Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aides (21 page)

“The condensed version is with the downward spiral of the economy, what you see here is my current business, but I used to run the Bridal Salon next door.”

“There’s a bridal shop next door?”

“After years of special requests from brides for their wedding nights, based on the feedback I received, I opened this section of the store when this part of the building opened up. The salon was my childhood dream. But when the economy tanked I closed it. I did some soul searching and decided it was time to make a drastic change.”

“You’ve done a great job. Tasteful. Very classy.”

“Thank you. It was a strange time for me. Like you, I have my own demons, but I learned from my customers and I grew with them.”

“How do you decide what to carry?”

“That’s a bit harder. I’m not exactly a poster child for erotic or exotic sexy, but I’ve come to learn what my audience wants. For the most part, I try to imagine what I can see myself in. But if I want sales I have to be practical. I have to put aside my fears and expand my comfort zone. Believe me, owning this store has opened by eyes to a great deal of relationship issues.”

“I’ll bet. Any chance you’d care to share?”

“When I first opened the Bridal Salon, I also sold intimate apparel. My own designs. Once my designs sold, I kept getting more and more requests for lace work. I started to making just the under garments. I got so swamped with custom orders I actually sold my designs to a well-known company, but I still dabble in the design side. In fact, this store only sells my designs. I had less time to focus on my wedding designs, so I closed that part for the time being.”

“I’ll bet that was hard since it was your dream.”

“It was, but you have to change with the times. As the requests came in I started to add fragrances, lotions, and topical products. That’s when I saw how well sex sells. I decided to take advantage of it and pushed the bar as far as it would go. I actually hired a sex therapist, brought her in here, introduced her to my vision for the store, and this is what it turned into.” Angel smiled proudly as she surveyed her store.

“Holy mackerel.” Angel’s story intrigued her. This excursion provided more information than anticipated.

“I hope to someday reopen the salon. Until then I only do custom orders.”

“That’s exciting.”

“You’re in the middle of a battle right now and I want you to know I understand.”

“I believe you do.” Sabrina explained her situation Travis and how weird everything was.

Angel cringed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I don’t know. I’ve heard it’s a stupid thing to do. Yet, it feels right. My roommates have advised me it’s time for me to seduce him. I hate the word. At the same time I do want to pursue the relationship.”

“Are you in pursuit of the relationship because of their suggestion or because you have genuine feelings for him?”

“I’m not ready to write him off just yet. I really like him, a lot.”

“If so, you should probably be prepared, it’s a situation that for most people is bound to bite you in the butt. I bet your friends have already had sex. If so, maybe they’re a bit jaded? Perhaps they haven’t had much success with men and need something more out of life.”

“Exactly. Kat hasn’t dated anyone in ages. She’s gone back to school to in an effort to find a new career. Jill works, goes to school, and they both love to dance to relieve tension. Me, I don’t have a rhythmic bone in my body. My outlet is movies. I like to be mindlessly entertained.”

“What about marriage? Is your boss someone you see in your future?”

“Absolutely.”

“Do you truly think you’re ready for it or more in the future? I ask because what I perceived from modern women is they think they know what they want then conclude if it doesn’t work they’ll divorce and make it a do-over. Marriage is anything but a do-over.”

“I agree. It’s for the long haul or nothing.”

“Then all I can say is think long and hard before you listen to your friends. I know they mean well, but best friends don’t always provide the best advice.” Her brows drew down and together ever so slightly, she touched Sabrina’s arm.

“If and when you find you’re ready for the big step, you let me know. I have all the ammunition you’ll ever need. Please be sure, that’s all I ask. Sorry, my history has left me suspicious. Our emotions are involved and sometimes we fall in love with the idea of being in love.”

“Funny, you’re in the business of selling sex and your best advice is not to do it.”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. If the topic of this conversation is sex and writing your article, start with the sex products, I can help there. If this is about you and Travis, that’s a different story altogether.”

“Okay. Talk to me about sex. I have a job to do and I need focus on how to start, topics, and to figure out how I can possibly help anyone when I’m clueless.”

“I think you have it. Mitzi and Vera. Go there. Let it be about the ability to bring the fun back in a marriage. Make it about how to create those special, magical, intimate moments. Also about how it transcends age limits like with Mitzi and Vera. I can show you the products, tell you what to expect, and give tips to ensure your results.”

“I like that.”

Angel pointed to several products she personally recommended and explained why. From Mitzi’s lotion, the one that made nerve endings more sensitive, to Vera’s bubble bath with a wonderful fresh ocean aroma. It reminded her of a South Pacific island. No wonder Jasper joined Vera in the tub.

Sabrina experienced a rare glimmer of hope that her article was no longer destined to be a dismal failure. And it wasn’t about her, but how she could help others.

She and Angel talked for another hour. Sabrina asked questions based on the notes she’d taken. Angel shared unconditionally not expecting a sale, but to show clear, irrefutable evidence of the value of her shop to couples everywhere.

When she departed Angel handed her a bag of samples and a few products to try and give feedback on. She included a few fragrances to try on Travis as well as relevant suggestions for future articles.

Sabrina promised to give Angel first view of the finished article and give her all the credit for her inventive ideas. When she left the shop, she felt forty pounds lighter. Excitement coursed through her to race back to the office. She couldn’t wait to tell Kat and Jill about Angel, the store, and the products. There was no way they’d be able to resist the urge to find their way to the shop in the next week or helping themselves to the merchandise.

When she reached the office, Sabrina tucked the bag and her purse in her desk drawer. But first she took one of the sample fragrances and rubbed the moist pad behind her ears, at her wrists, behind her knees and between her breasts. She put the sample back in the bag, with the plan to use what was left as an air freshener in her car, as Angel suggested.

She loved the scent. It smelled like a spring rain, fresh cut lawn, and a bouquet of flowers rolled into one scent. Angel said this one contained synthetic pheromones and although the fragrance alone was nice. The effect, guaranteed to speak for itself.

She was anxious to see what kind of reaction she’d get from Travis.

When he headed to the kitchenette, she went to his office and marched around fanning her arms, spreading the scent throughout the room. She took a seat and waited for him.

“Sabrina, I hoped I’d see you before you left today.” He shut the door behind him.

Funny she hadn’t notice the blinds in his office closed when she’d entered.

He came up behind her and kissed her cheek. He started to move away then spun around and honed in on her neck. He inhaled, deeply.

She smiled to herself when he nuzzled her neck, wondering how long it’d take to see his reaction.

He took her hand, pulled her from her seat, and into his arms. The kiss that followed made her melt. Her legs muscles turned to jelly threatening to give out.

“I don’t know what you have on but I’ll gladly buy a gallon. You smell wonderful.”

“Thank you.”

Sabrina beamed and considered how different things might have been if they hadn’t been at work. Good thing Angel gave her several samples to play with. If it brought on this kind of reaction from one application, in his office, imagine his reaction if they were alone in his townhouse or her apartment.

Oh she imagined alright, and it did magical things to her insides.

“How about dinner? Care to join me?”

“I’d love to.”

Five minutes later they’d made plans for dinner and the weekend. Sabrina wanted to go home and try the bubble bath. And maybe, sometime soon, she’d share a bath with Travis. The idea definitely held great appeal.

She told Travis to come on over when he was through with work for the day. She’d promised to leave the door unlocked in case she was still getting ready.

She followed Angel’s instructions and stopped by the market to pick up a cucumber for her eyes. Angel suggested it was high time to learn some pre-date exercises. How by following these easy suggestions she’d get in the mood for her big date.

Simple pleasures such as a fragrant bubble bath and cucumber slices applied to her eyes offered more than she expected. Preparation guaranteed to relax her before the date started.

Sometimes a woman needed to do something entirely selfish. A bath with the lights out, candles lit, and a sexy voice to croon to her, topped Angel’s list for decadence.

Sabrina lit the candles and turned off the lights. She stripped, pressed the button on the CD player, then stepped in the tub and sank up to her chin in bubbles. She reclined, closed her eyes, and covered them with the cucumber slices. Breathed in the fragrance and let all her pent up worries disappear.

She began to relax, felt weightless even. Angel was right. She’d definitely do this again. The whole process made her feel decadent and sinfully delicious, hoping Travis would feel the same way about her.

11

Trent knocked on Sabrina’s door.

No response. He knocked again. Nothing. He tried the door. Sure enough, it was unlocked and he let himself in. “Sabrina?”

The house was quiet. He waited a few minutes and called out again. Still no response, so he moved down the hall and knocked on her bedroom door. “Sabrina? It’s Travis. Are you in there?”

He tried the door. It too was unlocked and the light shone under the door and muffled voices on the other side. “Sabrina.”

He thought he heard a muffled voice say come in, so he turned the knob and poked his head in. The room appeared dark at first. His eyes focused on the candles and the beckoning scent that filled his nostrils. His mind conjured up images of an X-rated scene with Sabrina in the tub, with him.

Sabrina reclined in a tub of bubbles listening to Barry White. The dude might be old, but damn he could sing.

Holy Hell. Instant erection. What the devil was he supposed to do now? Back out, sit in the living room, and wait for her? She appeared to be asleep.

He cleared his throat. His body begged him to undress and join her. No. He didn’t want to startle her. But, why not play the handsome prince as beauty slept. Seated on the ledge of the tub, he leaned down and kissed her.

The second his lips touched hers she jerked, arms flailing. Her hand contacted with his shirt. In the next instant, he rested in her lap, sopping wet.

She looked cute sputtering bubbles.

He barked a laugh. “And here I thought kissing you awake added a romantic touch. This however, is not exactly the reaction I expected.” His arms hung above the water, bubbles clinging to every part of him.

She coughed, sending bubbles into the air. “It might have been romantic if the tub hadn’t been full. I was practically floating as it was. Thanks for trying.”

He leaned over and kissed her again. When his hand touched her shoulder, the realization of where he was and Sabrina was naked beneath him sent him into a panic. “Ah, as much as I enjoy a good bath, I best get out and let you get dressed.” He cleared his throat. “I—uh have another problem. I’m soaked and no spare clothes.”

“I’ll close my eyes and you can take off your clothes. Wring them out in the sink. There should be a robe in my closet that’ll fit you.”