Page 181 of Torrid Passion
CHAPTER 29
Kyla
“Finally! New stock!” Charlene says when Stella, Hayden and I walk into Red Carpet Ready, arms weighed down by nearly-designer-wear.
“Yay!” Stella cheers, lifting her free hand above her head.
“We can finally fill the back orders,” Hayden says.
“And the store won’t look bare,” Stella adds.
“Thank God. I thought I was going to start selling the fixtures,” Charlene laughs.
“Right?” Stella says.
“It’s a good problem to have, ladies,” Hayden says.
She was spot on across the board. She predicted a few home runs and she was right. She also predicted coral would be the surprise color of the season. It was. Pre-award season was crazy at the shop, resulting in many of the most popular selections selling out. By the time the Emmys aired, Red Carpet Ready was running really low on stock. No doubt the People's Choice Awards, later this year, will also result in some serious stock shortage. Many customers have already placed their orders for Christmas parties. Can you believe it? They want a near-version copy of what their fave celebrities wore on the red carpet. In other words, business is good for my cousins.
“There’s more in Stella’s Range Rover,” I say dropping the pile I’m carrying on one of the empty display tables.
“Great,” Charlene says.
“Yeah, but there’s more at the warehouse,” Stella says.
“Way more,” Hayden stresses. “Six and a half hours of digging into boxes, and it seems we’ve barely made a dent.”
The delivery truck showed up at nine, but my cousins and I––along with the warehouse staff––have been at it since six this morning to get everything set up and fill customers’ back orders. It’s four now and believe it or not, we’re running on caffeine and a couple of protein smoothies. I’m so going to crash when I get back to the guesthouse.
“The truck coming from the warehouse with the remaining stock will be here within the hour, traffic permitting,” Hayden says. “We brought these so we can restock asap.”
“In other words, we won’t be out of here by seven,” Charlene sighs.
“I’m afraid no one is going home early,” Stella says. “Not even the warehouse staff since they’re waiting on another shipment that should arrive before six.”
“We’re all in this together,” Hayden says.
“Absolutely!” I say.
“And we’ve called in Jenny, Carol and Brooke as backup,” Hayden says. They work part-time. “They’ll be in right before we close.”
“We’ll order wood fired pizzas from Uncle Luigi's, put out some loud pumping music and we’ll restock, restock, restock!” Stella cheers.
“I think dessert is in order,” I say.
“Deal!” Stella agrees. “Homemade cookies for everybody!”
“You’re not going home to your man?” Charlene asks me.
“I’m single tonight,” I say. “He’s away on business.”
“I see,” she nods. “Still no chance of you hooking me up with one of your man’s cousins?” Charlene asks. Once she discovered Loki’s connection to Random Misconception, she nearly lost her head.
“Back of the line!” Stella snaps. “Hayden and I are family and we get first dibs. And trust me, we’ve been begging.”
“Some of us have made it our mission to beg,” Hayden teases.
Stella’s head whips to her cousin. “As if you aren’t dying for Beckett to notice you.”
