Summer's Indiscretion(Divine Creek Ranch 7)(44)

Kemp stepped over to the lingerie case and lifted out a book with a yellow sticky note stuck on the front. The note listed a name. “Frances Stewart?”

“Oh, yes. That’s me.”

He pulled the sticky note off and saw the title. Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns: The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism by Philip Miller and Molly Devon. He showed her the title and said, “Is this the right book?”

“Yes, I was so glad I didn’t have to order it and wait for it to be shipped. I spilled sweet tea all over my old, dog-eared copy. Thank you so much,” Mrs. Stewart said as she reached for it. “How much do I owe you?”

Figuring he might as well jump in with both feet, Kemp looked at the price tag and stepped behind the register. He looked at the machine, hoping it was self-explanatory. He punched in the amount of the book and hit total. It added the tax automatically, he noted with a sigh of relief. She handed him cash, and he told the register how much she gave him and it told him how much to give back.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” she asked as she waited while he counted up the change.

“You could say that, ma’am. I’m just helping out for a friend.”

“Well, I think it’s wonderful they have a man working here. Are you a husband or boyfriend to one of the ladies?”

With a nod, he replied, “A boyfriend.”

“How nice. Lucky girl. Well, I’ll get out of your hair, young man. Thank you for your help.”

As she exited, two more women came in the store. He figured there was no need to call one of the girls. The register was simple enough, and if all the merchandise was marked, he could handle just about anything.

One of the women, who were both in their forties, elbowed the other one as they stopped in front of the sales counter. The second woman turned beet red and tried to speak, but no sound came out. Her friend rolled her eyes and elbowed her again.

“I’d l–like to look at th–the anal plugs, please.”

Alrighty then. Yeah, you can do this.

“I think they are over here, ma’am.”

Both women whispered furtively to each other as he led them to the case he remembered seeing such items in and opened it. He allowed them to handle the sex toys.

The more confident one in the duo gave her friend a quick tutorial. She asked Kemp a question, and he filled her in on his “helper” status. They thought that it was sweet of him to help Rachel out, whom they both knew. Kemp wound up learning quite a lot about butt plugs.

With the selections made, and lubricant added to the order, he tallied them up and thanked them graciously. The afternoon proceeded quietly.

In between customers, he made sure the store was tidy. In the process, he discovered a lingerie display containing diaphanous black lace gowns and matching sheer robes to go over them. The pattern of the lace was very open and transparent, and he thought Summer would be gorgeous in it. Holding an ensemble up for inspection, he guessed which size she’d need and made a purchase of his own.

A group of eight young women in their twenties bustled in. Their giggling chatter filled the shop as their leader, a well-endowed blonde with big hair, announced, “I’m Jessica. These are my bridesmaids. We all need corsets. Can you help us?”

Several of them glanced at him shyly or avoided eye contact as he led them to several racks that displayed such items and left them to make their selections. Soon they were all going in and out of the dressing rooms, shouting for different sizes, giggling, and carrying on. One of the girls volunteered as a runner since Kemp wouldn’t go into the area just outside the dressing-room doors. Their chatter continued on, getting gradually raunchier.

“Oh, come on, honey. We don’t mind!” the bride cried out then broke into laughter.

Kemp grinned in relief when he looked up and saw Summer and Ace walk in the front door. Summer waved at the girl outside the dressing rooms like she knew her, put her finger to her lips, and giggled quietly.

“Oh, Mister Handsome Lingerie Salesman,” the bride called out. “I need a little help with my laces!” The bridesmaids all giggled from behind the dressing-room doors.

Summer whispered to the young woman who had her hand over her mouth, evidently trying to not laugh out loud.

Another feminine voice called out, “Mister Lingerie Salesman, are there G-strings to match these corsets?” The young woman held up one of the corsets they were trying on for Summer to see.

Summer turned to Kemp and whispered, “Say, ‘Yes there is, sweetheart. I’ll be right there.’”

Kemp rolled his eyes and did as she asked, feeling silly. Summer apparently knew the bride and her friends. A flurry of hushed whispers broke out in the dressing rooms, and Summer went over to the racks where the G-strings hung, picked out several, and returned to the doorway.