Making the Cut (9 page)

“Well I guess I better go, got a big day tomorrow, it was so nice to meet you and I will see you at the opening right?” I said to Ashley while I stood.

She jumped up and gave me a big old hug, I return it surprised at the display.

She held me at arms length. “It was so awesome to meet you Gwen, you and Amy are the fucking shit!” I laughed. “And there is no way I’m missing your opening.” She continued.

“Glad to hear.” I replied. “And remember to come early” I winked at her over my shoulder as I walked away.

I approach Rosie and Amy. “Right lady” I smacked Amy’s behind, which resulted in a few whistles. “I’m going to head home, you want to come or stay a bit longer?”

Rosie jumped in my face. “Don’t leave Gwen!! We are doing tequila shots!” She exclaimed, sounding a little hammered.

“As much as I love tequila shots, and trust me I do, I have to rain check this time, got to get the store ready for Wednesday.” I explained sadly. “But next time?”

Rosie grinned drunkenly. “You got it! Girls night!!”

“Sounds like a plan, thank you for such and awesome time, and for inviting us.” I continued, genuinely glad I came, despite the male drama.

“No problem, you girls are the shit.” Rosie yelled, mimicking Ashley’s statement.

“Yes we are!” Amy chimed in, slurring her words slightly. “But alas, I will also have to decline on the tequila, as I don’t want the boss to think I’m hung over tomorrow.” She winked at me, then gave Rosie a big old smacker on the lips, earning a lot more whistles than my butt slap. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and we began to wade through people, saying our goodbyes along the way. I caught a glimpse of Cade who had his eyebrows narrowed and was striding purposefully towards us.

“Oh shit.” I muttered under my breath, I so didn’t want to deal with macho man bullshit right now, I wanted to go home, take a bath and get ready for my opening.

Just before he reached me his phone went off, he glanced down at the display and scowled. I watched him answer the call, bark a few responses back and then end it. He then made some kind of signal, which made all the men wearing cuts, stand up and walk towards their bikes. Cade turned back and gave me a meaningful glare before hopping on his bike and roaring off.

“That was weird.” Amy proclaimed drunkenly.

“Yeah, it was.” I muttered, almost to myself.

Chapter 4

I gazed around my store, smiling to myself delighted at the finished product, and amazed at what Amy and I had managed to get done. It was perfect, everything I had imagined it would be. The walls were pure white, white floors as well. As you walked in there was a freestanding mock brick wall running down a part of the store, with a rack attached, giving it a rustic look to juxtapose the stark white. To the right of the wall was a table of brightly colored sweaters and a shelf from ceiling to floor full of different colored accessories, printed wallpaper behind the shelf.  The wall to the left of the free standing brick wall was free of racks but had a huge canvas with an aerial view of New York took up the wall. Looking towards the counter there was some more racks, and an old wooden table covered with candles and some jewelry. The fitting rooms had white doors and each room was carpeted with bright patterned carpet, matching the wallpaper. I loved my store, it was a mix between stylish minimalism and rustic country charm, which I hoped would be received well by the residents of Amber.

I had been so busy with the set up my mind hadn’t wandered to Cade…much. I was glad I hadn’t heard from him, or caught him skulking around my house in the middle of the night. Well that was what I told myself. Back to the opening.

Amy and I had set up a table full of nibbles, nothing fancy or pretentious just great wholesome food, and I had made a giant batch of my brownies, barely being able to restrain myself from eating half of them. And of course we had our contractors set up a temporary (I was thinking of keeping it) bar, stocked with ingredients for a couple of cocktails (cosmos of course) some champagne, and good old beer. Amy had decided she would be the bartender for the night, I had argued with her a bit on that one, wanting to hire someone so she was free to mingle with the guests/customers, we were going to encourage the women to have a try on, so we could hopefully make some money. Amy had replied, “Gwen, I will be serving alcohol, not only does a couple of cocktails loosen peoples wallets, but what better place to mingle with people than at the bar, where people will be guaranteed to return to?”

I couldn’t fault her logic.

It was after 6, and I wondered where Amy was, I told her that we had invited Rosie and her posse to come at 630 so she better be here. I had gotten ready early, so I could put the finishing touches on everything without worrying about primping. Amy had left about an hour ago saying she had to go and ‘get hot’ for the biker/hotcop man candy that may or may not be there tonight. Her words not mine. I took another quick look in the floor to ceiling mirror. I had on a bright red dress. It was skintight, with capped sleeves and a huge plunging neckline, exposing a fair bit of my not so ample breasts, but it worked for me, having being designed for small busted women (thank you Mrs Beckham). I had kick ass matching red shoes, they were high and I mean high, with a tiny stiletto heel and a pointed toe. There were tiny straps around my ankles embellished with little gold studs, giving my look a bit of edge. I had a couple of gold bangles on my wrist but otherwise wore no jewelry, the dress and shoes spoke for themselves. I had my hair up in a loose bun, with small curls escaping around my face. My makeup was not too over the top, a small amount of eyeliner, but a big amount of my absolute favorite mascara that made my lashes look lush. I had a subtle red gloss on my lips, not wanting to go too overboard with the red thing. I had to admit I looked pretty good and judging on how Amy’s jaw had dropped when she saw me I guess she thought I looked okay as well.

I wondered if Luke would be here tonight, I deliberated to myself whether I could muster up the same sort of electric connection I felt with Cade, and channel it into a more sensible direction. The clinging of the bell shook me out of my thoughts and Amy strutted in. It was my turn for a jaw drop, I thought I looked okay, but she was…wow. She was dressed in pure white, donning a strapless, bustier style top, which molded to her body perfectly, showing off her more than ample chest in a tasteful way. She had paired this with a skintight white pencil skirt, skimming her knees. She had on (my) white strappy stilettos, which came up past her ankle, and made her legs look amazing. Her red hair was curled into soft waves and she had little makeup on, apart from some amazing red lipstick.

“Well??” She did a little turn.

“I think I may just turn lesbian for you, lady you look smoking.” I said with a smirk on my face. “Nice shoes by the way.” I continued sarcastically.

“Thanks.” She flicked her hair strutting towards me, straightening clothes now and then. “I got them at the best little store, right across from my bedroom, and they didn’t cost me a dime.” She said with mock shock.

I laughed, “Probably similar to the store I got these bracelets from then.” I held my arm up in front of her and jingled the borrowed jewelry.

“Good thing we both have such great taste.” She exclaimed, not batting an eyelash at me wearing her seriously pricey accessories.

We spent the rest of our time before the girls arrived, making and drinking cocktails to loosen up a bit, I switched on my chill playlist, giving a soft melody in the background. Amy and I were sitting in my kick ass antique patterned couch, which was by the fitting rooms, sipping our cosmos when the door jingled and Rosie and the girls walked in. Rosie wore an amazing, long sleeved, fitted little black dress with black and gold sandals. Lucy was wearing skintight black, high waisted pants with a silver cropped top showing off her toned midsection, pairing it with silver sandals. Ashley had on another 1950’s style dress with capped sleeves, a flower print that finished at her waist and had a powder blue full skirt. It was awesome.

“Holy shit!” Rosie yelled. “This place looks amazing!!” She rushed towards me and engulfed me in a huge hug. She released me, looking me up letting out a whistle. “Scratch that, you look amazing, way to make us mere mortals look like shit.” She glanced at Amy, who was busy chatting to Lucy and Ashley and making them drinks.

“Wowza, and Amy is making white look far from virginal.” She declared, impressed.

I laughed lightly, “You look killer Rosie, where did you get that dress??” I asked, genuinely wanting to know. Up close the dress was embroidered with hundreds of little beads that sparkled in the light. I needed something like that in my wardrobe, not counting my hundreds of other little black dresses.

“Oh some thrift store.” She waved her hand. “It was way longer, but I gave it the chop and voilà! New dress! Enough about that. My brother is going to die when he sees you looking like that, seriously I wouldn’t put it pass him to carry you out, caveman style,” she giggled.

I blinked, shocked at the casual way she was talking about Cade in relation to me, as if we were a couple together for a while, not two people who barley knew each other apart from making out at her party. And he was coming here, what? I definitely didn’t remember inviting him to come here, I wasn’t insane. I started with the obvious question.

“Cade’s coming?” I asked, my voice sounding squeaky.

“Well yeah.” She said like it was the obvious answer. “I told him about the opening today and he said him and the boys would definitely stop by, you’re here, free booze and hot bitches? Just try and keep them away.”

I barely restrained a snort, hardass bikers at a clothing store opening? Yeah right! I began to ask her if she was actually serious when Amy and the girls came over, arms full of cocktails. Amy thrust a full glass into Rosie’s waiting hand and replaced my empty one.

“Right bitches.” She completely interrupted. “I think it is time for a toast.” She thought for a second. “To new friends, new beginnings and new clothes!”

The women laughed, we clinked our glasses and downed a mouthful of the delicious brew.

“So Gwen.” Lucy started after finishing her sip. “Are you selling that smoking dress somewhere in this lovely place or am I going to have to rip it off your back? Because that is gorg –goues.”

“Of course we have it, just in different colours, right over here.” I directed her to a rack full of dresses as Ashley and Rosie began to look through racks. Within the first five minutes the three ladies had armfuls of clothes ready to try.

“Just to inform you ladies,” I called over the doors of the fitting rooms as they were getting changed. “In New Zealand we have a thing called ‘mates rates’ which I assure you all you will be getting.”

“Rock on!” I heard Rosie exclaim from the middle stall and I laughed. I had lost track of the amount of times I have genuinely laughed since being around these women, not just the fake ones I had forced back in New York.

             Amy must have been thinking something along the same lines as she glanced at me with a proud smile, and I saw a tiny glisten in her eyes. Before I was able to say something, Lucy came out of the fitting room, looking stunning in the black, shorter version of my dress and exclaimed, “I have to have this, seriously have to!!”

“Yes you so do.” I agreed.

After almost an hour of trying on, the girls decided on multiple items, and while I was getting them sorted I informed them of their totals.

             Rosie blinked at me. “No Gwen that’s not right, that isn’t even the price of two dresses let alone three.”

“Opening night special.” I shrugged.

              “No we will pay full price.” Lucy put in. “We have to support our new favorite store.”

“And I have to support my new best customers.” I said back with a smile, the girls started to argue but Amy butted in.

“Ladies take the fucking discount, you are awesome, and Gwen and I are just grateful to meet such kick ass chicks on coming here, this is our thank you. No arguing.” She ordered.

It was then that the girls concede, thanks to Amy’s no nonsense tone.

“But next time we are paying full price.” Rosie decided.

I just smiled back at her, not saying a thing. At that point, the bell chimed and some women from Roses party piled in. I greeted them warmly, hoping I remembered everyone’s name. After that people continuously trickled in, some I recognized, some I didn’t. World travelled fast in this small town, which was something I had banked on. Everyone was lovely, including the man who owned the bookstore next door, whom I had met on Sunday. He brought his wife Bernie, who was in her late fifties but wore her age well, with short red hair and a slim body, which was wearing a lovely red skirt and blouse. People in this town were freaks of nature with their good looks and impeccable style.

“Gwen dear, its so lovely to meet you, Evan told me all about the ‘beautiful young kiwi girl’ who loved books just as much as he did! I’m glad as he has had trouble finding an avid reader in me.” She laughed. “Now I will definitely be coming to visit you on a regular basis, I think.” Her gaze landed on a stunning pair of heels on the shelf behind me.

“I look forward to it.” I told her before getting whisked away by Rosie to meet more people. It was about 8:30pm, my little store was packed, I was over the moon, men and women of all ages had come to welcome Amy and I. I was wrapping a purchase when the bell chimed for what felt like the hundredth time that night, hot cop Luke sauntered in. He looked good, and so did his buddies who were trailing in behind him, these were some fine all American specimens. He was wearing a blue button up shirt, tucked into faded jeans, a big old belt buckle and cowboy boots. I glanced over at Amy whose eyes were so focused on the newcomers she didn’t realize the champagne glass she was pouring was overflowing.

I chuckled turning attention back to Violet, the young girl buying the dress. “You enjoy that dress honey, it looks great on you.” I said sincerely.

              My eyes went back to where Luke was currently making his was towards me, eyes twinkling, saying hello to people as he approached, shaking hands and whatnot. I smoothed my dress stepping out from behind the counter. He got a full look at me and his eyes darkened, I blushed slightly at his reaction.

“Gwen.” He addressed me roughly, grabbing my waist and kissing my cheek. My skin tingled a little from his touch, I was definitely attracted to him, but I couldn’t help but compare it to the fire I felt when Cade touched me. I mentally shook my head, focusing on Luke before my thoughts wandered too much.

“Luke, glad you could make it.” I beamed up at him.

             “So am I darling, you look…” he paused, hands still at my waist, “Stunning, although that does not adequately describe how beautiful your are in that dress.” His voice was charming and held an undertone of desire.

I laughed nervously, very aware that his hand was still at my waist. “Stop your making me blush.”

“Good, your blush is beautiful,” he murmured.

I was still smiling, albeit timidly when the bell chimed yet again. I didn’t pay much notice, still focusing on how to handle this intimate situation, and how I felt about it.

“Can I get you a beer?” I asked gesturing towards the bar, slightly stepping away from him.

I caught Amy’s eye, she looked slightly panicked, I narrowed my eyebrows, usually she would be thrilled seeing me talking to a hot guy.