Page 27 of Illicit Education
I snorted, then tried to hide it with a cough. I just… didn’t see the point of lingerie. My bras were basic white lace, my panties cotton. My nethers wanted breathable comfort, you know, not itchy lace.
“Why don’t you look around a bit and I’ll see if I can track down the boss for an interview.”
Just like that?“Oh, okay, um…”
“Come on.” Greer tugged me away from the counter and whispered, “You’re about to get a job!”
Laughing at my friend’s enthusiasm, I stopped to run my fingertips over a velvet corset. “Let’s not get too excited just yet. You know I don’t have any retail experience.” I leaned closer and added quietly, “And I don’t know anything about lingerie.”
Greer grabbed the corset and held it up to my chest. “So? What’s to know? You read romance; lingerie is romance.”
“That seems like a bit of a stretch.”
“Is it?” Greer raised an eyebrow as she circled a rack of delicate lace teddies. “Then how about this?” She ran her fingertips over the lace closest to her. “Lingerie is an aphrodisiac.Foreplay. You know what I mean? It may notberomance, but it certainly has a leading role.” She picked up another corset and held it up to herself. “And anyway, learn as you go. You think I knew shit about how to manage a speakeasy when I started at Prohibition?”
“You were at least already a bartender.”
“Yes, and you are a romance reader, Rylan Blake.” Greer leveled her eyes on me. “And we’ve already concluded that lingerie is a form of romance.”
I laughed, shaking my head at my friend’s often confounding way of getting from point A to point B. “I still think it's a stretch, buddy.”
“Ladies,” the store clerk called, “Come meet the boss.”
I turned around and my mouth dropped open.
“Jesus,” Greer whispered.
Beside the store clerk stood a woman who, in six-inch black stilettos, towered over her employee. Dressed in a black pantsuit that made my boring dress pants pale in comparison, she commanded attention. Her suit was tailored to fit the feminine curves of her body, leaving little to the imagination even though her arms and legs were fully covered. Beneath the suit jacket, which was fastened with two buttons at waist level, was nothing but olive skin, the deep V exposing a wealth of cleavage. When she smiled, her dark brown eyes smiled too. “Welcome to White Rabbit. Which one of you is looking for part-time employment?”
Greer nudged me, so I stepped forward. “I am.”
“Great. Do you have time for a quick interview?”
I nodded.
“Join me in my office.” Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, “Please.”
With a quick glance over my shoulder at Greer, I followed the woman toward the back of the store, focusing on the steady way she took each step as if shewasn’tbalancing precariously on six-inch spikes. Her long hair was dark brown, almost black, and it fell down her back in perfect waves.
We stepped into a small office and the woman motioned to two chairs facing the desk as she closed the door, then she settled into a leather chair behind the desk and leaned forward, extending her hand. “I’m Mina. White Rabbit is my baby.”
“Oh, so… you’re not just the manager?”
She smiled. “No, you met my manager out front. You got lucky and came in on a day when I’m here. I have shops all over the city, as well as other establishments as far west as Los Angeles and as far south as Miami, so I’m rarely here these days.” She tapped a few keys on the keyboard, then shut her laptop and looked at me again as a printer awoke beneath the desk and began working. “What kind of work experience do you have…?” She paused. “You never gave me your name.”
“Oh wow, I’m sorry. I’m Rylan. And…” I hesitated, then just went with the truth. “I should probably tell you that I don’t have any retail experience and I know nothing about lingerie.” I grimaced as soon as the words left my lips, but it was too late to backtrack and honesty was always a good policy, right?
She studied me for a few seconds, then leaned forward, crossing her slender arms on the desk. “I’ve gotten to where I am by trusting my intuition. I’m also incredibly well-versed in the art of reading people. I like you.” She paused and my cheeks warmed.
For some inexplicable reason, this woman’s approval felt monumental, like something bigger. I couldn’t quite put it into words. Her approval felt like a gift.
“I appreciate your candor, Rylan. Let me offer some in return. I’m in need of someone to take over in the evenings as soon as possible. Laurel is already working way too many hours for how far along she is, and I’m unable to be here as much as I’d like to be.” She took a deep breath, then added, “But evenings are busy, and I need someone reliable.”
“I’m definitely that.”
“Good.” Mina smiled. “I also need someone who can be discreet.”
My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”