Nailed Read Online Free PDF Page B

and—”
    “That’s no excuse. It’s a new promotion and management wants us signing up as many people as possible.” She glared at River. “They feel it will increase business.”
    “But most people I ask are already signed up for e-mail coupons.”
    Louise tapped her nails on the glass counter impatiently. “I want you to sign up at least five new people this afternoon. Understood?”
    River drew in a breath. “Yes.”
    She realized that Louise was staring critically at her nails. Now what was wrong? She’d put on one of the spring colors. She’d chosen Blue Me Away, which was a soft periwinkle. She glanced down at her nails. Oh, God, there was a big chip in the polish, revealing naked nail on her index finger. And another on her thumb.
    “Do you really think it’s appropriate for your nails to be in such a state? It doesn’t leave a very good impression on the customers. Would you buy nail polish from someone who doesn’t even know how to take care of her own nails?”
    River had to bite back a sharp retort. River knew how to take care of her nails and she also knew a decent polish when she used one. This polish was gloppy and applied unevenly. And it clearly didn’t last, since she’d put it on only two days ago, and used a quality base coat and top coat. Her nail polish didn’t chip after only two days’ wear. Ever.
    By break time, River had signed up two people for the text program.
    “How you doing?” Tia asked when they sat down for a quick coffee at the Starbucks in the mall. Tia had come on shift at noon. “It seems like Louise has been giving you a hard time.”
    River stared at her nails. She’d done a quick fix by applying White Water, Pink Fizz, and Seafoam over the blue polish in quick strokes using an almost dry brush, giving her nails a sort of grunge multicolored effect. Louise had raised her eyebrow with a critical glare, but River had been with a customer at the time, so Louise hadn’t said anything. River couldn’t help feeling a little smug when the customer called her friend over and asked River to show them how she’d done it. Especially when that resulted in a sale of all four colors to each of them.
    “Nothing new there. Louise clearly doesn’t like me.”
    “Oh, well. Screw her. The customers like you. And anyway, you’re going to start your own business and a year from now, you’ll be laughing at us poor saps who have to drag our asses in to someone else’s business and follow their rules.” Tia patted River’s hand. “You’ll be making your own rules.”
    Her own rules. Yeah, not if Kane got his way.
    “You know that a start-up company like mine probably won’t even be profitable in a year. I’ll still be schlepping into the store with you.”
    “Naw. You’re going to be a big success. I know it. You’re talented and smart.”
    “Not that smart. I didn’t even finish college.”
    “That doesn’t matter. You’re going to make it big. I know you are.” Tia squeezed her hand. “I believe in you.”
    The gesture filled River with warmth. She loved that Tia believed in her. And cared about her. She was just a casual friend—River didn’t really get close to people—but Tia filled a void in her life. Tia cared about what happened to River more than her mother ever had. And her father had been practically nonexistent in her life.
    “I know you do. Thanks.” River smiled awkwardly. She patted Tia’s hand, then drew hers away, unwilling to allow herself more of the comforting contact.
    Tia sipped her coffee. “So how did dinner go with your Kickstarter person? Was she nice?”
    River frowned. “She was a he.”
    “Oh?” She glanced at River. “You don’t seem happy. Did he hit on you?”
    “No.” She certainly wouldn’t tell Tia about the kiss. “He was a guy I knew in college.”
    “Oh? A guy you dated in college?”
    She shrugged. “Do you consider going out two times dating?”
    “That depends. Did you have sex with