Tabitha chose that moment to come sweeping through the workroom doors. Lily was grateful she hadn’t caught him kissing her. “Lily, you have a customer waiting.”
Lily’s heart clenched at the frosty tone Tabitha used, and she nodded as she laid her tools aside and removed her apron. Tabitha waited in the doorway, so Lily didn’t dare spare Clay a glance. He caught her eye as she turned and winked at her playfully. She smiled at Tabitha and followed her out to the front, wondering if Tabitha had been watching them through the small windows in the doors.
It was no surprise to her that the customer waiting at the rear sales counter was picking up an order from the personal jewelry website. Tabitha ignored the customer as she swept by, and Lily smiled at the tremendously tall, dark-haired man.
“Hi, I’m Lily. How can I help you?”
The man switched his gaze from the solid gold jewelry in the display case to her, nailing her with eyes like pale-blue laser beams. The smile that crossed his lips was genuine and friendly as he replied, “You sure can. I’m Richard Warner. We ordered a couple of custom-made pieces for our wife, Maya.”
He gestured with a thumb over his shoulder as two other men walked up and flanked him. She stood there, behind the counter, blinking for a couple of seconds at the two tall, equally handsome blond-haired men. One of them had a playful twinkle in his eyes, and the other seemed much more serious, judging by his intense gaze. There were subtle similarities in their facial structures leading her to believe they were relatives.
“Warner? Oh! Warner! You’re related to Jack, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Richard replied. Gesturing to the left at the playful-looking cowboy, he added, “This is Kendall.” He gestured with the other thumb. “This is Boone. We’re brothers.” Both men nodded and smiled at her.
“I’ve met your wife before, at Doctor Guthrie’s office.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Richard affirmed discreetly, glancing over at Tabitha, who was dusting a case.
“Maya’s very sweet and she’s a good nurse. Let me find your order.”
She knelt down to search the cabinet hidden beneath the display area for their order.
Three gorgeous men, all to herself?
What must that be like? Standing there with them, she’d felt afloat in a sea of testosterone.
How does Maya make a relationship with three men work?
Lily had the sense that these three men, although they were brothers, were each very different individuals. How did Maya manage? Feeling a little flushed, Lily decided she’d find out when she saw Maya that weekend.
She stood after locating the white velvet boxes and opened them for the men. One revealed a gold nipple ring set. The rings were joined by a gold chain from which dangled three sparkling ruby gemstones, set at even intervals, to add weight and movement to the piece.
Richard looked at his brothers. “What do you think?”
Kendall said, “I think she’ll love it.”
Lily gestured to the matching gold clit hugger with ruby dangle in the other opened box. “I’ve had instructions typed up for this piece, since it can be adjusted for a snugger or looser fit, and there’s also a new FAQ section on our website. Of course, if you need help you can always call me or Clay.” She slipped a neatly folded pamphlet under the box.
Boone said, “This is a big improvement from the last time we purchased something. I looked at the website and approve of the changes Clay’s made around here. I assume they have something to do with you, yes?”
Lily couldn’t deny the urge to avert her eyes as she replied, “Yes, sir. Clay’s trusted me with this part of his business.”
“Did you make these pieces?” His question was muted but carried a hint of authority in it.
“I made the nipple dangles and the dangle for the hugger. Clay still makes the huggers himself but he’s teaching me.”
“They’re very well done, Lily.”
Why did Boone’s words fill her with such elation? “I hope so.”
“What do we owe you, Lily?” Kendall asked as he pulled out his wallet.
“The transaction was handled over the Internet already. I’ll just wrap these for you,” she said as she pulled out the supplies and began gift wrapping them in gaily printed foil paper. Glancing at Richard to give herself a chance to recover from the twittery-ness Boone somehow inspired in her, she asked, “I was wondering if I might ask a favor of you gentlemen.”
Smiling at her as though he understood how she felt, Richard replied for the three of them, “Sure. Ask away.”
“I’m redoing the photography for the website and I was planning to ask the ladies attending the sleepover if they might be interested in modeling some of the pieces. But I’d also want the approval of their husbands.” At the glint that came into Boone’s eyes, she added, “It would be mostly the nipple ring designs and some of the other matching pieces.” Indicating the clit hugger, she said, “Nothing quite this personal.” He smiled and nodded, as though she’d satisfied his concern. “Would you mind if I asked Maya?”