Lily reached across the bar, put her hand on his, and said, “Clay, I’ve worked with difficult people before. I can get along with anybody. I won’t make any waves or respond to any remarks. Does she know that I’m living here while the house is being worked on?”
Clay nodded. “She heard me talking with Jack in the store. I’d rather she didn’t because she’ll have an opinion about it but it doesn’t really matter. She’s not my mother or my girlfriend.”
Lily smirked, showing a little bit of her former spirit. “That fact evidently didn’t stop her from peeing on your leg, though.”
Clay burst into laughter with Lily and thought that maybe her first day would be okay after all. He appreciated that she approached the situation with a sense of humor. The hint of her old self-confidence was good to see, too.
* * * *
So far, so good. Lily listened as Tabitha explained how the credit card machine worked. She didn’t bother telling her she already knew how to use one because Tabitha was obviously tense in the role of teacher and Lily didn’t want to come off as a know-it-all. She tried to keep Tabitha’s perspective in mind and knew she might feel a little insecure, too.
When they’d arrived earlier that morning, Tabitha had given her the once-over and then looked back and forth from Clay to Lily as if she were trying to determine their relationship status. Lily ignored the look and followed Clay in the back door.
Clay’s shop was comfortable, with a laid-back atmosphere, and Lily knew she’d enjoy working there, feeling as though she already fit in. Whenever Clay checked on her, he’d seemed pleased by her presence in the shop. She’d already made two sales with a little assistance from Tabitha, who had seemed to approve of her efforts, if a little grudgingly.
Tabitha turned to her and said, “I’m going to take a break and get a cup of coffee while it’s quiet. Study the gemstone manual I left out for you and wait on any customers that come in. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
Lily nodded, and Tabitha pulled her phone from her pocket as she stepped through the doors that led to the workroom and the back rooms. Lily scanned through the guide which detailed the basics of gemstones and setting styles and had a tutorial on diamond grading. Clay had already given her a copy of it at home for her to study, and she’d consumed it in a night. Clay had seemed surprised, and the subject of her continuing her college education online had come up. The following week she planned to contact the community college she’d attended to see if the credits she’d already earned toward her degree could be transferred.
The doorbell jingled, signaling the arrival of new customers. She felt in her element, which was odd because she’d never worked in the jewelry industry before, but talking with the customers and helping them find what they needed was fun. She felt productive as she handled the sales and didn’t need to bother Tabitha for help.
Closer to lunch, Clay made an appearance as Tabitha showed her how the security system and panic alert worked. His wide shoulders filled the doorway as he came through, rubbing the back of his neck. His biceps rippled with the movement and she had to press her lips together to stifle her appreciative smile. He was so handsome in his blue jeans, plain black T-shirt, and cowboy boots. The heavy gold chain circling his throat accentuated his tanned, masculine physique.
The memory of her brief glimpse of his nudity that morning flashed through her mind. He was built like a Greek god, all long, lean muscles with a light covering of sandy-blond hair. The water had darkened the patches of hair and left a trail that led down his chest to the ample cock at the juncture of his thighs. He’d been toweling his hair dry, which had caused his thick biceps to flex, revealing the sexy wisps at his armpits. There wasn’t an unsexy thing about him.
Looking at him standing in the workroom doorway, so sexy and comfortable in his own skin, parts of her body fluttered and heated that she’d thought were dead, or encased in ice. She bit her lip to keep from licking it and sensed Tabitha’s stare.
Lily had stayed out front with Tabitha all morning and hadn’t bothered Clay with any questions because she’d recalled that he had several pieces that had to be finished soon. She imagined being the sole craftsman for an entire store would put a lot of pressure on him whenever the busy season loomed so close.
Her gaze shifted to his face and heat bloomed in her cheeks when she discovered him giving her a similar all-over perusal as he walked into the showroom. Finally meeting her eyes, he gave her a warm smile and leaned against the showcase they were standing next to.