“Too expensive?” I asked, then threw another gumdrop in my mouth, tasting the sour crystals against my tongue.
“Too much competition, it turns out. Although none of the other people vying for the property care about keeping the bar open. They just want to develop the land.”
“What can you do about it?”
She shrugged. “Hell if I know. It wasn’t like I had any fierce competition or big business challenges when I opened up this place. Who would have imagined there would be a legitimate corporation interested in purchasing a rundown old building like the bar?”
“Is there a city redevelopment project down the block?” I asked sarcastically. “That sure seems to throw a wrench in things.”
“Actually,” Georgia answered, grabbing a couple more gumdrops from the bag, “there is. Well, two blocks away, I suppose. But it is part of the same project we’re wrestling with.”
“I hope it doesn’t all have to fall apart. I know how much you want to own that bar.”
She put a mitt on her hand, then pointed it at me. “I’d ask you to pull strings, but that doesn’t seem to get me anywhere. I swear, the communications firm your lover boy put me in touch with is even worse at communication than the city. I’ve been exchanging phone calls and emails all week with no luck.”
I felt a strange urge to defend Dominick but knew that was silly. Georgia wasn’t even dealing with him anymore. “I’m sure once Jacqueline gets on it, the communications firm will be praying for a minute of silence. Do you remember when the electricity company tried to overbill our whole neighborhood?”
Georgia laughed. “She was waiting at the office every day, nine in the morning, rain or shine. Maybe I should send her after Zed Four, too.”
“Zed Four?” My ears perked up. “That’s the name of the corporation that bought the old Zing Pop building.”
Georgia rolled her eyes. “Figures. They’re probably gobbling up properties near development sites to sell them later. Typical shady behavior.” She shook her head, like she was clearing her mind. “But that’s not why you came over here. Something up?”
I sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, glancing down the aisles of the shop. “As a matter of fact, I needed your help with something.”
“You finally going to join a sports league? Because I happen to think you would look very cute in some tennis shorts.”
I laughed. “No league for me, but I’m glad you feel that way about the shorts.” I dropped my voice to nearly a whisper, then leaned across the counter. “Dominick asked me to come up with something fun for our date this weekend.”
“Oh yes?” she purred. “Do go on.”
I glanced down the aisles again, making sure that no one was close enough to hear us.
“Well, I thought maybe I could get some equipment from you?”
She stared at me with wide eyes and a big grin. “Some sports equipment?”
I pursed my lips together. Of course Georgia wouldn’t make this easy. “A few things for us to play with,” I whispered.
“To play with…?”
I groaned. “Fine,” I said quickly. “For spanking.”
“Ohhhh,” Georgia answered, chuckling to herself. “I see. Well, good news for you. We have many things that could be repurposed for…” she dropped her voice to a whisper, “spanking things.”
I laughed and rubbed my hand across my forehead. “Okay, are you done humiliating me now? Because I’m about to drop some serious cash at your store.”
Georgia rose to her feet. “I’ll give you a good deal. After all, the shopping is going to be as fun for me as it is for you. So tell me, what are we thinking? Paddles? Maybe a tennis racket?” She pointed to a display of riding crops, arching an eyebrow. “This would pack quite a punch, I’m sure.”
I made a littleeepnoise inadvertently and pushed her hand down. “I’m not really looking for a big punch,” I said. “More like some fun accessories?”
“Such as?”
I sighed, glancing down the aisle one more time, then leaned all the way across the counter to whisper in Georgia’s ear. When I pulled back, she let out a slow whistle. “That is going to be one very happy businessman,” she said, popping the last gumdrop in her mouth.
“Either that,” I answered, “or one very disappointed baseball player.”
