Page 6

Five

Shopping Mania

Emryn

A fter confirming my photo shoots for the week, consisting of an engagement, baby’s first birthday, and another wedding this Saturday, I’m content to go looking for a suitable outfit for my date with Blade tonight.

I’ve got some money saved, but that’s my emergency fund, so knowing that I have these jobs happening this week makes me feel better about splurging on a new dress.

The store has a trendy vibe with some very cool pieces in the window.

A shirt dress caught my attention when I walked past the window the other day, and I’m hoping it’s still there.

The shop is buzzing with eager shoppers.

The saleswomen are bustling about to help out their patrons, and since I’m in no hurry, I browse through the racks.

A gorgeous, vibrant redhead catches my attention when she walks by, heading straight for the woman at the register.

“Vi, darling, tell me you brought me more accessories,” the woman behind the register pleads.

The woman named Vi laughs before answering. “In my trunk. Orion is bringing them in for me.” As soon as the words come out of her mouth, the man from the restaurant, the big bearlike man, comes waltzing in with three boxes stacked high in his arms and drops them on the counter by Vi.

It seems that Orion recognizes me, and when Vi grabs his arm, he dips his lips to her ear and whispers something to her. Not two seconds later, Vi heads straight for me.

“Hi, I’m Vi, and this is my man, Orion. I believe you’ve met.” She holds out her hand for me to take.

“Uh, hi. I’m Emryn.” I look up at the big man, straining my neck all the way back to peer up at him. “Hi,” I repeat, giving him a slight wave.

“Yo,” Orion replies with a grin.

“We hear you’re new in town. Consider me part of the welcoming committee,” Vi says with a giggle.

She glances at my hand holding the dress I had been searching for in my size.

“That’s cute. I saw it in the window. You definitely have to try it on.

” Before I can answer her, she has me by the hand and is leading me over to the changing room area.

“You go on in and get changed. I’m going to find some fabulous jewelry to go with it. ” And poof! She disappears.

I step into the changing room and try the dress on.

I love that it’s effortless and flowy. This classic, soft, gray, silk shirtdress feels good against my skin.

It skims my knees for a flowing A-line fit, and it’s cinched at the waist with a belt.

As I’m admiring the dress in the mirror, Vi knocks on the door.

“Come on out. I want to see,” she says in a cheery tone.

I feel a little self-conscious but step out, only to have Vi drag me over to another mirror. As I’m staring at my reflection, Vi guides my arms out to the sides, then proceeds to remove the belt. When I open my mouth to ask what gives, she catches my eyes in the mirror and says, “Trust me.”

Not wanting to offend her, I remain quiet, although internally, I’m thinking, what the heck?

And, I don’t even know you . Vi slips on a very wide black leather belt with a shiny nickel-plated buckle.

Next, she fastens a chunky chain-link choker around my neck that I have to admit looks fabulous with the dress.

Then she hands me a charm bracelet and tells me to put it on, followed by drop earrings.

“I can’t wear those. If I try them on, I’ll have to buy them,” I protest. I also can’t afford anything more than the dress. And maybe the belt, but only because it’s fabulous and creates a magnificent hourglass shape with my body.

“But they’re perfect!” she exclaims. Oh, they really are, and I’m so tempted to pull out my credit card to get the whole outfit, but I have a plan and need to stick with it. I’m building a business, and I have to be careful.

I lower my voice. “Vi, I can’t afford all this. My business is just getting off the ground, and I need to be responsible.” I see her face drop. “Please don’t be upset. I love what you put together, and I wish I could indulge, but I can’t.”

“These are my pieces,” Vi announces, not that I understand what she’s talking about.

“Pardon?”

“I made them. I have my own jewelry business and supply local shops, as well as having an online website. This necklace was made for you. I can’t imagine it on anyone else. It’ll be my gift to you,” she declares.

“Oh no. It’s too much. I can’t accept?—”

“And the bracelet, and?—”

“Absolutely not! I can’t let you do that. I pay my own way,” I tell her.

“Let’s compromise. You keep the belt and necklace, and you become a walking poster for my stuff. You can borrow the earrings and bracelet, or I can put them on layaway, and when you have the money, you can pay me. It’s a win-win,” she says, like it’s a fait accompli.

“Why would you do this for me? You don’t even know me.”

“I’m sure we’re going to get to know one another much better. I hear you’re going out with Blade, and if you’re in this shop, you must want to make a good impression.” She looks back at the mirror. “Emryn, you look fantastic!”

I bite my lip, wrestling with the decision of throwing caution aside and agreeing to her idea. “I’m paying full price for all of it. In installments, though.”

“All my friends get a ‘friends and family’ discount. And you keep the belt as my welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift,” she counters, with a grin.

“It’s hard to say no to you.”

“Then don’t and let’s get the hell out of here, then you can buy me a coffee at Hanna’s Bakery,” she replies with a shrug.

I give in, partly because I love the outfit, and partly because I can see that Vi is not going to give in. “Okay. Deal.”

“Yay!” Vi does a little dance, not giving a darn about who’s watching. That’s when I notice that Orion is gone.

“Where’s Orion?” I ask.

She laughs. “Probably at the club. He scooted out the minute he saw me going into fashion mode. He loves me, but he’s a ‘jeans, tees, and leather jacket’ kind of man.

He was helping me drop off a big order to the manager of the shop.

” She shoos me back into the changing room.

“Hurry. I have a hankering for Hanna’s lemon squares. ”

I quickly get changed, pay for the dress, then Vi and I head over to Hanna’s Bakery. The whirlwind shopping still has my head spinning, but the good news is, I have an awesome dress for my date with Blade tonight.