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Authors: Deb Julienne
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articles. Well, according to the accountants, that is.”
He’d met the accountants and she was right on the mark.
“For me though, it’s different. I started with the products we advertised in our magazine and rated them. Unfortunately, a few of our clients didn’t like the results I published and pulled their ads. The bean counters won.” She shrugged. “I guess you could say I’m a bit to blame for the loss of a few of our advertisers.”
“You’re not to blame if the products don’t do what they advertise.”
“I agree. I had to change my approach and went for a more logical path. That’s when my section started to get tons of fan mail with questions about the various brands of cosmetics and skin care paraphernalia. Women wanted a natural look.”
There was no denying she was passionate about her job.
“They were fed up paying exorbitant prices at specialty stores for their daily needs. Due to the myriad requests for natural beauty aids, I started to research further and offered recipes made at home from of basic household products. We gave them cheaper products with better results.”
“Nice.” Subscription sales didn’t lie. She was one savvy woman.
“You see, I know what it’s like to have so little money. I have to make every penny count. I work with a local health food store manager to find alternatives.”
“No wonder Kat kept you around.” He was thoroughly and completely impressed. She’d worked hard to come to her conclusions and turned her job around, made it more personal. He wanted to see how she’d manage her current assignment. She’d find a way. No doubt in his mind.
“Well, not always. Remember the day we met? Well, I’d expected Kat to give me a promotion. So, in preparation for my big moment I applied a lip gloss recipe I hadn’t pre-tested.” She smiled sheepishly.
“I don’t see the problem.”
She held up a finger. “Oh, you will. The recipe called for one part petroleum jelly, two parts melted paraffin wax, and one drop of jalapeno oil extract. I didn’t have the extract so I crushed a hot pepper in my garlic press. Since my lips are usually deathly pale, I added two drops instead. What a mistake.” She threw up her hands. “One drop was even too much. I’d have been better off if I’d have added a drop of cinnamon oil only I didn’t want the scent to overwhelm my perfume.”
If he bit his lip any harder he was going to draw blood. Was it tears from the pain or humor that blurred his vision?
“I waited until I got to work to put the new gloss on. The idea behind the recipe is for oil to work with the body’s own blood circulation. Your lips are supposed to show a naturally shiny red shade, not the faux colors women use these days.”
“And?” He had to ask.
“Instead, my lips started to swell and burn right when I was supposed to meet with Kat.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I foolishly believed I got off lucky because I was only to meet with Kat. Then in you walked. I wasn’t at my best. The fumes made my eyes water and my nose run. I had to get out of your office. I even made up the excuse that I had an interview in order to get to the bathroom and wash the stuff off.”
Unable to refrain from laughing, he covered his mouth then snorted as his laughter grew.
“Oh yeah, go ahead and laugh. It wasn’t your lips that mutated like a collagen treatment gone wrong.” She tried to stifle her own giggles. Her snicker turned to laughter. Everything regarding that morning came back in earnest. The more she spoke, the more she lit the room. The more she touched her lips during the telling, the more he wanted to kiss her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh, but do I remember. I had you pegged as just coming from some hot and heavy make out session.”
“I wish—I mean—ah—oh screw it. I give up.” She closed her eyes then dropped her hands in defeat. “I’m sure you already think I’m a complete lunatic.”
Sabrina
He’d met the accountants and she was right on the mark.
“For me though, it’s different. I started with the products we advertised in our magazine and rated them. Unfortunately, a few of our clients didn’t like the results I published and pulled their ads. The bean counters won.” She shrugged. “I guess you could say I’m a bit to blame for the loss of a few of our advertisers.”
“You’re not to blame if the products don’t do what they advertise.”
“I agree. I had to change my approach and went for a more logical path. That’s when my section started to get tons of fan mail with questions about the various brands of cosmetics and skin care paraphernalia. Women wanted a natural look.”
There was no denying she was passionate about her job.
“They were fed up paying exorbitant prices at specialty stores for their daily needs. Due to the myriad requests for natural beauty aids, I started to research further and offered recipes made at home from of basic household products. We gave them cheaper products with better results.”
“Nice.” Subscription sales didn’t lie. She was one savvy woman.
“You see, I know what it’s like to have so little money. I have to make every penny count. I work with a local health food store manager to find alternatives.”
“No wonder Kat kept you around.” He was thoroughly and completely impressed. She’d worked hard to come to her conclusions and turned her job around, made it more personal. He wanted to see how she’d manage her current assignment. She’d find a way. No doubt in his mind.
“Well, not always. Remember the day we met? Well, I’d expected Kat to give me a promotion. So, in preparation for my big moment I applied a lip gloss recipe I hadn’t pre-tested.” She smiled sheepishly.
“I don’t see the problem.”
She held up a finger. “Oh, you will. The recipe called for one part petroleum jelly, two parts melted paraffin wax, and one drop of jalapeno oil extract. I didn’t have the extract so I crushed a hot pepper in my garlic press. Since my lips are usually deathly pale, I added two drops instead. What a mistake.” She threw up her hands. “One drop was even too much. I’d have been better off if I’d have added a drop of cinnamon oil only I didn’t want the scent to overwhelm my perfume.”
If he bit his lip any harder he was going to draw blood. Was it tears from the pain or humor that blurred his vision?
“I waited until I got to work to put the new gloss on. The idea behind the recipe is for oil to work with the body’s own blood circulation. Your lips are supposed to show a naturally shiny red shade, not the faux colors women use these days.”
“And?” He had to ask.
“Instead, my lips started to swell and burn right when I was supposed to meet with Kat.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I foolishly believed I got off lucky because I was only to meet with Kat. Then in you walked. I wasn’t at my best. The fumes made my eyes water and my nose run. I had to get out of your office. I even made up the excuse that I had an interview in order to get to the bathroom and wash the stuff off.”
Unable to refrain from laughing, he covered his mouth then snorted as his laughter grew.
“Oh yeah, go ahead and laugh. It wasn’t your lips that mutated like a collagen treatment gone wrong.” She tried to stifle her own giggles. Her snicker turned to laughter. Everything regarding that morning came back in earnest. The more she spoke, the more she lit the room. The more she touched her lips during the telling, the more he wanted to kiss her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh, but do I remember. I had you pegged as just coming from some hot and heavy make out session.”
“I wish—I mean—ah—oh screw it. I give up.” She closed her eyes then dropped her hands in defeat. “I’m sure you already think I’m a complete lunatic.”
Sabrina
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