Page 18 of Heaven Help Me

I get busy opening my shop, hoping I’ll get lost in the work and forget about Valentina entirely. I’m just flipping the sign to open when an unfamiliar gray sedan drives by, a lone man driving it. I don’t know who he is and I know every regular in this town. He doesn’t look like one of the college students’ parents either. I don’t like the way he eyes my boutique for far too long.

“Did you see that guy?” I ask over my shoulder to Valentina. She’s busy checking out the price tag on one of the suits on the mannequin.

“Holy shit. And I thought women’s clothes were expensive.”

“Language, Landry,” I sigh.

Instead of answering me, she leans in close. So close I can smell her shampoo and some sort of lotion on her skin. It’s all fruity and no spice. Way too feminine for the Valentina I know. Maybe she overnighted a different scent along with the shoes?

“Are you sure this isn’t all a front for money laundering?” she whispers urgently.

I forget all about the guy outside and gape at the woman. “No! Of course not. This is a high-end men’s boutique.”

She shrugs like laundering money isn’t something to be ashamed of. “Just seems like a perfect front. Who’s buying suits for this much money?”

I put my hand on her back and push her toward the back storage room. Maybe I can keep her contained back there. “Lots of people, actually. I don’t do that shady shit, Val—Landry.” Not one customer has come inside yet, but I really need to practice. “Here. Why don’t you use this table to work on your stuff? Save the sales floor for actual sales of suits.”

She rolls her eyes, but takes a seat in the chair. “I didn’t mean any offense.” I get her some water and make sure she has everything she needs to make calls and take notes.

Lottie pokes her head in the back, startling me. “Mornin’, boss! Sergio from Armani called again. Wants a firm answer on that modeling gig in New York next month? Oh. Hi. Sorry. I didn’t see you had someone back here.”

I straighten away from Valentina, though I keep my hand on her shoulder. “Lottie, this is Landry, my girlfriend. Landry, this is the best assistant who’s ever assisted.”

Lottie quickly smothers the look of shock over me announcing I have a girlfriend. She steps into the storage room and shakes Valentina’s hand. “So nice to meet you! Wow. Okay. Well, this is great news.”

Valentina smiles back. “Yes, yes it is. Nice to meet you too. If I can help in any way today, you just⁠—”

I pat Valentina’s shoulder and cut her off. “You’ll be too busy planning the Battle of the Boutiques, pookie.”

Lottie’s eyes go wide. “Oh wow. Yeah. Definitely focus on that.” She looks back at me. “Sergio?”

“Tell him I can’t do it.”

“Okay.” Lottie heads back to the sales floor. “Really nice to meet you, Landry!” she calls over her shoulder.

As soon as she’s gone, Valentina elbows my thigh. “What the fuck? Modeling for Armani? Why’d you say no?”

“Language, Landry.” I rub my thigh. It was already sore from our run, let alone her pointy elbow digging into it. “It’s in New York.”

“So? You’d make decent money, wouldn’t you?”

“We’re keeping a low profile, Landry, remember? We can’t go to New York right now!” God, it’s like she doesn’t remember that she’s a wanted woman in New York.

Valentina shrugs. “Just seems like a good opportunity. Hate to see you turn it down.”

Now it’s my turn to shrug. “I’ve modeled for them before and they’ll ask again.”

I have to admit, I like the way Valentina’s eyes widen at that information. It’s like she thinks I’m some sort of poor suit salesman, trying to eke out a living selling cheap polyester out of the trunk of my car. I wonder if Bettina gave her that impression or if she came to it all on her own. Either way, it irks me. Just because I chose to walk away from the family business in New York doesn’t mean I’m an unsuccessful idiot living in the country.

“Deuce?” another woman’s voice calls from the doorway.

We both turn to see Janie Brook, a city council member, with a binder in her arms that looks like it’s about to explode. I rush over and take the binder from her. She gives me a relieved smile of thanks as she shakes out her arms.

“Landry, this is Janie from the city council. Janie, this is Landry.” I make the introduction and place the binder on the table in front of Valentina.

“Oh, Landry, we are so happy you volunteered to take on the Battle of the Boutiques. We couldn’t expect poor Mary London to run it with a newborn in her arms, now could we? It’s too much work for just one person, so feel free to ask around for volunteers to help you. Not me though.” Janie laughs nervously. “I can’t take on one more thing, no sir, no ma’am.”

Valentina’s face goes a shade paler than normal. “Oh sure. Yeah, I’m…excited…to get started.”