The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 30

The next morning, I got up early and rushed to the shop. I stopped and grabbed coffee for Maeve and me and headed inside the shop.

“Maeve! I got coffee!” I locked the door behind me, juggling two cups of coffee and my bag.

Loud clashes came from upstairs, followed by giggles and curses. A man whispered, and more crashing ensued. They never stay this late.

I set the coffee cups down on the register and started working on a sign. I'd decided on my way here that I’d keep the shop closed during Luna Genevieve’s appointment, so she’d be away from prying eyes.

I wrote ‘Closed for walk-ins, please call for an appointment’ on the sign and added our phone number. We need to make a website pronto.

Heavy footsteps stomped down the stairs, and a man came into view. He was big, with messed up hair, and hickeys all over his neck. His shirt was buttoned wrong and crumpled.

“Pardon me.” He cleared his throat and nodded to me, and Maeve arrived behind him.

“I’ll show you the door.” She said to him, and they giggled and shuffled out of the dress showroom, into the back.

“Dinner tonight? I’ll take you to the town over; there’s a nice place, Italian, or do you prefer steak?” The man asked eagerly as she opened the back door.

“I’m busy tonight. I’ll call you.” Maeve said, and the door closed. I grabbed a microfiber towel and began cleaning.

“We didn’t exchange numbers!” The man shouted from the other side of the door.

“I’m sure I’ll see you around sometime.” She shouted back. I scrubbed the counter and took a sip of my coffee.

“You drove me here. How am I supposed to get home?”

“I’m sure someone in one of the other shops is headed to the pack house.” She left the door and came into the showroom with me. She grabbed her coffee and chugged it, leaning against the counter.

“Not very good, was he?” I asked once he wasn’t at the door anymore.

“Oh, he was very good.” She grinned from ear to ear.

“What’s his name?”

She pursed her lips and tapped on the counter.

“You don’t remember?”

“I think it started with an H? Can you ask him for me when he comes back?” She leaned over the counter and pouted at me.

“Yes. I’ll ask.”

“Do you mind if I take a shower before the Luna comes?”

I’d hoped to talk about last night before the shop opened, but she’s a mess.

“Please do. You smell like sweat and Mr. H.” I flashed her a smile, and she groaned.

I continued cleaning while she went upstairs. The phone started to ring, but I ignored it, since the shop hadn’t opened yet.

I have to make sure this appointment goes perfectly. If the Luna likes my work, everyone else will want to shop here. Knots formed in my stomach at the idea of her hating my work.

Women started showing up at the door. They glared at the sign, then knocked at the window at me. I ignored them and kept cleaning. Maeve came down the stairs, fresh and clean.

“Is Quinn supposed to be here?” She stopped and stared at the door.

“She’s at school.”

“Are we not letting them in?”

“Appointments only. Hopefully, you’ll have your hands full with the phone.”

It rang again. A crowd had formed at the window and the clock said it was ten.

The crowd parted, and Genevieve walked up to the front door. She was in high-waisted pants, with a red strappy crop top, and big black sunglasses.

I ran to the door and unlocked it while Maeve answered the phone.

“Good morning! Welcome.” I opened the door and Luna Genevieve slid through. I went to close the door, but a lady put her hand in the way.

“You’re really not going to let us in?” She snapped, glaring at me.

“It’s by appointment only today.” I said, hoping to diffuse the growing crowd.

“Certainly you can take a few people.”

“You heard her. It’s appointment only. I’m sure you have something more important to do than stand here. Get in the phone queue.” Luna Genevieve said, waving her hand for them to leave.

The lady pursed her lips but moved her hand. I closed the door and locked it. People began taking pictures of the sign with our number. They watched us, and it was hard to tell if they were taking pictures of us, or the sign.

“I’ll close the blinds for more privacy.” I rolled down large gray blinds, and the women complained on the other side.

“Thank you, dear.” Luna Genevieve lifted her sunglasses, setting them on top of her head, and looked around. “How quaint!” She switched a large briefcase from one hand to another.

Is that a compliment? Whatever, just don’t p*ss her off.

“Thank you! I have a fitting room over here for you. Are you looking for something in particular? Did you want to look at what’s on the racks? We could do a custom gown?” I rattled off the options, fumbling with my hands. I reminded myself to look down at the floor or around the room.

“Custom. I’ve brought inspiration.” She lifted the briefcase.

“Let’s start with design first.” I motioned to the fitting room and led us inside. It was the larger fitting room, with chairs and a little table, so we could sit and discuss.

I grabbed a notepad and pen.

“Before I show you, how discreet is your store?” She held up the briefcase and pulled it close to her.

“Our walls aren’t soundproof. If the people outside can hear what we say, I can’t stop them from sharing it. But everyone who works here won’t share what’s said in the store. Our conversations are private.”

She tilted her head and listened, as if checking the sounds coming inside. The walls inside the fitting room were thick brick, and I could barely hear outside the building from this room. Honking cars were all that ever made it through.

“Good. My mate bought me this gift and I wish to have a gown that matches it.”

“Oh, how sweet!” I grinned, clasping my hands together. She set the briefcase down on the table and worked at the clasp. I imaged all kinds of jewelry, or other accessories that might be inside.

But when she opened it, she revealed some kind of odd leather tasseled thing. The handle was woven black and blood red leather and had matching deep red rubies on it. The leather went further, in strips of leather dangling from the handle.

What is that? Whatever it was, it was important enough to carry around in a red velvet lined briefcase.

“It was a very sweet gift. Handmade too.” She delicately picked it up by the handle and ran her hand through the leather strips. “I’d like a gown inspired by this. The colors and the rubies will need to match. When I wear it, I want him to think of this.” She wiggled the item and gave me a sly grin.

“I’m sure we can do that. I have some fabric in close colors. Do you want it in leather too? Are you planning on wearing them together?” Is that thing something you wear? Do you use it? I frowned at it. It was unlike any accessory I’d ever seen.

“You’re very bold, asking about our s*x life!” Her eyes got wide; she frowned, staring me down. Her s*x life? My face burned and I could’ve sunk through the floor.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to pry!” My words caught in my throat and my heart raced. No! The appointment just started, and I already offended her!

“Wait, did you ask if I was going to wear this?” She lifted the item and chuckled, the angry look leaving her face. “Oh, dear, do you not know what this is?”

“Uh, no. I’m going to have to plead ignorance. Please forgive me.” I sank into a chair, clutching the notebook closer to me.

She laughed and the tips of my ears burned, and I knew I had to be as red as a beet.

“If you’re going to make a dress based on this, then you’ll have to know what it is.” She grinned and ran her fingers through the leather tassels. “It’s a flogger, dear. I whip my mate with it when he misbehaves.” She whispered the last part and looked lovingly at it.

My mind reeled as I stared at it. People do that?

I thought of my own, very limited experiences. S*x is already so… unpleasant. Why would you want to do that?

“That does change the design I would have.” I said, letting out a nervous laugh.

Alpha Ansel lets her whip him? With that? People like stuff like that? I tried to control my face, making sure I didn’t give her an odd look. I’ve held secrets before for clients; this isn’t any different! Don’t be judgy, Gwen.

“Are you still alright making the dress? I understand if not. I could get something else.”

“No, it’s alright. Do you have a certain design in mind? Is this a dress for private events, or do you want to wear it in public?”

She smiled and sat down, giving me information and ideas for the dress. She wanted to wear it in public, so it needed to have coverage. As she spoke, I drew up a design.

The dress would be strappy, and tight, but easy to take off. Red and black with matching red rubies, with a fringe trim. I held up the design to show her.

“We could do backless? Or cutting out the belly button area could be good-“

“No.” She snapped. “I mean, backless would be good. I require the belly to have full coverage.” She held onto the flogger the entire time, stroking it lovingly.

I drew the back, and after making a few changes, we agreed on a final look.

“Why don’t we go look through my fabric, and you can pick out what red matches best.” I led her up the stairs to my fabric storage. I pulled out all the reds and blacks I had, along with jewels and gems. Finally, we agreed on all the details.

We went down to the showroom, and we’d gotten her measurements, and set the first try-on-date. She held the briefcase with the flogger inside.

“It’s been a lovely appointment, Gwen. I look forward to trying on the gown.” She held out her free hand and smiled.

“Thank you! I’m going to get started on your dress right away.” I took her hand, and she firmly shook it. She let go, and I glanced at the briefcase. “May I ask you to leave that with me? I’d like to be able to look at it while I’m working on the dress. To make sure they match.” I pointed at the briefcase.

She held it up and pressed her lips together.

“I don’t see a problem with that. But you have to promise not to touch it with your bare skin. I only want me, and my mate’s scent on it.”

“Understood.”

“I appreciate your discretion, dear.” She winked at me and went to the door.

“Of course, we strive to provide excellent service.” I smiled and unlocked the door for her.

If I can keep her as a client, the shop will be golden. This dress has to be the best I’ve ever made.

She slid out the door, we said our goodbyes, and I locked the door behind her. Maeve finished a call as I headed upstairs and put the briefcase in the shop’s safe.