His brows knitted together, and he opened the death threat. Dutch quickly shoved it away. “Do you think I would write something so crass?”
“I don’t know what you’re capable of. We barely know each other. So you didn’t leave this outside my shop?”
He gave me an indignant look and wiped at the wine stain that had already set in his pants. “I suppose you also think I’m responsible for breaking your window? Tread carefully, Miss Church. You walk a fine line between curiosity and slander. An unfounded accusation like that could ruin my business and reputation. But I suppose you already know that. Coming here was a mistake.”
Maybe it was.
As I saw Dutch to the door and handed him his jacket, I wondered if I’d just made an enemy.
Chapter 17
The next morning was the start of a glorious day. Nothing but miles of blue sky and sunshine. While Naya watched over the store, I decided to pay Asia a visit and find out which way the decision had gone with the household. More importantly, I wanted to make myself available to resolve any unanswered questions.
The wind tunneled through the open windows of my car while an old Tori Amos song played on the radio. When I drove past the spot where I’d first met Tak, I thought of him. I wondered if I should visit his motel room to see if he’d changed his mind and left town. Was he thinking about me? Did he have any desire to pursue me once he settled matters with Lakota? My mother had taught me that a woman shouldn’t be too easy—that she should be the ever-elusive catch that every man dreams of, and no great catch pitches herself into the fisherman’s boat.
Did I want to be caught?
And more importantly, did I want Tak to be that man? We’d only just met, and yet every time my thoughts drifted to him, I wanted to know more. Did he always braid his hair? Did he like to cook, or was he just trying to impress me? What were his hobbies? How many women had he slept with?
What did he look like in the shower?
I laughed and adjusted my visor. Tak was probably napping in front of the television without a single thought of me crossing his mind. Once Lakota returned and they settled their dispute, Tak would be out of here. No doubt his wolf was going stir-crazy in the city.
When I reached Asia’s homestead, I parked my car in the circular driveway and spied a woman off to the left, chasing a cat with a broom. It must be difficult for a bird Shifter to roam freely without worrying about predators.
Asia rounded the corner on the right side of the house, a straw hat on her head. “Hey, girl!” Her flip-flops slapped against the soles of her feet as she hurried to greet me. “I wasn’t expecting you today. Why didn’t you call? I would have made lunch.”
I raked my fingers through my tangled hair and squinted. “I don’t like talking business over the phone if I don’t have to. Do you have a few minutes? I have news.”
“Oh, I love news! Come inside. We have sweet tea in the fridge. I like hot tea better, but I’m the only one around here who drinks it.” She led me through the house. “Go sit out back, and I’ll bring it to you.”
I ventured out to the back patio, where the overhead ceiling fans spun in lazy circles. The shaded concrete had wet spots that were already drying out, and water glistened on the feathery blades of a hanging fern. I took a seat at the round glass table, the cushioned chair rocking back and forth.
“Here we go,” she sang. Asia set down green plastic cups and then wiped the tabletop with a kitchen towel. “So dirty. I clean this table every day, and it still gets a film of green gunk.”
“Probably pollen,” I said, sipping my drink. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Well, it bothersme.” The rag squeaked against the glass as she polished a dirty spot before finally sitting down. “Whew! I picked some fresh vegetables from my garden this morning, so remind me to send a bag home with you.” After a gulp of tea, she tossed her floppy hat on the table and looked at me with excitement stirring in her eyes. “So? What’s the big news?”
Condensation dripped down my glass and over my fingers. “Your feathers sold out the first day.”
Asia gasped, her mouth agape. “Shut up!”
“We sold everything I had before noon. People were leaving their names and numbers on a waiting list for the next shipment.”
She slapped her knee. “Hot diggity! And they’re paying full price?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course they are.”
She traced her finger around her lips, eyes looking upward as if deep in thought. Her shoulder-length hair shone like moonlight over black waters. In normal conversation, I would have complimented it. But not wanting to derail the topic, I stayed focused on my goal.
“You wouldn’t happen to have any extra feathers lying around, would you?” I asked hopefully.
“Some aren’t good enough to sell. Sometimes they’re broken, or the vane separates.”
“I’ll buy whatever you’ve got that looks clean. That might take care of those on the waiting list. I hate to pressure you, but you’ve had a few days to think it over, and I don’t want to keep taking preorders if we’re not going to do business together. It’s not fair to the customers. They’re excited about the jewelry, Asia. It’s going to be a huge success, and you won’t regret it. I need to know by tonight if we can enter a partnership, but I’m not able to draw up a contract unless you can secure the inventory with your suppliers.”
“Suppliers,” she pondered aloud. The ice clinked in her glass as she gulped down her tea. “These girls… I don’t know about them. But I have a few good friends who are interested in selling me their feathers. Doesn’t that make me a middleman? How do I know you won’t go around me and deal with them directly?”
