Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories (The Flirts! Collection) (13 page)

I looked at the watercolor I’d purchased at an art festival a few years back. “She’s dreamy, not sad.”

“She’s pathetic.”

I stepped back and tilted my head. “Wistful?”

Virginia scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “Wretched.”

I stared at the painting and realized she did look as if she was thinking about ending it all.
Ugh. She looks like me!
I flopped into a chair. “So, what do I do?”

“Take it down. Put up a picture that shows a couple, or at least a pair of something. Nothing singular. And this candle?” She picked up an old jar candle I had sitting on the mantle. “You need two candles, not just one sitting up here. If you want to be a pair, you have to send that idea out to the universe. Heck, put a bowl of pears in your kitchen. Right now, you’re practically begging the universe to keep you single.”

“This here is what’s been causing all my problems? My relationship bagua?” I gestured to the family room.

“No, that’s the rear right corner of your home. But if you’ve got all of these solitary symbols in your home, that’s a big problem, too.” She scribbled something in her notebook.

“The back right corner, huh? That’s where my bedroom is,” I said.

“Let’s go have a look at the damage.”

I led her to the room and wondered what she’d see. My antique sleigh-bed sat against the far wall, along with a matching dresser, a nightstand with a light, and a desk with my computer on top. It seemed simple enough to me. How could
this
be impacting my love life?

She frowned and shook her head. “No wonder. Remember what I said about pairs of things? You need two nightstands and two lamps. And get the computer out of here—unless you want a relationship only with your work. You need symbols of love and romance in here. Some pink roses and pink quartz.”

She flung open my closet. “Whoa. Can one woman wear all those clothes in a year? Clear some space in here, like you’re expecting to share it with someone.” She winked at me.

We went through the house moving things and making a pile of stuff that had to go, for sure. Like the lonely lady painting. And my unicorn collection from seventh grade, just in case one horn was a bad omen, too.

Turns out, I had things lined up perfectly in my career bagua, but apparently the money would roll in if I added a few purple items in my prosperity bagua. That was in the rear left of my apartment. I took notes as she made her way through.

“First things first. You need to clear out all the clutter.” Virginia swept her arm across the apartment. “Do a thorough cleaning first, so your energy can get moving in here again.”

“Cleaning?” Ugh.

She nodded.

A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do
. “I’ll get right on it.”

She smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s not all hard work. You’ve got some shopping to do, too. There’s a terrific store on Main Street that I send clients to,” Virginia said. “Interior Inspirations, it’s called.”

I clapped. “Now we’re talking the same language. Shopping. That’s something I can do.”

“Good. Let me come back in two weeks and see if things haven’t changed some. And then we’ll figure out what you need to do next.” She headed for the door. “Oh, and the girls are doing brunch at the Parkside Bistro today. They really liked you. We’ve got reservations at noon if you’d like to come. We do it every Sunday—and we don’t let just anybody into our group, you know.”

But I was too busy to join them. I had so much cleaning and clutter busting to do. Once I got started, I was on a roll, discarding four of the six red camisoles I had purchased—five of which had never been worn. I downsized my shoe collection from sixty-four pairs to thirty-one. Baby steps.

By three o’clock Sunday afternoon, I was energized and ready to make some changes. I felt more confident already. I grabbed my purse and headed for the store Virginia had recommended. How often does a girl get assigned a shopping trip? I smiled up at the sun as I walked down the sidewalk, beaming at everyone who passed. Who knows? Maybe the men would just start falling from the sky—and I needed to be at my friendly best when they dropped at my feet. Perhaps my next boyfriend was right there on the street. I found the store, and bells chimed on the door when I entered. Soothing music played overhead and the smell of spicy incense hit me.

The place was packed with shelves of vases and statues. Gorgeous pictures hung on the walls, and cute antique chairs and tables were scattered around the room, arranged in stylish setups. I went right to a long shelf lined with candleholders on a lace runner, and picked a beautiful crystal set for the bedroom and a marble pair for the mantle. I took them up to the counter.

A man was finishing up a sale with a customer. “Can I help you?” he asked. His bright blue eyes caught me off guard. Not my type, but there was something about him that made me gulp.

I took a deep breath and set my purchases on the glass counter top. “I’m going to take these, but I’ve got a few more things to buy.” I pulled out my list and scanned the items I needed to add to makes things right in my home. “Where are your lamps?”

“Back of the store. Let me show you.” He slid out from behind the counter. He was tall and lanky, yet very masculine, with a strong, stubbled jaw. I watched his dirty-blond ponytail bounce as I walked behind him. I tried to imagine what he’d look like clean-shaven with a crisp haircut like most of the guys I dated. I just couldn’t picture it.

“I’m Zach Johnson.” He offered his hand.

“Brianna Keller.” His handshake was surprisingly firm. The rest of him looked firm, too.

“Did you have something particular in mind?” he asked, interrupting my train of thought that involved him minus a shirt.

I blushed. “What?”

“The lamp. Are you looking for inspiration to hit, or did you have something in mind?”

“Right. The lamp.” I looked at my notes and took a deep breath. “Something neutral, in earth tones.” I walked through the store, running my fingers over beautiful lamp bases and gorgeous shades. Zach followed me. I picked up one in a creamy silk color and it was love.

“Do you have another one of these?” I asked. “I need two.”

“Let me check in back.” He smelled good as he walked past me.

I scanned the shop and spotted a stack of framed prints. Sorting through them, I chose a watercolor of a couple holding hands, strolling the beach at sunset. 
That’s what I want.
That would be going right over my mantle.

Zach returned from the storeroom, frowning. “I don’t have another one of those lamps in stock, but I can order it for you.”

“Great, and I’ll take this picture. Oh, and do you have any rose quartz?”

He pulled the picture out of the stack. “No, but there is a New Age store a few doors down that does.”

I grabbed a purple throw pillow to toss in my prosperity bagua. “I guess that’s all for today.”

He started wrapping up my purchases, and I watched his long, thick fingers at work. I cleared my throat. “Can you hang on to the lamp until the other one comes in?” I needed to get another nightstand, too.

He paused and looked at me, narrowing his eyebrows. “You sure you don’t want to take it today?”

I shook my head. “I need two in my room.” I didn’t want to tell him that a single lamp might keep me single.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “You hired Virginia Collins, didn’t you?”

I looked down and smiled, tapping my fingers on the glass counter top. “Yes, how did you know?”

His laugh was gorgeous. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be so nosy. She sends lots of clients here and I appreciate her business. I’m just surprised someone like you is looking for help with the love bagua.” He wrapped my candlesticks with tissue paper while staring at me.

I could feel my cheeks burn. I opened my mouth and then snapped it shut. I didn’t know what to say.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, I just assumed someone like you would have a boyfriend. Just ignore me. I always say the wrong thing. What do they call it, Foot-In-Mouth disease?”

No, please keep talking
. “Do you think it works? Feng shui?”

He squatted behind the counter, searching for a box. “I don’t want to insult one of Virginia’s clients. That’s her thing and she believes it.”

Wait, back up the horse
. I put my hands on my hips. “But you don’t?”

He stood up, crossed his arms and looked at me. “And why are you so quick to believe it does?”

I want to believe it—need to believe it
. I lifted one shoulder. “What’s the harm?”

“Could be wasting your time and money.”

I raised an eyebrow. “At your shop.”

“Good point.” Again with that grin. He handed me a bag with my candleholders and pillow, and picked up my picture. “Let me carry this to your car.”

He pushed the door open with his hip and I followed him out into the warm summer day. “Have you ever heard back from any of Virginia’s clients on whether or not her techniques work?” I asked. He had me worried now.

He loaded the picture into the back of my Rav-4. “I haven’t been invited to any customers’ weddings. Not yet anyway.” Brushing off his hands, he smiled. “But who knows? No one ever came back for a follow-up.”

I turned to him. “You must think this is silly.”

“I think it makes as much as sense as tossing a penny in a fountain and making a wish.” He shrugged and pushed his hands in his pockets.

I slammed my car door, embarrassed that he thought I was foolish.
He’s not my type anyway
. “Thanks for your help.”

“I’ll call you when the lamp comes in so you can take them both home,” he said, rubbing his chin.

Was that just to cover a smirk?
I jutted my hip to the side and planted my fist there. “And I’ll call you when I get my first date. Because this is going to work. Don’t worry. I’ll follow up.”

He smiled at me. “Please do. You can be my first customer to let me know exactly how well this turns out for you.”

I hopped in the car and glanced back at him in my rear-view mirror as I pulled away. I only wished I felt as confident as I sounded. Maybe this really was just bunk.

I landed a new client over the next few days and found twenty bucks on the sidewalk, so the purple items in my prosperity area seemed to be making a difference, but there was not one call from a guy and no new prospects. Not even one cute barista or sales clerk to flirt with.
Be patient, you haven’t implemented all of Virginia’s advice
, I reminded myself.

“Brianna?” a male voice asked over the phone when I answered Saturday afternoon. He sounded familiar.

“Yes, this is Brianna Keller.” My heart quickened like I was back in eighth grade waiting for Tony Malone to call. He never did, of course.

“It’s Zach Michaels, from Interior Inspirations. Your lamp is in.”

My heart fell. Somehow I’d imagined it might be some mysterious man drawn to me through my feng shui changes. Nope. It was the one who thought I was a loon for trying it. “Great. I’ll pick it up tonight.”

I walked into Interior Inspirations and immediately felt calmed by the music and the great smell—and the great view of the man behind the counter—Mr. Doubting Thomas.

“Are you here to gloat about your string of dates that have magically appeared?” His hair hung past his shoulders, and I tried to decide if it looked even better this way than it had in the ponytail.

I propped my elbows on the counter. “Nope, no date so far.”

“Well, you haven’t tried the lamps yet. Maybe that’s the key.” He was holding back a laugh; I just knew it.

“You’re probably right.”

He set my lamp on the counter. “Do you have anything else on that list of yours?”

I dug through the tubes of lipsticks and clutter in my purse and pulled out my crumpled sheet of notes. “Just some amethyst and rose quartz I need to get from the store down the street. And some heart-shaped throw pillows. Do you have any of those?”

He typed the information into his laptop. “Nope. But I can order a few pillows and have them in next week. Can you wait until then?”

No! I want love now
. “Sure. I guess I’ll just take the two lamps today.”

He closed his cash register drawer. “I’m closing up early tonight. I’ll show you that New Age store if you’d like.”

I shrugged. “You’re very accommodating for a cause you don’t believe in.”

“Hey, if you’re going to try it, I wanna help you go all-out.”

We set my lamps in my truck and walked down Main Street. The night was warm, and the sun was starting to slide down the sky.

“How long have you owned your store?” I asked.

“Four years. It was a struggle the first three, but this year I’m finally starting to turn things around.”

“Put some purple in your prosperity bagua and it could really take off.”

Shaking his head, he laughed. “You will never catch me doing anything like that, I promise.”

He stopped in front of a store called Moon Child, with a big moon painted in the window. “Here we are. They should have everything you need.”

“Thanks.” I was reluctant to see him leave, and I lingered in front of the door.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I could help you find the things on your list. Like I said, I’ve helped lots of Virginia’s clients.”

“Yes, please. That would be great.” I should have just clapped and jumped up and down with a pair of pom-poms.

We stepped inside and I expected a woman in flowing robes to come out and greet us with an offer to read our palms. But a pretty young woman with long, dark hair and ripped jeans emerged from the back. Her eyes brightened when she saw Zach.

“Hey Zach, haven’t seen you in a while. How’s business?”

“Hi, Sherry. It’s holding up. You know, despite the economy, it’s not bad.”

Sherry pouted. “Things have been really slow for me.”

“Well, good news,” he said. “My friend, Brianna, has quite a few things to buy.”

Sherry patted the counter. “Come chat with me while she browses.” Her rosy cheeks glowed and her dark hair made her pale blue eyes gleam. She had the batting the eyelashes thing down pat.