Read Online Step Into My Parlor by Jan Hudson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jan Hudson
Tags: Contemporary
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company. We're going to shoot some TV commercials at the Parlor this afternoon."
"How interesting! I ’v e never seen a commercial filmed. May I watch?"
He ducked his head and drew wet circles with his beer bottle. "Nah, you'd probably be bored. Molly's planning to take you shopping this afternoon."
"Why, Spider," she said, giving a wry grin, "I believe you're trying to get rid of me. What sort of commercials are you going to do?"
"Just some stuff tied in with the holidays in February," he mumbled. "Are you about ready to go?"
Burgers finished, they drove back to the Parlor. Anne was smiling and animated on the trip home. Just looking at her gave him a warm feeling. If she was happy, he was happy.
At breakfast when she'd talked about finding another place to live, he'd felt as if he'd been poleaxed. He didn't want her to leave. In fact, he thought, he'd like nothing better than to have her around permanently. But the complications.
Of course, the big numero uno always looming in his mind was that she was married. Although eventually that could be worked out. He didn't imagine she would stay hitched to that slimeball she was running from forever. In the meantime, he would keep his promise to her and his hands to himself. It might cause a little pain, but pain he could handle.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that there were a passel of other problems, too. Anne had big trouble. But until this friend of hers got back in town or until she learned to trust him, there wasn't a damned thing he could do to help her out of whatever mess she was in. All he could do was be patient, stand by her, and be her friend. He could take the pressure off and keep her safe behind him.
Molly Painter, the short, perky young woman who worked part-time for Spider, was anxiously awaiting their return.
Spider peeled two hundred-dollar bills from his money clip and handed them to Anne. "Will that be enough, squirt?" he asked Molly.
Molly rolled her blue eyes. "Give me a break." He handed her three more and Molly nodded.
"Here," he said, giving her another. "See if you can find some cowboy boots and a western shirt."
"What in the world for?" Anne asked.
The rodeo's coming up, sugar. Everybody dresses up for the rodeo. And buy something fancy." He peeled off another bill and grinned. "A present from me."
Anne started to argue, but he seemed so pleased with himself that she smiled and thanked him. Spider was the most generous man she'd ever met—not only with material things, but also with his time and concern. No wonder he had so many friends.
She stuffed the money in her purse, mentally adding the cash to the figure she owed Spider. At the moment, seven hundred dollars seemed like a fortune, but only a month ago she would have paid that much or more on a single sports outfit without giving it a second thought.
After she and Molly made a quick check of Anne's meager wardrobe to determine what clothes would be needed, they said their good-byes. As they buckled their seatbelts In Molly's little red car, Anne said, "I don't see how I can afford to buy too much."
Molly laughed as she zipped out of the parking lot. "You don't know the places that I do. I ’ ll bet you've never been to an outlet store or a resale shop."
"No, but Spider and I did go shopping."
"Oh, that's fine for jeans and stuff, but the stores I have in mind sell a different kind of merchandise — the kind you're used to."
Anne tensed. "How do you know what I'm used to?"
Molly shrugged. "I'm in clothing, remember? I recognized the quality of your silk blouse and wool slacks. Designer labels. Trust me, for what you paid for one blouse. I could have bought half a dozen similar ones for the same price."
"Half a dozen? Really?"
"Yep. It takes more time to shop, and you have to know where the bargains are." She grinned and gave her short, dark hair an exaggerated pat. "Lucky for you, I'm an expert, dahling."
Anne laughed at the saucy comment. "I appreciate your
"How interesting! I ’v e never seen a commercial filmed. May I watch?"
He ducked his head and drew wet circles with his beer bottle. "Nah, you'd probably be bored. Molly's planning to take you shopping this afternoon."
"Why, Spider," she said, giving a wry grin, "I believe you're trying to get rid of me. What sort of commercials are you going to do?"
"Just some stuff tied in with the holidays in February," he mumbled. "Are you about ready to go?"
Burgers finished, they drove back to the Parlor. Anne was smiling and animated on the trip home. Just looking at her gave him a warm feeling. If she was happy, he was happy.
At breakfast when she'd talked about finding another place to live, he'd felt as if he'd been poleaxed. He didn't want her to leave. In fact, he thought, he'd like nothing better than to have her around permanently. But the complications.
Of course, the big numero uno always looming in his mind was that she was married. Although eventually that could be worked out. He didn't imagine she would stay hitched to that slimeball she was running from forever. In the meantime, he would keep his promise to her and his hands to himself. It might cause a little pain, but pain he could handle.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that there were a passel of other problems, too. Anne had big trouble. But until this friend of hers got back in town or until she learned to trust him, there wasn't a damned thing he could do to help her out of whatever mess she was in. All he could do was be patient, stand by her, and be her friend. He could take the pressure off and keep her safe behind him.
Molly Painter, the short, perky young woman who worked part-time for Spider, was anxiously awaiting their return.
Spider peeled two hundred-dollar bills from his money clip and handed them to Anne. "Will that be enough, squirt?" he asked Molly.
Molly rolled her blue eyes. "Give me a break." He handed her three more and Molly nodded.
"Here," he said, giving her another. "See if you can find some cowboy boots and a western shirt."
"What in the world for?" Anne asked.
The rodeo's coming up, sugar. Everybody dresses up for the rodeo. And buy something fancy." He peeled off another bill and grinned. "A present from me."
Anne started to argue, but he seemed so pleased with himself that she smiled and thanked him. Spider was the most generous man she'd ever met—not only with material things, but also with his time and concern. No wonder he had so many friends.
She stuffed the money in her purse, mentally adding the cash to the figure she owed Spider. At the moment, seven hundred dollars seemed like a fortune, but only a month ago she would have paid that much or more on a single sports outfit without giving it a second thought.
After she and Molly made a quick check of Anne's meager wardrobe to determine what clothes would be needed, they said their good-byes. As they buckled their seatbelts In Molly's little red car, Anne said, "I don't see how I can afford to buy too much."
Molly laughed as she zipped out of the parking lot. "You don't know the places that I do. I ’ ll bet you've never been to an outlet store or a resale shop."
"No, but Spider and I did go shopping."
"Oh, that's fine for jeans and stuff, but the stores I have in mind sell a different kind of merchandise — the kind you're used to."
Anne tensed. "How do you know what I'm used to?"
Molly shrugged. "I'm in clothing, remember? I recognized the quality of your silk blouse and wool slacks. Designer labels. Trust me, for what you paid for one blouse. I could have bought half a dozen similar ones for the same price."
"Half a dozen? Really?"
"Yep. It takes more time to shop, and you have to know where the bargains are." She grinned and gave her short, dark hair an exaggerated pat. "Lucky for you, I'm an expert, dahling."
Anne laughed at the saucy comment. "I appreciate your
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