CHAPTER 1
ANGELA
The silk was soft against my skin as I turned to view my newest acquisition in the mirror. The silky two-piece set was light blue with lace edges.
I turned and looked over my shoulder; the hem stopped above the swell of my ass. The cool air in the dressing room caused my nipples to pebble under the soft material. I snapped several photos, wondering if I should use these images for the website or hire Wynter, the photographer in town, to do a photo shoot.
I could pose, but was my body perfect enough to be a lingerie model? Probably not. I wouldn't put on wings and strut down a runway anytime soon, even if my name was Angela.
Cold water licked at my toes, and I yelped. I stood frozen in place as more water gushed under the dressing room door. It was freezing. I jumped onto the ottoman, clutching my phone to my chest.
Had I left water running somewhere? There was a kitchen and a bathroom in the back of the shop, but I couldn't remember leaving anything on.
If there was standing water, I had a big problem. I could call the town's coordinator, Eve Palmer, but my first call should be toa plumber. All our repairs and renovations were handled by the Sterling Brothers, who owned a contracting business.
I called the general line for Sterling Brothers, hoping they had an answering service for after hours. From my perch, I shivered, waiting for the phone to ring, watching the water drift higher.
"Sterling Brothers. How can I help you?" a woman's voice came over the line.
"I have a bit of a situation. There's standing water in my shop, Tempting Dreams in Christmas Town. I'm wondering if you could send someone to check it out?" My voice trembled.
"Sure. I'll let Hudson know. Hold please."
I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. My clothes had been lying on the floor and were now soaking wet. I couldn't get dressed or even cover myself with anything. I was stuck unless I wanted to wade through the water in my bare feet.
I was debating the intelligence of something like that when a male voice came on the line. "Hudson Sterling."
My heart rate increased at the sound of his deep voice. I'd seen him around town but never spoken to him directly. "I have standing water in my shop, and I'm not sure what to do."
"Did you turn the water off?" Exasperation filled his tone.
I chewed my lip as the water drifted higher. "I don't know where the valve is."
"Is there a basement or an unfinished area?"
I shook my head even though he couldn't see me. "No basement."
"The valve might be in a laundry room or a break room then. Wherever you have a water source."
"Break room," I said as I tentatively stepped off the ottoman into the water, which was now inches deep.
I heard the clank of keys. "See if you can get it turned off. I'll be right there."
He clicked off the call, and I opened the door to the dressing room, scared of what I might find. It was eerily silent as water rushed from the break room. I waded through the water, hoping I wouldn't run into anything sharp.
I had visions of blood running down my leg and an infection. But I was catastrophizing when I needed to remain calm.
I shivered, the cold seeping through my skin. I kept my arms wrapped around my chest, wading through the water. I stumbled on an object, landing hard on my knees. I shifted onto my hands, bracing myself in the water while it soaked the silk of my outfit.
Now I was completely drenched, and I still hadn't made it to the break room. I braced a hand onto the wall as I slowly shifted to my feet.
When I reached the break room, I saw the water gushing from a hole in the wall. It had to be a busted pipe.
When I rented the space, I knew it was an older building, but Eve and Natasha assured me that they were working on necessary repairs and renovations. It was a large-scale project, and things took time. I never suspected that something like this could happen in my store.
I scanned the room for anything that looked like a water shut-off valve. When I saw it, I crossed the room and climbed onto a chair, struggling with the handle. It wouldn't budge. My arms were stretched over my head, and I was pulling with all my might.
The more water that escaped, the less likely it was that I'd have a shop to reopen anytime soon. The panic made my throat tighten, and I used every bit of force I possessed.
