Lingerie Wars (Invertary 1)

“Hand over your key to the flat,” she told the evil one. “I’m not having you walk in any time you like.”

Betty folded her arms and shook her head.

“It’s my building. I’m keeping the key.”

“Lake?” Kirsty said in exasperation.

“You can keep the key if you want to,” Lake said.

“Lake!” Kirsty said as she elbowed him.

He grinned mischievously.

“I have to warn you though, Betty, there’s a good chance you’ll see more than you want when you walk in. You know what newlyweds are like. Insatiable. I expect there will be sex everywhere. In the living room, on the couch...”

Kirsty grinned at him.

“...The hall carpet, and the kitchen counter,” she said.

“I eat there!” Betty said in disgust.

“I’m just letting your know what you’re in for,” Lake said. “Might be a better idea to knock the door first, until the novelty wears off—say, in twenty years or so.”

Betty mumbled something under her breath, delved into the hidden pockets in her dress and came out with a key. She thumped it into Kirsty’s hand.

“This isn’t fair,” she grumped.

“But better for all concerned,” Kirsty told her.

Betty frowned.

“Who’s going to be in charge of the shop now that the two of you are here?” she asked.

From the way she said it you could almost hear her think, not Kirsty, not Kirsty.

“Me,” Kirsty said with delight. “It’s my shop now.”

“What about the one over the road? That’s your shop too. You belong over there. It isn’t like you don’t have enough to keep you occupied without bothering with this one.”

“Actually, I’ve had some thoughts on that,” Lake said as he casually sipped his coffee.

The women gave him their attention. He cleared his throat.

“I thought I’d turn it into a security business,” he said.

Kirsty’s heart skipped a beat. He really meant to stay.

“With what?” she said. “You don’t have any savings, I don’t have any insurance and you gave this shop to me.”

“I thought I’d use the backroom downstairs first off. Run classes, start the business and as the money comes in we can renovate over the road.”

“Where will I design my new lingerie line?” Kirsty said.

“Can’t we share the space?” he said with a smile. “It’s big enough. I can partition a section off for you.”

“Half,” Kirsty said.

“A quarter,” Lake said.