Mitch grinned at his boy.
Then he looked down at his girl.
“Donuts,” he confirmed.
Billie jumped up and down, shaking Mitch with Mara as she did then she disengaged and ran back from where she came, hands again waving in the air, mouth again screeching, “Donuts!”
“Teflon.” He heard Mara murmur and felt her body shaking against his.
Mitch moved his eyes from a still crookedly smiling Bud to look down at Mara who now had her head tipped back and she was smiling too.
He’d lied to her the first time her ass was in his truck.
Her smile was totally wonky.
Just like Billie’s.
And just like Billie’s, it lit up the room.
Beautiful.
So beautiful he had no choice.
He bent his head, put his mouth to hers and kissed it from her lips.
* * * * *
Two days later…
When Mitch walked into Pierson’s Mattress and Bed, he saw Mara, Roberta and two other sales associates with customers and there were a number more customers milling about the store.
Roberta’s customer was a woman.
Mara’s was a man.
Mitch sighed, gave his woman a chin lift, took her return smile and gave her friend a low wave. Then his eyes went to the window at the back of the store.
Bob was standing at the window looking out at him.
Mitch wound his way through the displays and by the time he hit the door to the back hall, Bob was standing in it.
“You got a minute?” Mitch asked quietly.
Bob nodded and threw an arm out behind him indicating Mitch should precede him.
Mitch did so and Bob followed.
Bob had given Mara the day off after the drama but she’d gone in the next two days although Bob told her she didn’t have to.
She explained this by saying, “Honey, I have four mouths to feed. It’s paid time off but my pay is nothing to my commissions.”
“Four?” Mitch had asked.
“Bud, Billie, you and me,” she stated.
“You got help with that,” he reminded her.
“I know.” She smiled then reminded him, “We’re a team and I can’t let down the side. Anyway, commissions and a future without attorney’s fees means more little black dresses.”