from him at all in the last week?

  "Love the purple exterior, by the way," Camille said.

  "It’s Lilac Allure and Royale, not just purple," Zoey said, spreading her arms dramatically against the Midnight Blue wall.

  Siena explained that the shop would be closed until they were ready for the grand opening so that R.J., Zoey’s artist/handyman friend, could build out and paint dressing rooms.

  "Where is your old inventory?" Claire asked. "All those lobsters and lighthouses?"

  Siena scooted an empty box out of the way. "Lobsters went to Haven’s Point Gifts down the street and the books, next door. I started to give George the feathered masks, but thought that would send him right over the edge. The romance novels nearly did!"

  "I’ll bet he’s over there in the back room, reading them right now," Claire said in a loud whisper and the other ladies howled with laughter.

  "We couldn’t wait to see our lace in action!" Roberta was bobbing up and down in her excitement. "So where are they?"

  Siena opened the shipping box and dangled a bright red bra between thumb and finger. "Madams de lingerie . . ." she said in her best faux French accent, "our new and improved Amazing Lace Lingerie debut!" She draped the bra over her own chest. "We measure carefully to uplift your best assets. Our ample-width straps
ease and redistribute the delightful weight. All in the grandest style and beauty."

  They all giggled and shifted closer.

  "Your French needs some work, but the item is . . . ah, magnific," Roberta said. "Just look at the beautiful workmanship." She examined the item closely, then handed it off.

  "Notice the exquisite lace." Siena draped another bra, this one in purple, across the front of her sweater. "Recognize any of it?"

  "Sure do." Claire lifted a beige-on-black lace bra from the box. "This one’s mine. Love the colors. What a great idea, Siena. Only someone with such ample boobage as I have can appreciate the need for these, after years of shoulder and back pain."

  "I don’t have that problem," Camille said, pulling her shirt tight against her small breasts, "but I’d like my girls to achieve their fullest potential." She did a funny little dance that got all the ladies laughing. "This is just too wonderful, Siena, getting us a new market for our lace and all. I hoped it would happen someday, but must admit, I had my doubts."

  Roberta nodded. "Thank you, honey! You are the best thing to happen to us in years."

  "This looks like mine." Annabelle clutched a lacy cami to her breasts and beamed with pride. "Siena, everybody in town is going to love this shop. It’s about time we flung off our old granny bras and got beautiful new ones that do the job they were designed to do."

  Claire stepped forward. "Since I have a personal investment in the new and improved Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon, I want to buy the first bra. Fit me up, my dear." She bent her elbows and held both arms up to the sky.

  Annabelle lifted her arms the same way. "Me, too." And they all joined in the fun of making the first lacy purchases.

  Giddy with happiness, all the women got busy. Claire chose a Champagne Allure bra and slipped into the storage room to try it on. "Oh my . . ." she said with admiration in her tone.

  Roberta got Sweet Allure in pink. "It’s so comfy," Roberta confided.

  Annabelle's was royal purple, Carrie's was daffodil cream and Camille's was daring black. And so was the one Zoey chose.