Page 9 of Wicked Flavors

Gwendolyn whirled in her seat and felt her breath catch. Propped on the ornate shelf beneath a gold-framed mirror wasMaddie Moxie. Without a word, she rushed out of her chair toward it. It was protected by a glass dome, similar to the ones she had seen in baking shows.

“Packaging was lost, but it comes with all the original accessories,” the man went on somewhere behind her.

He wasn’t lying. Gwendolyn’s eyes examined the doll, taking in the items she had only ever seen online.Maddie Moxiecame with a crop top, slacks, and a trench coat, all in different shades of pink. Her necklaces were big and chunky, a reflection of the time period. She even had the sunglasses, and appeared perfectly new. Gwendolyn would have to actually touch it, though, to see.

“She’s perfect,” Gwendolyn whispered in awe before calling over her shoulder. “How much?”

“Oh, she’s not for sale.”

The sentence wasn’t just unexpected, but confusing. Gwendolyn turned on her heel, eyeing the man who had managed to close some of the distance between them without her notice. Standing, he was perhaps a head taller than her. Not bad, given Gwendolyn was around five-seven.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Just what I said,” he replied, leaning against his cane. “She’s not for sale.”

The words were brutal, a blow Gwendolyn hadn’t anticipated at all. Limited run dolls were expensive, perhaps a few hundred dollars, depending on multiple factors. It was money Gwendolyn had been prepared to spend, as most of her custom dolls went for a similar price range. She had bargained for things in the past, but never for something that wasn’t even on the market. A flush raced up her chest as frustration built within her. She took a moment to collect herself. Bargaining required a proper dialogue and time.

“Is she already spoken for?”

The man glanced at the doll, “In a way.”

Okay, you evasive fucker, she thought nastily.

No, she couldn’t lose her temper now. Gwendolyn could rage when she was at home with the doll safely in her apartment. For now, she pushed back against her feelings as she typically did, mind racing to solve her current problem.

Shewantedthat doll.

“Would there be any way you’d be able to part with it?” she asked, doing her best not to glance at the doll in desperation.

“Well … I suppose if you want itthat badly, something could be arranged.”

Her jaw tightened, the man had called her bluff. When he didn’t elaborate further, Gwendolyn cursed him in her mind once again.

“Arranged…” she prompted, this time glancing at the doll.

“I could let you have it on a trial basis. A sort of lease to own thing, as it were,” the man moved to her side, focused on the doll. “You see, this doll isveryspecial. Unique. Why, you could also say it islife changing.”

“Life changing, huh?” she rolled her eyes toward him. “How?”

He chuckled, “Well, that’s not for me to say. But I can guarantee that if you were to take this doll home, it will changeyourlife.”

Oh, this better be good, you snake oil salesman.

“Okay, lease to own…” she exhaled. “And how much does a doll that will change my life cost?”

The man turned his head and Gwendolyn finally noticed the dark brown of his eyes as he regarded her.

“Oh, something quite affordable. All I want is a kiss.”

4

Valuable

Gwendolyn

Her jaw dropped, lips parting.

The man had said it so casually, as if he was just commenting on the weather. His face looked no different, not a hint of embarrassment, remorse, or even lust. But Gwendolyn knew what she had heard, knew what he hadsaid.

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