Page 84 of Crazy Thing

“Yeah, no one stops there.”

“You also didn’t seem too concerned about the speed limit on the highway,” he remarks.

“Y’know what? I’m an excellent driver. Now quit complaining about my driving.” I blow him a kiss.

He grabs my wrist, placing kisses on my knuckles. “Good grief, woman. One way or another, you’re going to kill me this weekend. Between your whacky driving, your sexy tits and your tight, wet pussy.”

I cackle then lower my voice with a sultry promise. “Trust me—it won’t be my whacky driving that takes you out.” I give him a wink and he groans. Laughing, I turn my eyes back to the road. “Now, sit tight. We’re almost there.”

But the big baby still reaches up and grips the handle above his head for the rest of the ride.

Once we arrive, Darius helps me open my shop and get things set up for the day. I give a quick wipe down to all the front merchandise that’s been collecting dust during the week.

Meanwhile Darius cracks open my accounting books and pokes around. I should be annoyed, but I’m not. If anything, I’m just embarrassed that my business isn’t more successful.But I refuse to give up. Plus, I’ll take all the help I can get.

And since things are slow as normal, I start to put Darius to work.

“All right, Money Man, now that you and your muscles are here, you’re going to help me with some redecorating I’ve been putting off.”

“Put me to work, gorgeous.” He grins at me.

I grin back. “I want to get this set of shelves moved here, and those ones moved to the front of the shop. But don’t break anything!”

He humors me, hauling things around the store. And then pushing them into different spots when I ultimately change my mind.

An hour and a half later, I’m walking through my place, inspecting it all, while Darius is sitting on the floor, sweating.How is it possible that he looks even more attractive right now?

I shake my head. “Y’know—the feng shui just isn’t right. I think we need to move this big chest against the south wall. And then see if we can make the counter face east?”

He groans. “You’re power-tripping, woman.”

“Maybe I am.” I grin and hand him my eco-friendly reusable water bottle.“I think it’s all that pent up resentmentfrom letting you boss me around at the office every day of the week. I’m finally getting my revenge.”

“Okay. Fair enough. I can live with that.” He chuckles. He takes a final swig of water. Then, we’re back to work, redecorating.

Eventually, the little bell chimes above the front door to my shop. “Oh, customers! Hurry! Go hide, you’ll scare them off with your corporate shoes and fancy pants.”

Right then his phone starts ringing. “You’re lucky this is important.” He shakes his head but he pulls himself up off the floor and makes himself scarce.

I turn to my customers. “Hello, there,” I say with a bright smile.

“Hi,” one of the women beams. “My wife is looking for a beautiful piece to add to her green apophyllite collection.”

“Ooh! I’d love to assist you in finding the perfect stone.” I lead the way across the store.

We sift through the options laid out in my display cases. I explain to them the benefits of working with this particular stone and they share their own personal experiences. Everything is going great until they scoff at my super-reasonable price.

As soon as they start haggling over it, I begin to feel my confidence slipping. “I…well…it’s not…”

Before I can completely lose my zen, I hear Darius stomping up from behind me, and when I catch the look in his eyes, I see he isnothaving it.

“It’s non-negotiable, ladies,” he says firmly, coming up to the front of the store. “You heard Ziggy. This stone is a great piece. One of a kind. If you want this in your collection, you’ll be paying full price. And I can assure you, you won’t regret it.”

I’m bracing for the women to turn and march right outmy shop. I grapple with the anxiety of losing out on yet another sale.

So, I struggle to hide my shock when one of them pulls out a wallet and hands over my full asking price. Her wife also ends up purchasing a set of herb bottles before they exit as happy customers.

I’m dumbfounded as I turn to Darius. “I don’t…How did you do that? You weren’t even nice about it, but yet, they paid and they werethrilledabout it.”

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