Something flashed across his face when I saidbra-and-panty sets.I was probably making him uncomfortable. I forgot that not everyone spent the day talking about lingerie.
"If you give me your schedule, I won't stop by on those days."
"That's probably a good idea." And something I should have considered.
I hung the original red outfit on a hanger, stepping back to admire it. I'd need to wash it, and it would become part of my collection. I wouldn't sell any of the things I wore today.
He cleared his throat, and I wondered if seeing me touching the lingerie made him nervous. "You want to see what progress I made in the back?"
"Sure," I said as I followed him into the break room. "Wow. The carpet is gone."
"I'll take it to my truck before I leave. There was linoleum underneath and another layer under that. I haven't made it to the subfloor yet."
"I didn't realize you'd planned to do any work today."
"I was just going to check on the progress, but the carpet was holding that mildew smell. I had to get rid of it." There was a restless energy coming off Hudson I couldn't quite place.
I was mortified that he'd seen me wearing practically nothing for that photo shoot. Originally, I thought I'd bring my stock to Wynter's shop, and she'd take pictures in her private studio. Instead, she'd insisted on doing it at my store.
I'd pulled the blinds down and locked the door, but I hadn’t thought about the fact that Eve would have given Hudson a key so he could get in, and make repairs.
When I returned from the dressing room, I hadn't even realized Hudson was there at first. When I saw him kneeling, my heart dropped through the floor.
I should have been embarrassed to be seen in that state of undress. It was, at the very least, unprofessional.
But I'd felt his gaze on me, and it made me feel desirable in a way I hadn't in a long time. I was sexy, or at least that's what Wynter had been telling me all afternoon when she snapped picture after picture.
I wasn't sure I should be the face of the shop, but I was the cheapest model I could find. Wynter assured me that customers would like the personal touch. "It looks like you got a lot done."
"Thought I'd get a head start."
Had he realized I still had his sweatshirt and slept in it every night because it was so comfortable and smelled like him? It made me feel like I had a high-school boyfriend all over again.
But we were adults. I shouldn't be thinking about any of those things. I was attracted to Hudson, but nothing could ever come from it. I'd gone on a few dates since my divorce from Gus, but I hadn't connected with anyone. No one was worth getting to know better or introducing to Ayla.
My focus had to be on the business and her. I wouldn't let anything pull me away from my responsibilities.
"I'll take another look at the wood floors to see what we can salvage and what need to be replaced. Once the materials are in,I can replace the pipes. I'm getting a crew together now, so the work shouldn't take long."
"That sounds good." Every time he was near, my blood simmered, and I was hyperaware of his every move.
But at the same time, I couldn't reopen my shop until the pipes were replaced. I knew it wouldn't happen before Christmas, and it sucked that I was missing out on the busy shopping season.
I'd done a few pop-ups during the day at the malls this week, but those weren't as successful as they'd been in the past. No one knew that I was doing them again, and the malls were busier in the evenings and weekends when I had Ayla.
I didn't like taking her to those because I was selling underwear and some people frowned on a child being around. I couldn't forget Bill's sneer whenever he saw me.
The front door of the store opened.
Hudson raised a brow. "Are you expecting someone?"
"It's Ayla. She just got off the bus and probably wants a hot chocolate or a pastry from Sweet Dreams."
"I'll get back to work then."
Ayla yelled, "Mom! Where are you?"
"In the back with Mr. Sterling," I called.
