Page 26

and stared straight ahead.

Romi laughed softly like that was a good joke. “No list needed. I was just

wondering, you know, if we needed anything more than something else. Or,

like, if there were customers who had specific requests in.”

Romi was sharp. Kiera would give her that. She learned fast. Wynn was

right. He had excellent instincts, especially when it came to people. Romi

had only been at the store for a week and she’d learned a lot. She actually

was great with customers and with vendors. She had a knack for design and

was extremely creative. Not surprising considering she was in school for

clothing design or something.

“Wynn said you studied theater?” Kiera regretted the words immediately.

She didn’t usually just blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

Romi just smiled though, and her eyes lit. “I did.”

“And so you decided to apply at an antiques store?”

“I know it might seem strange. Or maybe not. I like old things. The past.

I especially love vintage and retro clothing.”

“I noticed.” Just like everything else, Romi let that roll straight off. If she

noticed Kiera’s dry, less than enthusiastic tone, she didn’t let on.

“I saw the job posting and I love working with people and I thought it

was such a cool concept, the whole antique mall thing, and I had to apply. I

never thought I’d get the job and I’m still kind of in shock. I love it so

much. I’ve had such a great time so far and everyone’s been so nice.”

“And you’re planning on staying? That is, you’re not trying to get

something in your field?”

“Oh.” For the first time Remi sounded a little more uncertain. She

uncapped her water bottle and took a sip.

Kiera’s stomach tightened. She didn’t turn to see Romi’s throat bob as

she swallowed. She imagined Romi’s full lips, wet and shiny before she

licked the water droplets away, and that pinching in her lower ab area was

suddenly accompanied by a shivery sensation slightly lower. Which was, of