Blue Dahlia

wanted to stretch my legs, to tell you the truth.”
    “We’re closing in just over an hour, and things are slowing down a bit. Why don’t you find Harper or one of the seasonals and see about restocking?”
    “Sounds good. Hey, isn’t that Mr. Hunky’s truck pulling in?”
    Stella looked over, spotted Logan’s truck. “Mr. Hunky?”
    “When it fits, it fits. Back to work for me.”
    It should have been for her, too. But she watched as Logan drove over the gravel, around the mountains formed by huge bags of mulch and soil. He climbed out one side of the truck, and his two men piled out the other. After a brief conversation, he wandered across the gravel lot toward her.
    So she wandered across to him.
    “Got a client who’s decided on that red cedar mulch. You can put me down for a quarter ton.”
    “Which client?”
    “Jameson. We’re going to swing back by and get it down before we knock off. I’ll get the paperwork to you tomorrow.”
    “You could give it to me now.”
    “Have to work it up. I take time to work it up, we’re not going to get the frigging mulch down today. Client won’t be happy.”
    She used her forearm to swipe at her forehead. “Fortunately for you I don’t have the energy to nag.”
    “Been busy.”
    “There’s no word for what we’ve been. It’s great. I’m betting we broke records. My feet feel like a couple of smoked sausages. By the way, I was thinking I’d like to come by, see your house.”
    His eyes stared into hers until she felt fresh pricks of heat at the base of her spine. “You could do that. I’ve got time tonight.”
    “I can’t tonight. Maybe Wednesday, after we close? If Roz is willing to watch the boys.”
    “Wednesday’s no problem for me. Can you find the place all right?”
    “Yeah, I’ll find it. About six-thirty?”
    “Fine. See you.”
    As he walked back to his truck, Stella decided it was the strangest conversation she’d ever had about sex.
     
    THAT EVENING, AFTER HER KIDS WERE FED, AND engaged in their play hour before bed, Stella indulged in that long shower. As the aches and fatigue of the day washed away, her excitement over it grew.
    They’d kicked ass ! she thought.
    She was still a little concerned about overstock in some areas, and what she saw as understock in others. But flushed with the day’s success, she told herself not to question Roz’s instincts as a grower.
    If today was any indication, they were in for a rock-solid season.
    She pulled on her terry-cloth robe, wrapped her hair in a towel, then did a kind of three-step boogie out of the bathroom.
    And let out a short, piping scream at the woman in her bedroom doorway.
    “Sorry. Sorry.” Roz snorted back a laugh. “Flesh and blood here.”
    “God!” Since her legs had gone numb, Stella sank onto the side of the bed. “ God! My heart just about stopped.”
    “I got something that should start it up again.” From behind her back, Roz whipped out a bottle of champagne.
    “Dom Perignon? Woo, and two hoos! Yes, I think I detect a beat.”
    “We’re going to celebrate. Hayley’s across in the sitting room. And I’m giving her half a glass of this. No lectures.”
    “In Europe pregnant women are allowed, if not encouraged, to have a glass of wine a week. I’m willing to pretend we’re in France if I get a full glass of that.”
    “Come on over. I sent the boys down to David. They’re having a video game contest.”
    “Oh. Well, I guess that’s all right. They’ve got a half hour before bath and bed. Is that caviar?” she asked when she stepped into the sitting room.
    “Roz says I can’t have any.” Hayley leaned over and sniffed the silver tray with its silver bowl of glossy black caviar. “Because it’s not good for the baby. I don’t know as I’d like it, anyway.”
    “Good. More for me. Champagne and caviar. You’re a classy boss, Ms. Harper.”
    “It was a great day. I always start off the first of the season a little blue.” She popped the cork. “All my babies going off like that. Then I get too busy to think about it.” She poured the glasses. “And by the end I’m reminded that I got into this to sell and to make a profit—while doing something I enjoy doing. Then I come on home and start feeling a little blue again. But not tonight.”
    She passed the glasses around. “I may not have the figures and the facts and the data right at my fingertips, but I know what I know. We’ve just had the best single day ever.”
    “Ten