Blow(20)

I was surprised she had even heard us. When anyone was downstairs it was impossible to hear anything upstairs. Peyton swore the place had been a bomb shelter at one time.

I stepped inside and the heat of Logan’s body wasn’t far behind. “Why are you still here? You said you were leaving with Rachel hours ago.”

Her heels clacked against the wood of the steps. “More merchandise arrived just as we were locking up. I sent Rachel home but decided to stay.”

“The De Bolivar soaps? I told you to call me when they arrived.”

Her crown of out-of-control shiny brown curls peeked through the banister of the open staircase. “No,” she laughed, “and I don’t know why some soap made with South American olive oil interests you so much, but what arrived is so much better. Check these out. I don’t know which one I prefer. Maybe you can help me decide.” She emerged from the stairs proudly holding a diamond ring dildo in one hand and a platinum vibrator encrusted in emeralds in the other.

My cheeks felt flush immediately. Hers turned even brighter red when she spotted Logan standing beside me. I looked at him, and the smirk on his face that said so much more than I wanted to know right now.

Surprised I wasn’t alone, Peyton quickly put the dildo behind her back. “Maybe you don’t need this one.”

“Oh, I’m not so sure about that,” Logan said half a moment later.

She pulled it back around to hold it in front of her, high in the air. Her shirt lifted and the colorful tail of a peacock peeked from under its hem. She had a few tattoos; I had thought about getting one once of a dandelion but never did.

Admiring her display, she remarked, “It is pretty big.”

My mouth dropped to the floor when Peyton did a double take like she was sizing it up and comparing it to Logan.

Logan didn’t miss the suggestion. “Yeah, although I’d like to say I’m bigger, I don’t think I can.”

We all burst out in laughter.

Shaking my head, I said, “Peyton, this is Logan. Logan, this is Peyton, my assistant.”

“And best friend,” she added while her eyes scanned Logan curiously.

I could tell she thought I’d been holding out, and it almost made me laugh. “Logan and I just met at Michael’s office. I had a flat tire and he offered to drive me here.”

Suspicion loomed deep in her eyes, but still she set the items on the nearest table and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you, Logan.”

“Nice to meet you too, Peyton,” he said, rather charmingly I might add.

They shook hands, and then she picked the vibrator and dildo back up. “I was just leaving. Do you want these in the case or do you want to wait for the,” she paused and looked at Logan, “other items to arrive?” She was almost giggling.

Logan’s smirk only grew. “Other items like?”

“The Gold Tickler from Italy and the String of Pearls from Asia.” I just put it out there. I figured, why not?

“Oh, and don’t forget the snakeskin handcuffs from Singapore and—”

“I think he gets the picture,” I said, cutting her off.

“Oh please, keep going,” Logan teased.

She actually was about to continue.

“Peyton,” I admonished. “I thought you were leaving.”

She handed me the items. “See you bright and early.” She hugged me. “I can’t believe it’s finally here.”

I squeezed her tightly. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I hired Peyton almost two months ago when I rented the space. She has a degree in merchandising, a skill I greatly value. Ever since I hired her, we’ve spent every day together sifting through the inventory from my online boutique and searching for even more extravagant items.

Peyton put on her coat. “I hope to see you again,” she said to Logan.

He nodded hesitantly. “You never know.”

Sounded like we had the same plan.

I took the exquisite sexual items and walked toward the center of the boutique. With each step, I could feel his eyes on me. Shivering, I scanned the room and forced myself to focus on admiring the work I’d done.

The space wasn’t huge, but it was big enough. I’d refinished the ebony wood floors and purchased inexpensive wood tables, both of which complemented the simple glass fixtures and extensive shelving exquisitely. The style was shabby chic. It was eye-catching. Enticing. It was my dream come true.

“Where exactly will the sex toys be displayed?” Logan asked with a sinister purr in his voice.

Sensing I was only going to be even more turned on if I saw his face, I didn’t turn to face him when I spoke. “Over here, next to the counter in this antique Chinese glass case.”

I knew he was approaching me with that long, lean body of his when I smelled his delicious scent. “I have to ask. How much do the items in your hand retail for?”

Drawing in a breath, I unlocked a drawer behind the antique counter that once sold tickets for a carousel in Vienna and set the items inside it. “Each will be tagged one thousand dollars.”

Logan gave a low whistle. “Nice. At least it’s not as much as Beckham’s gift to Posh back in their day.”

Laughing, I gave in and glanced over at him. “No, I highly doubt, even with my mad selling skills, that I could sell a million-dollar item. To be honest, I’m not even certain these will go, but Peyton insisted we give them a try.”