muttered to herself. “You’re frightening small children. Get back to work.” She halted in mid-stride and made a u-turn back to Customer Service.
The young man who followed her from one aisle over pulled up short in surprise. Piercing green eyes met hers. For a moment time stopped. “David?” she gasped in a choked whisper.
“Excuse me!”
Startled, Rosalie jumped back. The middle-aged woman with the red glasses shot Rosalie an irritated glance as she squeezed past. “You’re blocking the way.”
“Sorry, I—”
A puff of air hit Rosalie’s neck. She spun around in search of the young man, but he had completely disappeared. Impossible, her mind blared. Where could a person hide? She craned her neck, peering down the aisles in bewilderment.
Rosalie chastised herself all the way back to Customer Service. You’re totally mental—probably an allergic reaction to the elf hat. Teensy poisonous green fibers embedded in your skull and are now burrowing into the brain causing very vivid green hallucinations. Next will be leprechauns.
At lunch time in the break room she found her name at the top of the Motivation Memo again. Rosalie was inattentive to customers. Rosalie walked through the store without the elf hat.
She stormed off, her appetite gone. Marissa was right. The mysterious David was a Sneaky Shopper. He spied on her and wrote the notes to mess with her head. Stephanie probably paid a premium to any Sneaky Shopper who reported an employee. He wanted to distract her and make himself look good. How dare he play with her emotions like that? Who did he think he was?
Her hands balled into tight little fists. She was so ready to kill him. The elusive David would regret ever setting foot in Penrose’s.
****
Heart pounding, David dashed-away from Rosalie to Penrose’s roof. He ran his hand roughly through his hair and groaned. He began the day with such good intentions. How had it all gone so horribly wrong?
He thought back to this morning. His hand had paused over the sticky pad, before impulsively signing his name. He hadn’t planned to. He intended to remain strictly anonymous, but couldn’t see the harm.After all, Rosalie sent the warning about Stephanie. If he didn’t sign a name, the notes might look like they came from a stalker. She wouldn’t smile anymore.
David enjoyed thinking about her great smile even while arguing with himself. Penrose’s was only a temporary stop. Once The Book was found, he’d return to his duties in New York never to see Rosalie again.
Yup. Never again. The thought was oddly disconcerting.
Wrapped up in his musings, David had been brought back to reality by approaching footsteps. He darted behind the portable clothes rack and peeked out, his spirits lifted by the sight of Rosalie at the counter. She glanced around and then reached underneath for the sticky pad. He couldn’t see her expression, but heard a soft chuckle. He filled with sudden warmth. Rosalie smiled.
He never expected her to suddenly dart toward the clothes rack, and yank at the hangers. Startled, David had shoved a fistful of women’s wear in front of him. He caught a glimpse of her determined face before dashing-away across the aisle to Sportswear. Crouched behind a display of jackets he breathed a sigh of relief. Rosalie was too close. He cast an admiring eye as she fruitlessly rifled through the clothing rack. Nice smile, he had thought, and gutsy as well.
David knew right then he should leave the store to get some rest, but instead lingered on the first floor, furtively watching Customer Service. Rosalie acted perturbed, constantly checking behind the clothes rack. Even Marissa’s visit didn’t cheer her up. One middle-aged lady with garish red glasses got short with her for having to wait for service. David’s conscience prickled. He hadn’t meant to upset Rosalie or make her life more difficult.
When Rosalie’s break came, she stuffed the elf hat under the counter. David again
The young man who followed her from one aisle over pulled up short in surprise. Piercing green eyes met hers. For a moment time stopped. “David?” she gasped in a choked whisper.
“Excuse me!”
Startled, Rosalie jumped back. The middle-aged woman with the red glasses shot Rosalie an irritated glance as she squeezed past. “You’re blocking the way.”
“Sorry, I—”
A puff of air hit Rosalie’s neck. She spun around in search of the young man, but he had completely disappeared. Impossible, her mind blared. Where could a person hide? She craned her neck, peering down the aisles in bewilderment.
Rosalie chastised herself all the way back to Customer Service. You’re totally mental—probably an allergic reaction to the elf hat. Teensy poisonous green fibers embedded in your skull and are now burrowing into the brain causing very vivid green hallucinations. Next will be leprechauns.
At lunch time in the break room she found her name at the top of the Motivation Memo again. Rosalie was inattentive to customers. Rosalie walked through the store without the elf hat.
She stormed off, her appetite gone. Marissa was right. The mysterious David was a Sneaky Shopper. He spied on her and wrote the notes to mess with her head. Stephanie probably paid a premium to any Sneaky Shopper who reported an employee. He wanted to distract her and make himself look good. How dare he play with her emotions like that? Who did he think he was?
Her hands balled into tight little fists. She was so ready to kill him. The elusive David would regret ever setting foot in Penrose’s.
****
Heart pounding, David dashed-away from Rosalie to Penrose’s roof. He ran his hand roughly through his hair and groaned. He began the day with such good intentions. How had it all gone so horribly wrong?
He thought back to this morning. His hand had paused over the sticky pad, before impulsively signing his name. He hadn’t planned to. He intended to remain strictly anonymous, but couldn’t see the harm.After all, Rosalie sent the warning about Stephanie. If he didn’t sign a name, the notes might look like they came from a stalker. She wouldn’t smile anymore.
David enjoyed thinking about her great smile even while arguing with himself. Penrose’s was only a temporary stop. Once The Book was found, he’d return to his duties in New York never to see Rosalie again.
Yup. Never again. The thought was oddly disconcerting.
Wrapped up in his musings, David had been brought back to reality by approaching footsteps. He darted behind the portable clothes rack and peeked out, his spirits lifted by the sight of Rosalie at the counter. She glanced around and then reached underneath for the sticky pad. He couldn’t see her expression, but heard a soft chuckle. He filled with sudden warmth. Rosalie smiled.
He never expected her to suddenly dart toward the clothes rack, and yank at the hangers. Startled, David had shoved a fistful of women’s wear in front of him. He caught a glimpse of her determined face before dashing-away across the aisle to Sportswear. Crouched behind a display of jackets he breathed a sigh of relief. Rosalie was too close. He cast an admiring eye as she fruitlessly rifled through the clothing rack. Nice smile, he had thought, and gutsy as well.
David knew right then he should leave the store to get some rest, but instead lingered on the first floor, furtively watching Customer Service. Rosalie acted perturbed, constantly checking behind the clothes rack. Even Marissa’s visit didn’t cheer her up. One middle-aged lady with garish red glasses got short with her for having to wait for service. David’s conscience prickled. He hadn’t meant to upset Rosalie or make her life more difficult.
When Rosalie’s break came, she stuffed the elf hat under the counter. David again
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