Page 42 of Two Hearts' Subterfuge

Apparently standing nearby, Mom joined him. “This is crazy. I expected it to be busy, but nothing like this.”

“Hopefully, it will settle down,” Ben said, his eyes meeting hers. “Unless she runs out of stock.”

Mom laughed. “She even has that covered. There are boxes and clothing bags hung neatly inside the other space on garment racks that can be rolled directly into the showroom.”

“Does she need our help?”

“Apparently not. They’ve only got three registers, and there’s not much room for us.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll come back and check on her again a little later. Maybe I’ll bring her lunch.”

“That might be a great idea,” Mom said dryly. “In fact, maybe we should spring for all the employees in the shop.”

Ben smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

* * *

The shop stayed open until ten that night instead of nine, and Aylin worked the entire day. She’d have to hire more clerks immediately, she realized, and possibly set up a delivery service while she was at it, otherwise the two clerks that she’d alreadyhired wouldn’t want to keep working there. It would have been exhausting to have to keep going at this kind of pace every day.

Ben came walking into the boutique with a bottle of champagne as they were getting ready to close up.

He smiled, holding up the bottle after resting some plastic champagne flutes on the counter. “Ladies? How about some champagne to celebrate?”

“I for one, would,” Aylin replied, smiling. “How about you, Nancy? Kayla?”

“Just one glass,” Nancy said, looking grateful as Kayla agreed. “Since we both have to come back early tomorrow.”

“Kayla? It probably won’t stay like this more than a couple of days, but we definitely need more people if you want to talk with those two friends of yours who were asking about a job. I wouldn’t want to overwork you two.”

“I actually had a great time today. Everyone seemed so excited to meet you too, since you’re a celebrity, so that made it even more fun. But I’ll call both of them first thing tomorrow,” Kayla agreed, grinning.

After Nancy and Kayla departed, Aylin looked at Ben with a wry smile. Even though the shop was closed, Aylin was thrilled after having such a successful day. The adrenaline hadn’t stopped running yet.

She drew in a deep breath, staring into his big brown eyes. That handsome face of his had become quite endearing through the years. Despite inheriting his dad’s rather prominent nose, he looked so much like his mom, Danielle, with his sculpted face and thick ash brown hair, that always had kind of a windswept look.

“I don’t know if I’m being too pushy. I know that we’ve actually been together for only a week, and we should really spend more time getting to know each other…” She cleared her throat, “But Ben, I feel like celebrating.”

His stare was steady as he gazed into her eyes for a long lingering moment. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“It does,” she said. “How about meeting me in my room in about an hour?”

Ben continued to hold her gaze. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

“More than,” she admitted.

“Okay,” he replied, looking dazed. “How can I argue with that.”

She barked out a laugh. He looked so bemused.

* * *

When Ben showed up at her room another forty-five minutes later, he was definitely nervous. He’d thought about bringing more champagne along but had changed his mind since they both had to work in the morning. He’d taken a shower and switched out his clothes from his suit to a pair of jeans and t-shirt.

Much to his surprise, when she opened the door, Aylin reached out, yanking him into the room.

“Let’s just get this over with,” she said, sounding impatient as she pressed her mouth against his.

He started laughing loudly as they broke apart. “Now wait a minute, Aylin. Shouldn’t we be romantic?”

---