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pursed her lips. “My momma had a sense of humor. She gave my brothers talismans made of medallions. My sisters all got seashells, but to Theo, she gave a foot. I guess it’s because I ate a lot of chicken when I was a kid.”
    Jill chuckled. “Or you were a brat.”
    “Child, you tryin ’ me. Go on and make fun, but there’s a lotta power in this ol’ foot. Yo problem is you don’t believe.”
    Jill shook her head. “No, I’d have a problem if I did believe.”
    “I believe.” Rene winced. “Could you help me with my hair? My stylist must’ve been smoking crack when she gave me this perm.”
    “Olive oil, baby. You go home, pour half a bottle into yo hair, and work it in good, wrap it in a towel, and leave it like that for a few hours. Wash it before you go to bed, and it’ll be fine by morning.”
    Rene flashed a relieved smile. “Thank you, Theo.”
    “Now what’s yo problem?” Theo asked as she gazed at Jill.
    “I don’t have any.”
    “You fulla shit. I can tell that by yo dark imposition. You lonely, I can feel it coming off of you.”
    “I’m finished,” Jill said as she released the foot. “This thing is old, so you’d better take care of it.”
    “Okay, thank you.” Theo smiled and headed for the door.
    “This is a jewelry shop, not a house of favors, there’s a charge for that,” Jill said.
    Theo spun on one heel. “A service for a service. You fixed my foot, and I fixed her hair.”
    Jill inhaled sharply when the bell on the door jingled and Theo rushed out.
    “She’s amazing,” Rene said with a sigh.
    “She’s a con artist.” Jill shook her head. “I’m going to wash my hands, they smell like hundred-year-old chicken.”

Chapter 2

    “Why don’t you just call the shop and ask her out? That way, you’ll have the privacy you want.”
    Shawn gazed at her best friend. “I…I will.”
    Vera shook her head as she picked up her drink. “No, you won’t. I’ve never met anyone as pretty as you are that is so devastatingly shy. What do you see when you look in the mirror?”
    Shawn shrugged. “Me. I can’t help the shy thing. I’ve been this way all my life. It’s my nature.”
    Vera motioned for the server, and when he approached the table, she smiled up at him and waved her glass. “May I have another one of these, please?” When the server walked away, she looked at Shawn. “Did you see that? It’s called flirting. All you have to do is make eye contact and smile. Shit, Shawn, you don’t even have to flirt, and women grovel at your feet.”
    “Not the one I want.” Shawn toyed with what was left of her dinner and set her fork aside. “If they grovel, then why hasn’t Jill shown any interest?”
    “Obviously, she’s blind, or shy, too, or maybe she’s—”
    “Taken,” Shawn said dejectedly.
    “You’ve been doing recon for a year like a stalker. She doesn’t wear any rings, you know she lives in the apartment above the store, and you’ve never seen anyone but her on the balcony.” Vera shook the ice in her glass. “I was going to get you a coat for Christmas, but I’ve decided on something better. Tomorrow, I’m going into that jewelry store, and I’m going to get the lowdown.”
    “Don’t,” Shawn said nervously. “Please, Vera, I know what you’ll do.”
    “Damn straight…or damn gay, whatever y’all say,” Vera said with a dismissive wave of her hand. She smiled sweetly at the server when he returned with her drink.
    “May I get you ladies anything else?” he asked.
    “Your phone number if you’re single,” Vera said brazenly.
    “I’m not,” he said with what sounded like disappointment.
    “My loss.” Vera sighed as he walked away. “Did you see how easy that was?”
    “Yes, and aren’t you embarrassed?”
    “Not a bit. Hey, he was cute, but the world isn’t going to end.”
    Shawn placed her chin in her hand. “Because you didn’t really like him. I’m crazy about Jill, and if she rejects me…it’s gonna be