Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [67]
When Annie finally wound down, Stella zipped to the side of the road, cutting off two other cars before she slammed on the brakes. “You own those Daisy Shops! Well, Lordy, Lordy. Me and Joe go there for cappuccino sometimes. There’s one off the campus of Rutgers University. I betcha I been there three dozen times. Joe’s gonna be real happy when I tell him you’re gonna be selling that coffee by the pound. So what are you gonna do, Annie?”
“I don’t know. With the mix-ups in the condos and all, Kiki, that’s the sister, didn’t call me. She did call my brother quite a few times yesterday. It seems she can’t make that kind of decision without consulting her brother. There’s a lot of money involved here and a lot of coffee.”
“You’re telling me. I don’t like ultimatums.”
“Neither do I. I guess I made a mistake by giving her a five o’clock deadline. She ticked me off big-time. At first I didn’t know she was Parker’s sister. That old devil named jealousy reared her ugly head. She was beautiful, and I immediately thought any man would be attracted to her, mainly Parker since she worked for him. I reacted.”
“Don’t you go feeling bad now. I probably would have done the same thing. Sounds like you got her on the run. They’re both probably chasing all over this island looking for you. I bet they are, Annie. You gonna let the guy catch you? You should, but first give him a run for his money. I wish Joe was here. He’d know right off what to tell you. He’s a man!” Stella said proudly.
“I just made up my mind. I’m going to Maui!”
“Good for you! You gonna stake him out or what?”
“Were you serious about frizzing up my hair?”
“Nah. That was in the dark with three Buds under my belt. Your hair’s much too pretty to mess with. You’re a beautiful woman, Annie Clark. You dress good, too. Someday Joe is gonna have his own garage, and he’ll get me anything I want. He promised to get me a Visa card the next time an application comes in the mail.”
“Are you and Joe married to your jobs, Stella?”
“For now. They pay the rent. We’re paying on a big-screen TV because Joe likes sports. He surprised me with a glue gun, a super-duper model ’cause he knows I like to make crafts while he’s watching sports. They don’t come any better than Joe. Takes the edge off all those cranky women I have to pamper all day long. I swear, one of these days I’m going to snatch one of them baldheaded. I like being a hairdresser most days, but there are days when it gets to you.”
“Do you mind me asking what kind of money the two of you take home every week?”
“Yeah, I do mind. That’s kind of private. Why do you want to know?”
“I was going to offer you and Joe a job.”
“What kind of job?”
“Running one of the Daisy Shops. We’re about ready to open two very close to Princeton University. You could operate both of them. We have an excellent health plan and a very generous pension plan. You’d be able to save for your children’s college educations. It’s something you need to talk over with Joe, though. I’ll give you my card, and you can call me with your decision. The money is very good, Stella.”
“Jeez, I almost missed that sign,” Stella said as she careened past an airport van and a jeep. “Annie, I don’t know anything about running a store. Neither does Joe.”
“We’ll train you. Everything is premixed and prepackaged. All you have to do is read the directions. And you get to wear one of those cute little daisy uniforms.”
Stella laughed. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you do that for me and Joe?”
“Because you took the time last night to stop and ask me if I was all right. You cared enough to ask. You offered to drive me here, and you didn’t even know me. I appreciate that and the advice. Besides, I like you. I think I’m a good judge of character.”
“I