“Aw, it all worked out in the end. You know what you need?”
“A Valium?”
“I've got something better in mind,” I whispered, pulling her behind a shelf of teddy bears before Lana could see.
She started to protest, but let out a soft groan of surprise as my lips met hers. Mm, delicious – though maybe this was a mistake.
Because as soon as I kissed her, the only thing on my mind was tearing off her clothes and enjoying a repeat of that wonderful night in my bed...
“What do you think you're doing?” she lamely complained when I let her go. “I'm supposed to be working. This is totally unprofessional.”
“But you liked it, and don't you dare deny me that.”
She licked her lips and shivered. I was all ready to dive in for more, but the distant look in her eyes made me stop.
“What's wrong?” I asked, even though I didn't really want to know the answer.
“After my family found out about the engagement, they were really excited. Once they got over the initial shock, that is.”
“How is that a problem?”
“It's not. It's a good thing.” She looked away from me. “But... I don't know. It feels like they're just getting excited over nothing, for this fraud of a marriage. When the dust has settled and we've won, then we call it quits between us, they'll be devastated. Probably furious at me for lying, too.”
It was true that the Masters, or at least some of them, were already getting into wedding planning. I'd seen Pam at Bullseye the other day shopping for reception decorations with a gleam in her eye. Keeping my mom away from her was not my idea of a fun time.
“They'll get over it. And once they understand we did it because we had to, or else lose everything we've worked so hard for, I'm sure they'll be okay with the decision.”
“They want me to marry for love,” she muttered. “But we don't love each other. It feels wrong.”
“Don't tell me you're getting cold feet. You gotta think of this like just another business decision.”
It seemed as if every word out of my mouth hurt her more and more. Too bad I never knew when to shut up.
“You shouldn't be kissing me. We shouldn't have slept together.”
Her words stung more than any punch to the face would. I grabbed her, pulled her close. She wouldn't look at me.
“What do you mean, we shouldn't have? You're telling me you regret it now? Because I sure as hell don't.”
“And why would you? I was just one of a dozen booty calls you surely had lined up for the week. The only reason you chased me was because I played hard to get.”
I let her go, wounded by the bitterness in her words. Alarm bells were going off in my head for all kinds of reasons. Was it right to go through with the wedding? Was Sarah making sense, and I really shouldn't have slept with her?
“That isn't true,” I promised her. “There are a thousand reasons why I wanted you. You were never just some trophy, some prize to be won to me.”
“Reasons, right.” Lana called for her. She brushed past me, blinking back tears. “What could those be, I wonder.”
Now I was alone in the dark, dusty aisle, surrounded by smiling, unblinking teddy bears. I swore all of a sudden it felt as if they were mocking me for my stupidity.
She was mad, no doubt about that. But why? The wedding was going to solve all of her problems. She'd keep the shop and not end up on the streets. Wasn't that just what she wanted?
Sarah joined Lana at the counter after the last customer went away. The girls gazed at the growing line of parents and their children who'd come to beg “Santa” for the latest toy. The irony of it was that they'd probably be coming to visit Slicker Image afterward.
“He's seriously not here yet? Still?” Sarah peered over the crowd and surveyed the parking lot. “But Santa was our main attraction. Without him, people won't stick around for cheap, cold hot dogs and crappy holiday music.”
“You should have served eggnog,” I suggested. “Preferably the spiked variety.”
Both women gave me a shut-the-hell-up look. Guess that's what I got for trying to inject a bit of life into this dreary old place.
They turned their attention back to the default state of worrying. The line outside had, somehow, grown to a few dozen parents and their whiny children.
“Mommy, when am I gonna see Santa?” One snot-nosed young boy tugged on his mother's purse. “I really want Rocky the Robot Dog for Christmas.”
“We'll see, dear,” said the poor woman in a monotone that said her brain had been fried long ago.
The kid didn't like this answer. “But I want it! I want it now! I've been a good boy all year long.”
“You lit Fluffy on fire and stole out of mommy's purse.”
The brat started to sob. His crying triggered a chorus of shrieks and cries from more impatient kids. Sarah watched the madness, looking like she might start crying along too.
“And that, ladies, is why I will never become a father.”
Lana glared. “Probably for the best. The last thing this world needs is a mini-Asher running around.”
“Oh, don't be like that. You really ought to try and be nicer to me, given we're gonna be family soon.”
“I'll tolerate you, but that doesn't mean I have to like you.” She picked up the phone, dialed, listened for a while then hung up. “Ugh. He's not answering. Sarah, what are we going to do?”
My own phone rang, buzzing annoyingly in my pocket. It was a text from Ken, begging me to return to the store before some raging customer caused
