Chapter Ten
Sterling wanted to run away. It was cowardly, but this whole situation was coming down around his ears, and sometimes the best course of action was to cut your losses and not look back. Isn’t that what he’d done with his family? He might have done it here, too, if Paige’s eyes hadn’t met his. There was something in them that seemed vulnerable, even hurt. It couldn’t be the little tiff they had in the car. He was only trying to protect her. Nope, it had to be Julie. She must have told her something. What were the chances the spoiled heiress would be right here right now?
Could his secretary have told her where he was? No, Dotty didn’t have a clue he was here. This was a secret favor for Elaine. Then it hit him.
Julie was here because Paige’s soaps were that good. For a girl that bought filet mignon for her schnauzer, going for a drive in the country to purchase an overpriced specialty beauty bar only available at certain times of year made total sense. Julie was right in Paige’s target market. Why should he be surprised?
Paige folded her arms as she stood before him, giving him the same glare his sister used to when she heard a particular rumor about him at school. He was a goner. Might as well just ‘fess up’ and get it over with. “I can explain.”
He wished she was still wearing overalls. It would be easier to disappoint her in those. “I’m waiting,” she said.
“I never planned on that sort of approach.” He lifted his palms. “It just happened.”
She pointed back to her booth. “How does washing women’s hands for them just happen? And now Julie’s expecting the same treatment.”
Relieved, he let out a sigh that carried half a laugh. “Is that all she’s expecting?”
Paige placed her hands on her hips. “No, what about a full strip tease act?”
Sterling wouldn’t put it past her. “Really?”
“Of course not.” Paige grew serious. “I don’t think we’re on the same page when it comes to what I’m doing here. My soap cakes don’t need gimmicks to sell. The formulas are based on proven scientific methods. I’ve spent years tweaking them. They really help people. Did you even know I have a degree in bio-chemistry?”
“Wait, I heard it was in business.”
“That’s my undergrad and not the point.” She shook her head. A spiraled tendril escaped her hair tie and framed one cheek. “I’m trying to build something here. To make a difference.”
He laid his hand over hers and lowered his tone. “Paige. One girl had soapy hands and didn’t want to touch the pump. I helped her get the water going. That’s it, I swear.”
Her eyes squinted, and he could tell she wasn’t convinced. “That’s not what Julie said.”
“I’m telling the truth,” Sterling said.
She rubbed her forehead. “Well, whatever you did to Julie’s friend yesterday, she wants the same treatment.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Paige wagged her chin. “She adores my products, and I may need her father’s help when I want to expand. This would be a huge favor.”
If he said no, the chances of Julie letting his real identity slip would be huge. While washing her hands, maybe he could figure out a way to keep this whole thing under wraps. At least until the end of the weekend, for Paige’s benefit. “I suppose this once wouldn’t hurt.”
Julie had her rhinestone-covered cell inches from her nose and didn’t lower it until he was standing right in front of her. The shock on her face was priceless. He could see all the way to her tonsils, her mouth was that far open. She gawked from him to Paige and back to him. “Oh, this is too much.” Then she turned to Paige. “So you two are a thing? Paige, I never knew we had such similar tastes in men.”
“No, it’s only business,” Paige said.
Julie winked Sterling’s direction. “I know about that type of business. I can see it all over him. So where did you two meet?”
“Here, actually.” He offered, hoping to circumvent the conversation.
“That’s kind of romantic, and I love the duds. Are those real cowboy boots?” She seemed to be relishing every minute of this.
Sterling was having the opposite reaction. “Yup, sure ‘nuff,” he said with a drawl.
“Cute.” Apparently losing interest, Julie dropped her bag on the floor and dumped her cell inside it. “I’m ready for you to wash my hands now, lover boy.” She wiggled in her seat and smiled with artificially whitened teeth.
Sterling could hardly believe the minefield around him was intact. Paige still didn’t know he was anything more than a day worker, but one wrong move, and it could explode in his face. He walked over to the pump and grasped the handle. “Do you know what kind you’d prefer?”
She bit her lip suggestively. “Oatmeal Shea Butter, please.”
Grabbing one of the bars, he unwrapped it and returned to the pump. Julie was smiling at him like she had something wicked in mind. He pumped the water, which flowed clear. “If you would come right over here and wet your hands, we can begin.”
Julie didn’t move. “No, I think you should wash my feet instead.” She kicked off her beaded flip flops and strummed her pedicured toes against the cement.
He glanced at Paige who seemed to be pleading at him with her eyes then back at Julie who was reveling in his discomfort.
“Let’s do this.” He knelt at her feet and realized he didn’t have the equipment to fulfill her request. In his periphery he caught sight of a large metal bowl at the florist next to him. The older woman was not there. Instead, a pleasant blonde in her mid-twenties gave him a tiny wave.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
He leapt up and asked the girl if he could borrow her bowl. Without asking why, she agreed. He filled it at the pump and set the cool water at Julie’s feet. She clapped her hands in glee and said to Paige, “I can’t believe he’s going to go through with it. You’ve got him wrapped around your little finger.”
Sterling gently placed her foot in the water and lifted it. Julie whispered in his ear. “Does she even know who you really are?”
He tried to return her conspirator’s expression. “Not half of it.”
Satisfied, Julie sat back to enjoy her foot massage and called to Paige. “You better watch out for this one. He’s a real heartbreaker.”
“I can see that.” Paige’s answer didn’t have the gusto of her wealthy friend.
Julie laughed. “Well, when you’re done with him, send him my way. I don’t mind taking your leftovers.”
Being spoken of like you were a slab of meat did nothing to improve his opinion of the wealthy girl before him. Right now Sterling was glad he’d never called her back, and the next time they spoke, he’d have no problem telling her what he thought.
Clearing his mind as to whom the appendage belonged to, he focused on the job at hand and rubbed the soap along the top of her foot, producing an excited giggle from the heiress. Bending his knee, he lodged her foot against his thigh, so he could lather the soap. That’s when he noticed that this soap was like nothing he had ever felt before. It lathered thick and foamy with the consistency of old fashioned shaving cream. The fragrance was sweet, soothing and earthy. He rinsed the foot and could immediately tell the difference. The skin was supple but not oily. This stuff was incredible.
He started on the other foot, working the soap up to a deeper lather, then rinsing and lathering again with less water to see how the product would respond. Less water produced less bubbles but had a more luxurious feel while you worked it, and when you washed it off, left the same velvety texture.
About a dozen people were watching him. He’d been so drawn to the soap he hadn’t seen them there. As Julie slid her sandals back on, he sat on his heels and shook his head. The soap was miraculous and worth every penny. Yesterday he had only encouraged the woman to use it. He’d never touched it himself. Sterling caught Paige’s attention. “I hadn’t realized.”
Her look was cold. “Neither had I.”
Sterling wanted to t
alk to her, to find out what was going on, but another woman sat in the chair. He was curious to try a different variety so he allowed it. He spent the rest of the morning on his knees. Women lined up around the block to have their feet washed. If milking goats for twenty minutes had left his hands and back sore, it was nothing compared to three hours of this.
It was nearly eleven when a large foot was stuck in his face, its sensible black shoe still on. He looked up. It was the old florist woman next door. The one from yesterday. She must have arrived at her booth, realized they were using her bowl and wanted it back. He had never been so grateful in his life. He lifted the aluminum container while she wedged her large figure in the white chair.
“Oh no you don’t. I expect fair payment.” She jabbed a finger toward her foot.
He filled the bowl and consigned himself to the job, even untying and removing her shoes. When he was done, he raised his eyes to check her mood. She gave out a satisfied sigh and got to her feet. He tried to give her back the bowl again, but she wouldn’t take it and turned to Paige. “You can rent it for the price of one of those soap things.”
Paige handed her a round soap cake. “I hope you enjoy it.”
The woman actually smiled back. “I’d enjoy it more if he came with it.” She tapped Paige with her elbow and laughed with a harsh crackly cough.
The next customer had already taken her place, and Sterling was almost out of patience. He walked to the pump, feeling little more than a slave and wondered why he was putting up with it all. As he lifted the handle and pumped it three times. No water came. Then Paige’s hand settled against his own.
“You don’t need to do this anymore,” she said.
He gave her a half smile. “Couldn’t if I wanted to. We’re out of water.”
She turned to her customers. “Sorry, we’re taking a break for lunch. No more feet washing for now. Thank you all.” There was a chorus of disappointed moans from those waiting.
Paige packed up the display shelves, and Sterling was shocked how little product she had left. She turned to him. “What do you say we go get lunch and mail those boxes?”
He was a little surprised. “You’re closing the booth?”
She nodded. “With the water gone, there’s no reason not to. I think we could both use a break.”
***