Page 33 of Creole Kingpin
“How’s it going, Yve?”
She smiles broadly. “Oh, you know, just another day in paradise.” Yve moves like a dancer as she gracefully gestures to the fixtures holding scores of beautiful dresses. “To what do I owe the pleasure today? It’s been a while.”
Yve and I struck up a friendship of sorts over the past few years since she took over the place and turned into one of the hottest boutiques in New Orleans. She and I don’t exactly come from similar backgrounds, but she’s no idiot or asshole, and I respect her drive. When she married Titan, she never had to work another day in her life, but she didn’t let that change her hustle. If anything, she’s even more ambitious now.
“I need a dress. Something ...” I pause, trying to decide exactly how to describe the reaction I want Moses to have. “Something to make a manache.”
Yve’s lips purse together in an intrigued pout. “Oh, girl. Please tell me you’re going to fill me in on this story while I find youexactlythat.”
“Maybe,” I say as I shrug like it’s no big thing. But one of Yve’s perfectly shaped eyebrows rises, and I have to wonder if she can see right through me.
“I just got a shipment in from a brand-new vendor, and her pieces are todiefor.No onehas seen a single one yet. We’re almost finished steaming them in the back, but ...”
I sense where she’s going. “But you’ll let me have first dibs if I tell you who I’m wearing it for?” I ask, sure I’m on the right track.
Her guilty grin makes her even more stunning. “Damn, you’re sharp. No wonder you’re one of my favorite customers.”
“Mm-hmm. I can smell the bullshit from here, Yve. Show me the dresses, and I’ll think about telling you.”
She studies me for a moment, her tongue tapping her teeth. “Fine. Only because I like you.”
Yve leads me into the back, where one of her employees is adjusting a dress’s skirt with one hand while gripping the steamer handle in another.
“Oh, that looks divine, Kayleigh,” Yve says. “Want to take the floor so I can show Magnolia our newest beauties?”
The girl, probably in her mid-twenties, jerks her head around when Yve says my name. Her face is easily readable, and I find the proof of my infamy stamped on it. She definitely knows who I am.
I used to find it amusing that my reputation preceded me wherever I went, but now ... it’s getting old. As Kayleigh smiles my way, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have complete anonymity again. For no one to know who I am or what I’ve done. It’s the most indulgent thought I’ve had in a long time, but I don’t get to dwell on it long.
“You’re gorgeous. Jesus. Wow.” Kayleigh blinks and lifts a hand to her mouth. “Sorry, that wasn’t exactly professional. It’s really nice to meet you.”
She holds out her hand, and I shake it. You’d think I’m a celebrity from the awestruck look on her face.
“Nice to meet you.”
The girl smiles broadly at Yve. “If you need any help, let me know. Also, not that you need my two cents, but the aubergine dress with the boning would look so bomb on her.”
“Ohhh ...” Yve makes an excited sound and claps her hands as Kayleigh disappears out of the back room to man the store. “She isnotwrong. And I’m pretty sure we have it in your size.”
The fact that Yve remembers my size when I haven’t been here in a few months says a lot about the kind of shopkeeper she is.
“Purple isn’t really my color—” The words coming out of my mouth die away as she pulls the most gorgeous dress off the rack and holds it out. “Damn. That’s adress.”
Even on the hanger, it looks stunning. The deep purple pencil dress is a perfect hourglass shape, sleeveless, and instead of being a V-neck, it curves down in front to a point. The skirt looks like it’ll hug my hips and thighs before stopping just above my knees. It’s classy as hell, but still sexy as fuck.
I meet Yve’s gaze. “Seriously? You show me one dress and it’s perfect? Are you a witchy woman or something?”
She winks at me. “I gotta give Kayleigh credit for this one, although I definitely would’ve shown it to you too. I have another one in red ...”
I shake my head. “No. Not red. Not for tonight. I’ll look like I’m trying too hard.”
Her perfectly shaped eyebrow goes up again. “You’re not even going to give me a hint? Because this feels ... different.”
“It is. Moses—” I cut off what I was about to say, shocked I revealed his name to her. I haven’t even told Keira about him.
And why is that, Mags?Ho-It-All chimes in, and I shut the inner voice down.
At my side, the quiet chime of a text message comes from my purse.
