“I only took your picture, Bianca.”
“You did more than that, hon. You unleashed me.” Still hugging Samantha’s shoulder, she turned to Rick. “Isn’t this woman amazing?” She shook Samantha so hard her head wobbled.
“Yes,” Rick said softly, his eyes warm. “She is.”
“See that you remember that.” Bianca wagged a finger at him. “Or you’ll answer to me. And my husband knows some pretty tough customers, let me tell you.”
“I’m sure he does,” Rick said in an odd tone. Then he looked out the window. “Looks like our client’s here.”
Rick took Mary Jane down the hall and Samantha blocked off most of the following week for the wedding shoot, while Bianca leaned over the counter, making it jiggle, watching her work the mouse.
“All set,” she said, standing straight.
“Now tell me what’s going on with you two, Sammi. The looks flying back and forth almost melted the gold in my suit.”
“He works for me, Bianca, that’s it.”
“And this is real leopard skin, hon.” Bianca tapped her hat. “Come on.”
“Real or not, the hat’s gorgeous,” she said to change the subject. “Are you going to sell your designs in the new shop?”
“That’s the plan,” she said, successfully distracted. “Though Darien’s gotten so involved lately. He helped me with the yarn order, if you can believe that.”
“That’s nice of him.” The man seemed to have too much time on his hands since he’d retired, Samantha thought. He was always popping in at Mirror, Mirror, too.
“He’s full of surprises these days, my Darien. So tight with a dime, but he insists I order the exotic yarns. He doesn’t care about the price. Lightweight is important, he says.” She sighed. “He’s even talking to the carpenter about the shelves—he wants them all deep and wide.”
“Are you getting excited about the opening?”
“Oh, yes. The only tragedy is the shipment comes in next week, so I’ll be so busy I don’t think I can help with the wedding shoot. I’ll buy the flowers, though. I want you to use them in each shot. The colors are garnet and goldenrod and I’m thinking of red-grape clumps, huh? Luscious as the blushing bride.” She kissed her fingers. “So symbolic. The perfect motif.”
“We’ll be fine with my silk flowers, Bianca. You have a lot on your hands, it sounds like, so don’t worry about—”
“I insist. And I’ll pay. But I am busy, that is so true. My class starts next week, too.” Her gingersnap eyes sparkled as brightly as the diamonds on her fingers, which flashed as she talked. “Oh, I almost forgot. My niece Elisha will help with the costumes for the wedding pictures.”
“I don’t think we need any help, Bianca.”
“Sure you do. You won’t have me, so Elisha’s my stand-in. This is a big job, hon.”
“But I don’t really—”
“Okay. Truth time. Darien promised Elisha’s daddy he’d get her a job and I said I was sure you could squeeze her in. Pay her something token—say ten bucks an hour?—and up your rates to cover the cost. Kenny can afford it.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine without—”
“She’s very bright. She had a little attitude problem—kids, what can you do?—but she’s turning that around. Will you help me out here? Please? As a personal favor?”
“We’ll work it out. Sure.” Bianca had done so much for her, Samantha could hardly refuse. Though she had noticed that Darien had a remarkably large family, and they all seemed to owe or be owed tons of favors.
“Terrific, then. You’d better hurry back to Rick now.” Bianca patted both her hands, smiling affectionately. “I’m so glad this all worked out.”
“Rick’s been a big help.”
“Oh, I’m sure he has.” She winked. “I’ll just tell my nephew never mind.”
“Your nephew?”
“The single, handsome one? Duke Dunmore? Owns a bar?” She winked again. “I’ll just tell him the position’s been filled.”
“If you mean the assistant position, you’re correct. Because that’s all that Rick is. My assistant.” The woman would not let go of the impossible idea.
“Don’t say another word, hon. Might jinx it.”
“There’s nothing to jinx, Bianca.”
Bianca just winked and smiled a cat-in-the-cream smile as if she knew something Samantha didn’t. For just a second, there, Samantha wished Bianca was right. She said goodbye to her and headed down the hall to see how contorted Rick had Mary Jane.