The Love Knot (5 page)

“Oh, she’s just over there, straightening out some of the stock,” said the young girl.

“Thanks!” Jeff walked over to Claire, who jumped slightly as his hand landed on her lower back.

“Hello, Mr. Travers! How can I help you?”

“Oh, so we’re back to ‘Mr.,’ are we? I’d like to look through the books for the past couple weeks, and see what the sales and returns look like. We can do that after you close. I’ll just browse around,” Jeff said with a friendly, patient grin.

Claire’s manager handled the closing, verifying that the day’s cash and credit receipts tallied with the register tape. Claire wrote out the deposit slip and locked the cash bag into the store safe, then escorted her employees out, locking the door.

Turning toward Jeff, she said, “Let’s go through the books and see where The Love Knot is.”

Thirty minutes later, Jeff had carefully read the store spreadsheet, noting the sales and returns trends.

“Okay, you’re doing really well on notions and yarns. I suspect your one-day yarn sale had a lot to do with that. On knitting and crochet patterns, you need to pick up sales. Your returns look really good – your staff is clearly assisting customers in finding exactly what they want. Have you considered a one-day sale for every week to boost sales in different categories?”

“Yes, I have. I’d like to feature notions, patterns, yarns, needles and crochet hooks once a week. I’m discussing this with my suppliers so I can have sufficient stock at good prices every week.”

“Good. I think you’re on the right track – business wise. Now. Let’s discuss your heart,” Jeff said, taking the conversation in an unexpected direction.

Claire’s glance bounced up, looking into his eyes. She experienced a hallucinatory return of her dream from the night before.

“Oh, my God. Is this the part where you ask me what I see in your eyes?” she mumbled.

“What?” Jeff’s face registered confusion.

“Uh, oh, shit. I, uh, had a dream last night. You told me to look into your eyes and tell you what . . . I  . . . saw . . .” Claire’s voice trailed off, suddenly shooting into a squeaky-high register.

“Ahh! Looks like your heart already gave you a jump-start on what I decided I want to say. So. Let’s talk about what’s in my eyes. What do you see in them?” Jeff’s fingers pointed toward his eyes.

“Um, uh. Well, they’re really a deep brown, . . .” Claire said, stalling for time. “Your eyelashes are longer than any man’s lashes have a right to be.” She licked her dry lips and and saw Jeff’s deep brown eyes fix on her lips. Feeling her heartbeat begin to race into danger territory, she tried to drag in a deep breath.

Jeff snickered, shaking his head. “Come on, beautiful. You can do better. Look at me,” he commanded, putting his warm hands on the backs of Claire’s arms.

“Oh, why now?”

“Because it’s time. We have to talk and figure this thing out. I’ll make it easy for you. Did you every see . . . anything . . . in your ex-boyfriend’s eyes?”

“Greed. I felt like I was an afterthought with him,” Claire said.

“She’s making progress! Claire, you’re more than a seven-number figure to me. You’re flesh and blood, a beating heart and emotions. You’re black hair and blue eyes that combine to make you the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I manage your inheritance – but are you aware that I have money of my own? I’m more than just comfortable. I want to get to know the Claire that’s not connected to all that money – her dreams, thoughts, beliefs and fears. I want to fall even more deeply in love with her – and I hope she’ll unlock her heart and fall in love with me.

“What that asshole did to you would be enough to make any woman retreat from the possibility of love, Claire. But we’re not all like him. He wants to hook up with a rich woman so he doesn’t have to work for what he spends. He’s a freakin’ loser. I spotted that  right away, that day that he came here. After your parents pushed him out of the store and I talked to him, I saw the greed in his eyes. When you saw him with that girl, that was the best day of your life because you kicked him out before he could get his mangy mitts on your money. I love you – and I hope you may love me, one day.”

Claire really looked into his eyes. Gentleness, trust and honesty. And yes, very long eyelashes.

“I . . . I have been falling in love with you. But I’m so very scared!”

“Let’s be scared together, my love.”

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