MissBEHAVED

“If I knew Thomas would spank me, I would have gone over my limit, too.”

Their voices were increasing in volume, and I didn’t want the ski bunny to hear them and feel uncomfortable, even if they mostly sounded envious of her relationship. My mother raised me to always be respectful of others, no matter their circumstances in life. Although, I think she was thinking more along the lines of people with less money than us, not people with alternative lifestyles.

“Okay, ladies, you’re all set. Thank you so much for coming in today. I hope you visit me again if you come back to Ellicottville. My stock turns over every three months, so I’ll definitely have new items if you’re in town for Spring Fling.”

They said their goodbyes and left, heading down the street to continue their shopping. The snow had stopped sometime over the last hour, and the sun shone brightly. People were beginning to crowd the sidewalks, and I couldn’t help but grin. I didn’t need the money from the store to live off thanks to my family, but I desperately wanted my shop to succeed. After two years in business, I was starting to see a meager profit, which I just reinvested in stock in an effort to provide more options for my customers.

Speaking of which, I turned to face my remaining guest and found her watching me.

“Let’s get you set up in a fitting room and I’ll take your measurements. Once I know your size, I’ll grab whatever you want to try on. Anything in particular catching your eye?”

It was my usual spiel and generally people responded with excitement, happy to have my full attention and are ready to start trying on pretty things. But she didn’t move an inch.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” she whispered, looking so forlorn I had to stop myself from giving her a hug. “Daddy, I mean, my boyfriend, says I need to remember that not everyone understands our lifestyle or wants to know about it. I’m so used to being around people who are into the same type of things sometimes my mouth gets away from me.”

I tilted my head and studied her, trying to imagine a scenario where I’d be comfortable calling my significant other ‘Daddy’ or ‘Sir’ or anything other than his name, in public.

“What’s your name?” I asked, moving toward her, and taking the two bras she had in her hands.

“Delia.”

“Well, Delia, you’re very lucky to have a life where you’re comfortable being yourself. And I don’t have a relationship like that, or any relationship right now, but my girlfriends and I have a book club where we read all sorts of kinky stuff. So I’m not uncomfortable in the slightest. In fact, I think it’s very hot to have a man who likes to take charge.” I paused and waited for her to return my smile. “Now, you like these two?” I held up the items I’d taken from her, and she nodded. “Let’s get you measured so I can grab the correct size because these are definitely not it.”

“Really? That’s the size I always wear,” she replied, shocked.

“That’s what everyone says. I bet you can’t wait to take off those bras at the end of the day.” She nodded in agreement. “That’s because they don’t fit correctly. Now, let’s get you all figured out.”

Delia gave me a blinding grin and returned to the bubbly girl who’d first walked into my shop. We spent two hours finding her the perfect fit, and she definitely exceeded her daddy’s limit. I didn’t think he’d mind after he saw how fantastic she looked in everything.

Other customers came in while I worked with Delia, so I was running around the shop like a maniac and didn’t even realize how late it was until Grace walked in as Delia walked out.

“Is it three o’clock already?” I asked before drinking down half a bottle of water while I had a minute. There was a woman getting dressed in one fitting room after finding a strapless bra to wear under her mother-of-the-bride dress, and another still browsing. “It’s been really busy.”

“I can tell,” Grace replied, taking off her jacket and switching her winter boots for flats. “It looks like a bomb went off in here.”

I glanced around and found her assessment correct. There were hangers strewn all over the floor behind the sales counter where I’d dropped them while cashing people out. A pile of bras that didn’t fit Delia sat on the table next to the dressing room, needing to be rehung. Items were all askew on the racks from people pulling them off to look at them and putting them back in the wrong spot. Usually, I tried to pick up along the way, but helping two and three people at a time didn’t leave me with a moment to spare.

The mother of the bride approached the counter with her strapless bra in hand, so I just shrugged in Grace’s direction and started working again.