curtain shop."
Zack chuckled, his earlier anger over the marriage debate fading. "I see. That would have been a shocker."
Jenna shrugged, looking at him warily. "Well, I do carry a few lace coverlets for beds and some lace tablecloths, but I tend to stick with more personal items."
"And that's working for you?"
"Yes, so far." Jenna sighed nonchalantly. "I tried to combine it all when I started, but there's so many superstore linen shops, I just couldn't compete. I do keep some lace-covered bridal books, accessories, veils, picnic baskets, and occasionally I custom order products for people."
"It's a classy place," Zack said sincerely. "And you have a good location so you probably get walk-in customers as well as return ones."
"I manage," she said with a sly smile. "A couple of large companies have approached me about franchising, but I prefer a more personal, intimate atmosphere. It's more unique. And I think the customers enjoy the individual attention I give them."
"If your shop's doing so well, why change your ad?"
"Well, like I said, some people think I only sell window treatments, and a lot of people come in just to look." Jenna glanced around the store. "Besides, it's always nice to expand your clientele. Change is good."
"That's what my dad always says about his wives. But at least he married them one at a time."
Jenna rolled her eyes.
"Uh, sorry," Zack mumbled, wondering what on earth made him bring that subject up again.
"So, now that you've seen the store, are you still interested?" Jenna asked.
Zack desperately tried to tamp down the urge to say yes, that he was interested. But not in her store, in her. "Yes, of course."
He couldn't help but admire Jenna's business sense. She wasn't simply attractive, she was smart. Simone's idea of ambition had been to have her nails and hair done on the same day.
A man who'd just come in pointed to a table filled with lotions and bubble baths. "Miss, I need some help over here."
"I'll be right there." Jenna tapped the gift box. "Well, I hope Simone enjoys the robe, Zack. Just give me a call when you put together some ideas. Thanks for stopping by."
Jenna dismissed him in a business-like voice, then rushed over to the dark-haired man. Zack watched her help the man select a jasmine fragrance, then a slinky blue silk gown—sophisticated but sexy. One of the gray-haired women held a basket filled with soaps and enough sprays to make her smell like a garden.
Zack shoved his package under his arm and headed for the door. Jenna wanted to expand her clientele? It seemed like a pretty diverse group to him. He'd have to give some thought to the ads she wanted and to what she specifically had in mind. What would he draw?
Something tasteful—hmm. That would be Jenna in one of those lacy bodystockings. Or maybe wearing nothing but that rose-scented spray. Now that would be tasty.
Sighing, he rubbed his face with his hands and opened the door. He had to stop these errant thoughts. Jenna obviously wanted a husband, and he couldn't help her with that.
But he could help her with an ad campaign. He'd concentrate on business and keep their relationship professional. No strings, no personal involvement.
Let her find some sucker in her silly Husband Hunting class. He was one guy who wasn't giving up his bachelorhood—not for any woman.
* * *
Jenna fanned her face as the evening heat tilled the shop. In spite of the killer summers, she still loved Atlanta. Yet, even with the air conditioning running full blast, perspiration dampened her forehead. Laughing softly, she silently admitted her uncomfortable state had more to do with Zack West than the soaring temperature outside.
He'd waltzed in, all six feet, four inches, and overpowered her little store. But that was nothing compared to how he'd looked standing next to all these fragile, silky underthings. Her imagination had gone berserk. She only hoped he hadn't noticed. Then again, why would he?
He was broken-hearted over
Zack chuckled, his earlier anger over the marriage debate fading. "I see. That would have been a shocker."
Jenna shrugged, looking at him warily. "Well, I do carry a few lace coverlets for beds and some lace tablecloths, but I tend to stick with more personal items."
"And that's working for you?"
"Yes, so far." Jenna sighed nonchalantly. "I tried to combine it all when I started, but there's so many superstore linen shops, I just couldn't compete. I do keep some lace-covered bridal books, accessories, veils, picnic baskets, and occasionally I custom order products for people."
"It's a classy place," Zack said sincerely. "And you have a good location so you probably get walk-in customers as well as return ones."
"I manage," she said with a sly smile. "A couple of large companies have approached me about franchising, but I prefer a more personal, intimate atmosphere. It's more unique. And I think the customers enjoy the individual attention I give them."
"If your shop's doing so well, why change your ad?"
"Well, like I said, some people think I only sell window treatments, and a lot of people come in just to look." Jenna glanced around the store. "Besides, it's always nice to expand your clientele. Change is good."
"That's what my dad always says about his wives. But at least he married them one at a time."
Jenna rolled her eyes.
"Uh, sorry," Zack mumbled, wondering what on earth made him bring that subject up again.
"So, now that you've seen the store, are you still interested?" Jenna asked.
Zack desperately tried to tamp down the urge to say yes, that he was interested. But not in her store, in her. "Yes, of course."
He couldn't help but admire Jenna's business sense. She wasn't simply attractive, she was smart. Simone's idea of ambition had been to have her nails and hair done on the same day.
A man who'd just come in pointed to a table filled with lotions and bubble baths. "Miss, I need some help over here."
"I'll be right there." Jenna tapped the gift box. "Well, I hope Simone enjoys the robe, Zack. Just give me a call when you put together some ideas. Thanks for stopping by."
Jenna dismissed him in a business-like voice, then rushed over to the dark-haired man. Zack watched her help the man select a jasmine fragrance, then a slinky blue silk gown—sophisticated but sexy. One of the gray-haired women held a basket filled with soaps and enough sprays to make her smell like a garden.
Zack shoved his package under his arm and headed for the door. Jenna wanted to expand her clientele? It seemed like a pretty diverse group to him. He'd have to give some thought to the ads she wanted and to what she specifically had in mind. What would he draw?
Something tasteful—hmm. That would be Jenna in one of those lacy bodystockings. Or maybe wearing nothing but that rose-scented spray. Now that would be tasty.
Sighing, he rubbed his face with his hands and opened the door. He had to stop these errant thoughts. Jenna obviously wanted a husband, and he couldn't help her with that.
But he could help her with an ad campaign. He'd concentrate on business and keep their relationship professional. No strings, no personal involvement.
Let her find some sucker in her silly Husband Hunting class. He was one guy who wasn't giving up his bachelorhood—not for any woman.
* * *
Jenna fanned her face as the evening heat tilled the shop. In spite of the killer summers, she still loved Atlanta. Yet, even with the air conditioning running full blast, perspiration dampened her forehead. Laughing softly, she silently admitted her uncomfortable state had more to do with Zack West than the soaring temperature outside.
He'd waltzed in, all six feet, four inches, and overpowered her little store. But that was nothing compared to how he'd looked standing next to all these fragile, silky underthings. Her imagination had gone berserk. She only hoped he hadn't noticed. Then again, why would he?
He was broken-hearted over
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