Silent Night 2 Read Free

turned to see Arlene Smith, the cosmetics department supervisor, glaring at her disapprovingly, her bony arms crossed tightly in front of her gray suit jacket.
    â€œReva, you were inexcusably rude to that customer,” Ms. Smith, as she liked to be called, said through clenched teeth.
    â€œHe’ll probably survive,” Reva replied dryly.
    â€œBut will the store survive?” Ms. Smith demanded angrily.
    Reva rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Ms. Smith,” she said, emphasizing the Ms. “But you really shouldn’t get on my case just because you’re having a bad hair day!”
    Ms. Smith narrowed her eyes menacingly. “I’m going to talk to your father about this, Reva. Your attitude has not improved.”
    â€œI wish you would talk to him,” Reva said with a sigh. “I didn’t want to come back to the store this Christmas. But my father made me. He said it would be good for me.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s good for any of us,” Ms. Smith replied huffily. She made her way across the department, taking angry strides, her high heels clicking on the hard floor.
    Where did she get those shoes? At a blacksmith’s? Reva asked herself, chuckling.
    She raised her hands and examined her nails. They were long and perfect, and the night before she had coated them with a new shade of purple. Just for fun she had put a black dot in the center of each nail. She knew it would drive Ms. Smith crazy.
    Even though it was early, not yet ten o’clock, the store had begun to fill up with eager Christmas shoppers. Reva watched a very plump woman across the aisle trying to squeeze between two racks of pocketbooks. “How about eating a salad once in a while!” she called to the woman, knowing she couldn’t be heard over the din.
    Reva reached under the counter and pulled up the tall bottle of Evian water she kept there. She took a sip, then stopped when she saw a familiar figure loping down the aisle toward her. Kyle Storer. The usual grin on his face.
    Kyle thought he was so hot. He had been hitting on Reva ever since school vacation had started and they both began working at Dalby’s. But she had refused to go out with him.
    Why? He was too eager.
    Now here he was, coming to try again. Reva groaned to herself, watching him approach, his green eyes twinkling. Kyle wore tan chinos over black boots, and a blue- and white-checked western-style shirt with a navy blue string tie.
    Cute. Real cute, Reva thought scornfully. What a cowboy. Maybe he’s coming over here to yodel.
    â€œHey—whussup?” Kyle asked, his grin growing wider. “Whussup, Reva?”
    â€œWhat are you supposed to be?” Reva asked, staring at his string tie.
    Kyle’s grin faded. “Huh? You mean my tie? You like it?”
    â€œI’m kind of busy,” Reva said. “Hint-hint.”
    Kyle ignored her cold reception. “The store’s really crowded already,” he said, glancing around. “Guess your dad is raking it in today, huh?” He laughed as if he had just made a joke.
    â€œKyle, I really can’t talk,” Reva insisted. “I already got in trouble with Ms. Smith this morning.”
    Why can’t he take a hint? Reva wondered. If he asks me out again, he’s going to be sorry.
    â€œYou doing anything Saturday night?” Kyle asked, leaning over the glass counter.
    Reva shot her hand out, tipping over the bottle of Evian water. “Oh! I’m sorry!” she cried, watching the water spill down the front of Kyle’s chinos.
    Kyle took a step back, his mouth dropping open as he saw the big wet stain on the front of his pants.
    â€œHow embarrassing!” Reva cried with mock sympathy. “Kyle, what will the customers think?”
    Kyle shrugged and tried to act cool, but his face was bright red. “Later,” he mumbled, and hurried away.
    When she finished laughing, Reva took a long drink from the