Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,5
loyalty. She sure hadn’t inspired it in Courtney when she’d worked at Beach Babes. The constant criticism and snapping had been soul-crushing.
Even Edie Patterson, who had once been a loyal customer, never went in there anymore, thanks to Susan dissing Jenna. You didn’t mess with Edie’s family and get away with it.
What a waste of good retail space. Many a time Courtney had jealously eyed that shop with its prime location. It was smack dab in the middle of two rows of cute little brightly painted cabana shops, right next to Beachcomber, a tourist magnet that sold beachy home decor and candles.
Courtney knew her creations would jump off the racks. They did in the Oyster Inn gift shop, and she would be forever grateful to Grande Dame Patricia Whiteside, its owner, for giving her a place to start. But that little cabana shop would be perfect. Unlike many business malls, the setup for this one was unique. The shop owners owned the land collectively and their buildings individually, plus, of course, their inventory. It was the business equivalent of condominiums. Susan’s inventory was worthless but the building...oh, lust.
Yeah, well. Dream on.
Meanwhile, Courtney had work to do. She started sketching, working out ideas for the last pieces of her spring and summer line. She’d found a great jersey knit cotton in sea mist green that she was going to give a wispy chiffon overlay—scarf-like layers to drape in the front and create a dropped-tail hem at the back. She’d do capped sleeves and give it a V-neck to show some skin. Edge the neck with embossed clam shells? No. Too much. She’d go simple on this. Ooh, but what about a chiffon shawl of the same color to wear over a simple white dress? That could be embossed with clam shells. Yes. She liked that idea.
The day slid by and before she knew it, Annie was back and her daughter Emma was home from school and wanting to see what Courtney had designed. And then asking what fabulous snack she was making for when Moira came over for a chick flick night. Annie was careful of what Emma was allowed to watch, but even when she wasn’t allowed to stay for the movie, she always got to share the treats.
“Oh, my gosh. I completely forgot we were doing that tonight. I’d better get to the store,” Courtney said, and went in search of her purse.
She’d just found it when her cell phone rang. “Hey there, beautiful,” said her favorite fireman. “What’s on the menu for chick flick night?”
Beautiful. She loved that. Courtney had never considered herself beautiful. She’d managed striking, thanks to long, dark hair, nice eyes, great makeup skills, and a damned good figure (if she did say so herself), but she didn’t have the pretty round face and perfect little nose her friend Jenna had. Jonas didn’t seem to care and she adored him for it.
“I’m creating something,” she told him.
“Yeah? Gonna duplicate it for me when I’m off?”
“Of course. You’ll love it.”
“I love everything you do. You know that. What is it?”
“Something sweet.”
“Like dessert?”
“Pretty much.”
“All right. I’m off tomorrow, so how about coming over to my place and making it for me?”
“Absolutely,” she said.
“I’ll pick up a pizza. But let’s have dessert first. And not the stuff you’re making.”
“Good idea,” Courtney said. Her lacy black bra and matching panties were on standby and ready to go.
She said goodbye and hurried to the store to pick up the makings for her treat. She was just about to get in the checkout line when her cell phone rang again. This time it was Jenna.
“Do you need me tonight?” Courtney asked. It wasn’t a regular work night for her, and she hated to miss out on chick flick night, but if Jenna needed her at the Driftwood she’d be there.
“No, but I have some interesting news. I just went to pick up Aunt Edie from Waves. Susan Frank was in earlier and told Pearl she’s thinking about selling Beach Babes.”
“No way.”
“You might want to stop by the shop and see what she’s asking.”
“Thanks. I will.”
There was that business lust again. If only. She wasn’t exactly rich and she couldn’t picture Sherwood Stern over at Harbor First National giving her the VIP treatment.
Still, it couldn’t hurt to ask how much Susan wanted. Maybe, just maybe they could work something out.
Courtney stopped on her way back from the store and wove past the other shops to Beach Babes, her former dysfunctional home away