Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Willow stopped cutting and turned toward him. “Use a hand?”
“I’m going to be your assistant for the day.”
“Oh, honey, you cannot turn him down.”
Carson smiled at the woman, who turned bright red once he did. “See, I’m a good guy to have around.”
“And you don’t even know how to handle the register.”
“But I can measure and cut.” Carson held his hand out for the scissors. “How about it?”
Willow licked her bottom lip and he had to wonder if she was thinking a lot of sexy thoughts. He knew he was.
“Fine. Okay, fine.” She handed him the scissors. If you have any problems, let me know.”
She gave his arm a squeeze and left to go to the counter, where two people were already waiting to be served.
Returning to the woman, he saw at least three more women were holding fabric in their arms.
Okay, he could do this. How hard could it be, cutting fabric?
Chapter Five
It was hard for Willow not to find Carson attractive as she watched him hold fabric, open the folded pieces, and then line them up on the cutting table. There was a nice new pile of remnants she would have to measure and mark up, but that wouldn’t be a problem.
The women adored Carson.
Yes, he was feared. She noticed a couple of women had stepped inside and left immediately. A few men as well.
Willow had placed a brand-new fabric order to get ready for the winter fabrics, and since they had a huge supply already of summer fabrics, she had to make space for the new ones. Her grandmother always did a stock clearing sale after ordering fabrics. The amount of fabric she bought would determine the markdown price.
It was always a big success and helped to bring feet back into the shop. The online orders had been going through the roof as well. When that happened, Willow always made sure to check through the system, take the bolts that had been hugely popular, and put them to one side.
By lunchtime, Carson seemed exhausted, so she gave him a break to go and get them some food. She finished the sudden rush at the shop, and rang up the last customer when Carson returned with the noodle pots again.
Her mouth watered at what possible delight he had brought. His obsession with food was adorable.
“My lady, my boss,” he said.
She couldn’t help but chuckle. “So, how hard can it be?” she asked.
“Fuck me, cutting fabric is hard. I’m pretty sure some of the ladies messed up the material just to make me look inadequate.”
“Oh, no, they didn’t. That was entirely you.”
He glared at her and she gave him a beaming smile for the trouble.
“You’re a vixen, has anyone told you that?”
She winked at him. “Some fabrics are a little difficult, but once you get used to them, they’re fine.”
He handed her the pot of noodles and she took it, opened the top, and yep, her mouth once again watered. She took the offered chopsticks and began to scoop out noodles. She moaned as the flavor took over, and she closed her eyes.
“I’m glad you like my food choice.”
“I more than like it. What made you decide to come to the shop today? Isn’t Carson Dexter a very busy man?”
“I am a busy man but after dealing with some unsavory business, I wanted to come and see you. Do you still love the shop?”
She glared at him. “I’m not selling.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m not buying.”
She laughed. “I remember before my grandparents got this place. My grandma always wanted to own her own fabric shop. It was so important to her. Her only dream really. It was Grandpa’s retirement gift to her. I remember when they started this business, I was eleven years old, and I begged her for a job.” She chuckled. “I would come and work on the weekends. Through the week I had to focus on school and my education, but I was always with her on the weekend.”
“It sounds lovely.”
“Did you have grandparents?”
He shook his head. “No. I didn’t have anyone. I don’t even know who my mother was.”
“What?”
“I was an orphan. I got fostered out to a lot of bad people. Shit people. It’s why I know what it’s like to starve and have no interest in being without food and money. I didn’t have a family.”
“I had no idea.”
“It’s not information I make public.”
“I couldn’t imagine not having anyone. I mean, I know I’ve lost a lot of people I care about.” She stared down at the noodles and felt an overwhelming punch of grief.
Carson put his food down and walked around the counter. Within seconds, she was in his arms, and in a strange way she had a feeling it would all be okay. She didn’t know why she thought that way, only that she did.