Chapter Sixteen
Well, the store was still a long way off from being done.
But Jade was officially open for business.
Sort of.
She had racks and tables of merchandise on the sidewalk outside her store and just inside where the floor wasn’t completely destroyed. She hung up Pardon our Renovations signs everywhere and put a cheap mirror and chair in her unfinished dressing room so her customers at least had the option of trying things on.
It wasn’t the best setup ever, but it was definitely getting attention. Business was already decent.
Her free triple chocolate chunk muffins probably didn’t hurt, either.
Jade had once thought she’d found her calling as a baker. But after working ten-plus-hour days in a bakery in DC for over two years, she’d realized that for her, baking should be more of a hobby.
Owning her own place, being her own boss…now this she could be happy with.
It was a good thing people were stopping in, too, because she had been nervously watching the number in her bank account getting smaller and smaller. She didn’t have a whole lot of time left before she would be living off of Ramen noodles and carrot sticks. And if things got that bad, she would be tempted to walk down Main Street modeling her merchandise, if it prompted people to come buy something.
Hopefully, it would never get to that point.
She was rearranging a rack of swimsuit cover-ups when she heard a car pull up to the curb. She glanced up expecting to greet a new customer and was instead struck by Hurricane Maggie-Mia.
“Hey, Ginger!” Maggie cheerfully greeted.
“Maggie!” Mia scolded. “Redheads don’t actually like to be called gingers.”
Maggie went straight to the sunglasses and started trying on each pair. “No, they don’t like to be called Fire Crotch. Ginger is a compliment. It sounds like a movie star’s name, like Ginger Rogers.”
Mia just rolled her eyes, shrugging at Jade as if to say What can you do?
Jade smiled, already used to Maggie’s eccentricities. She found them amusing. They just made her all the more likable.
“How’s everything going here?” Mia asked, her eyes flitting over the sidewalk tables and racks. “Looks like you’re making it work, despite the setbacks.”
“Trying to,” Jade replied. “Business has been surprisingly good so far.”
“Well, it’s no wonder,” Mia said, holding up a retro halter one-piece. “You’ve got great taste.”
“Speaking of great taste,” Maggie mumbled around a mouthful of chocolate muffin. Her eyes closed dramatically. “Oh my Gawd. I think I just died and went to food heaven.”
The two cousins browsed for about ten minutes before circling back around to stand in front of Jade.
“Okay, we have to confess, we had ulterior motives for coming here,” Mia said. “We want to invite you to our family barbecue tomorrow. It’s down at Bradford Beach. We’ll have all kinds of food and drink”—she grinned—“but if you feel like baking some more muffins, I don’t think anyone will complain. And definitely bring your bathing suit.”
Everything inside Jade’s head came to a standstill.
The thought of spending that much time around Hunter and his family sounded…nice. If a bit unnerving, since she didn’t have much of a family dynamic so she wasn’t quite sure how real families operated. Big families…who actually loved each other.
Not to mention the fact that she would be meeting Hunter’s parents. Which sounded a little…serious. Didn’t it? And she and Hunter weren’t serious.
They weren’t…anything.
Right?
Right, she told herself firmly.
No falling in love. Period.
“Hunter’s going to be there,” Maggie added before Jade could respond.
She glanced away, hoping to hide the desire that flooded through her just hearing his name. She forced a laugh. “And that’s supposed to entice me?”
Maggie scoffed. “Oh please. I have eyes, honey. And last night, you two were all over each other. Like fleas on a dog.”
Mia flinched. “Not the best analogy, Mag.”
“Like stink on a skunk.”
“Not an improvement.”
Maggie waved her off. “Apples and oranges.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Maggie put her hand over Mia’s mouth. “Hush, woman!” She turned back to Jade with an inquiring eye. “So, can we tell everyone you’re coming?”
By everyone, Jade assumed she meant Hunter.
What the hell.
It wasn’t as if she had any other plans tomorrow since the store was closed on Sundays. And in such a small town, they’d definitely find out if she decided to ditch them, only to stay home.
Besides, she really wanted to see Hunter again.
The feeling of wanting to be near him all the time grew stronger every day. Which made no sense at all, since he was the reason her shop currently looked like a giant yard sale. The big jerk.
She nodded at the two women. “Sure, I’ll be there.”
Maggie clapped so loudly Jade’s ears started ringing. “Fabulous! And whatever you do, don’t bring anything with peanuts in it. Uncle Wayne is extremely allergic.”
“Yeah, Mag tried to assassinate him with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich one time.”
Maggie threw her hands up. “I didn’t realize peanut butter would be a problem, okay? I thought it was strictly peanuts.”
Mia stared at her blankly. “Peanut butter comes from peanuts.”
Maggie glared. “Well, you’re next on my hit list, so you better watch out.”
Jade laughed as they continued to argue their way back to their car. She waved at them as they drove away, but not before Maggie stuck her head out the passenger window and shouted, “One o’clock, by the way! See you there, Ginger!”