“Youhad a great time because you had a date,” Caroline said, throwing Will a quick look. “Besides, cleaning up after a bunch of stupid Meryton teenagers is not my idea of fun.”
“Agreed.” Will’s mind immediately flitted back to watching Elsie fall on her backside in front of the dumpster, and he smiled. Well, it wasn’t all miserable.
Caroline left her room and sidled up to Will in her silky boxer shorts. Will wasn’t immune to her beauty. Caroline was an attractive little thing, there was no denying it. But she also held more than a slight resemblance to her older brother and was the most determined woman he’d ever met. At least when it came to him. He was fairly positive she thought she could wear him down if she tried hard enough.
“You need a shower, Will.” She leaned into his chest and sniffed his shirt, her hands coming up to grip each side.
“Well, I’m off to bed.” Charlie gave Will a wink and headed down the hall. The jerk.
Will unleashed himself from Caroline and retreated behind his door, practically closing it on her face. “Goodnight,” he called out, turning the lock. He should really consider finding new friends. Preferably ones whose sister didn’t stare at him like the last brownie on the dessert tray.
***
Elsie rang up another order and slid five pizza boxes across the counter. Just a few more hours. A few more hours and she could wash the pizza smell out of her hair. It was a shame about those three cavities earlier this year. Who knew simple dental work could be so expensive without insurance? Also expensive: Shopaholic sisters. The only recent major expense she didn’t regret was the beautiful new heat press that would take their business to the next level.
There were so many online T-shirt businesses. It made her proud that she and Jane had held on, carving out a spot in the vast internet shopping universe and cultivating loyal repeat customers. Someday soon, she’d be able to quit here and work on the business full time. Until then, she’d continue to prod Gerald along and deal with the irritated customers waiting on their pizza.
The bell above the restaurant jangled and a set of familiar giggles met Elsie’s ears. Lydia and Kat. They were followed by two good-looking guys in leather jackets.
“Hi, Elsie!” Lydia called out. “I want you to meet our new friends.”
“Can you hook us up with some free pizza?” Kat asked, without shame.
“Kat, is that any way to treat your lovely sister?” One of the guys pulled out his wallet and stepped up to the counter. “I’m Jeff Wickham. It’s nice to finally meet you. Your sisters talk about you all the time.”
“Only good things,” Lydia added, with a laugh. She and Kat exchanged glances. Elsie had no doubt that was a lie.
“This is Denny,” Kat said, snaking an arm around him. “We met them in L.A. last week and they came down to visit us. Isn’t that so amazing?”
“Amazing,” Elsie echoed, turning to give Gerald the order for two pepperoni pizzas.
She turned back around and tried not to stare at Jeff, who was leaning on the counter, watching her with appreciative eyes. She was too old to let her heart jump at a little male attention. The guy was friendly, that was all.
“Lydia says you have a T-shirt business.”
“Yep.”
“She’s probably wearing one now,” Lydia said, fiddling with the free pizza-shaped magnets on the back of the soda fountain. “Under that hideous work apron.”
Elsie blushed. Wearing the Will revenge shirt only seemed like a good idea in the comfort of her home. All her earlier bravado slipped away, leaving only embarrassment.
They stared at her expectantly and she felt dumb with her arms wrapped protectively around her waist. She was being paranoid. Lydia and Kat hadn’t even met Will, and even if they had, it wasn’t a perfect likeness. She slipped off her apron and squared her shoulders, letting them have a look.
“The Me Monster?” Kat asked. “I don’t get it.”
“Me either.” Lydia went back to playing with the magnets. “Elsie has a strange sense of humor, Jeff. You’ll have to get used to it.”
“I get it,” Jeff said, meeting Elsie’s eyes with a knowing smile. “Looks just like him. How do you know Will Darcy?”
Elsie’s eyes widened. “Promise you won’t tell him.” She put the apron back on quickly. This was the worst kind of coincidence.
Jeff leaned over and lightly tapped her on the nose. “As long as I get a shirt like that.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I only made this one for me. I wasn’t planning on selling them.”
“You should. It would serve him right. He’s a twit.”
The bell jangled again and Jeff, Denny, and her sisters stepped back so she could help the new customers. She tried to focus on her job and not the nagging worries over what she might have let loose. How well did Jeff know Will? And what had Will done to make Jeff dislike him so much? Did he go around offending people everywhere he went? Well, that one was an easy guess.
