Free Six Guns: Volume Two by Sara V. Zook Page B

you.”
    Stan stood then and shook my hand as we embraced again. “This is really mine?”
    “All yours,” I told him again, my eyes going to the open door where Lilah had slipped out. Now to explain that to her. “Come on man,” I said, “Let me show you around your new pad.”

SIX
    CROSS
     
     
    “My job here is almost done.” Victoria looked around the large room that made up most of my beautiful boutique—my dream—and admired all of the work we’d put in together over the past few weeks.
    The CAIN DESIGNS sign had been placed days ago, and already we had some press urging us for some details on a story they could run in the local newspapers on what type of clothing would be sold, opening day times, but mostly they seemed interested in the name I chose for the store. It was causing the kind of attention I’d been hoping it would cause. So far everything was going as planned. Opening day was right around the corner.
    “I have to admit, I’ll be sad to be moving on.” Victoria’s bottom lip protruded a little bit. “I have so loved working with you, dear Lilah.”
    I walked over and gave Victoria a hug. I’d been nervous working with such a high profile designer in the beginning, but now we’d become close friends. She was a little fake for my taste, always talking in that sweet, almost-baby tone, flashing a smile just to get the attention of someone more popular, but all in all, this had been a wonderful experience. Actually, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and one I wouldn’t have had if not for Nicky. He told me he would make my dream a reality, and he certainly did. Now I was nervous for opening day, but I tried to push that out of my mind for now and work on finishing up details.
    Victoria walked to the far end of the room, her heels clicking against the elegant marble floor. “What about that door?” she asked, pointing to the far wall. “You said not to touch it, but why?”
    I gave her a small smile and shrugged. “It leads to another room. Nicky told me to leave it be, that he was going to have someone come in later on and arrange things in there.”
    “Nicky’s going to use it?” Victoria’s dark painted-on eyebrows rose.
    I pressed my lips together for a moment. “I think he’s going to turn it into an office space for himself or something.” Really, I didn’t know what he was going to use it for, but he’d told me to let it alone, so I’d obliged. What did I care what it was used for anyway?
    “Hmm…” Victoria placed a finger to her lips, her eyes still plastered to the closed door. “Interesting.” But she didn’t bother saying anything more after that. “Well, dear, I have lunch plans.” She walked back over to me and kissed me on the cheek. “Call you later?”
    I nodded. “Thanks, Victoria—for everything.”
    She grinned and spun abruptly on her heels before exiting the building.
    I sat down at my large desk and took in the scenery. This was all mine. It belonged to me. What a surreal feeling. Tears came into my eyes as I thought about how last year at this time I’d been with Mark and how terrible my life had been. My, how things had drastically changed—for the better. I owed a lot to Nicky. Meeting him was the best thing to happen to me. I was now living the kind of life I’d always thought I’d deserved. I smiled as I continued to take in my surroundings before pulling over a stack of paperwork and starting to get some work done in the peace and quiet of the vacant store.
    The front door buzzed sometime later, catching my attention. My head shot up in surprise to see a man dressed in a top of the line suit looking around. Shit. I should’ve locked the front door after Victoria stepped out.
    Slicking back the stray strands of hair on the sides of my head, I stood and plastered on my best professional face as I rose from my desk to greet him.
    “I’m sorry, I’m not open yet,” I said in a loud tone.
    The man turned my way, his striking blue