Buried in Bargains (Good Buy Girls) by Josie Belle Read Free Book Online Page B

new friend.
    “It’s the perfect solution. Thanks, Mom.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Diane said. “Honestly, I’m not sure that a big holiday ball is really my thing.”
    “Oh no,” Laura said. “You have to come. Everyone in town is going to be there, and it’ll be so much better than sitting at home alone.”
    Diane’s eyes got wide when Laura said the word
alone
, and Maggie could swear she saw a flicker of fear.
    “Are you all right?” she asked Diane but was interrupted when Britney Bergstrom stormed over to them.
    “That one!” Britney pointed her finger at the gown still in Diane’s hands. “I have to have that one.”
    “Sorry,” Maggie said, “but Diane has already chosen it.”
    Maggie didn’t much care for Britney Bergstrom. She had been one year ahead of Laura in school, and she had been one of the mean girls. She was the daughter of overly indulgent parents and as such had grown up with an unhealthy level of entitlement. What Britney wanted Britney got, but not today.
    “Excuse me?” Britney blinked at the three of them as if they had begun speaking a language she didn’t understand. “I said I want it.”
    “Yes, and I’m sorry,” Maggie said. “But Diane is taking that one. If it’s the color you’re partial to, I’m sure I have another—”
    “I don’t think you heard me.” Britney stomped one platform high heel on the floor. Her tone was shrill as she raised her voice and said, “I. Want. That. One.”
    The entire shop went still as everyone turned to watch the scene unfolding before them. Maggie could see several of the older women in the room staring at Britney in disapproval while a few of the younger ones looked on in awe. Maggie knew that this altercation was going to cost her a customer, but given that she didn’t really like this particular customer, she was okay with that.
    “I’m sorry, but you’ll need to pick something else,” Maggie said. She was pleased that her voice remained even.
    Britney’s face went red, and Maggie was pretty sure smoke was going to start billowing out of her ears.
    “She can have it, really,” Diane said. “I don’t want to cause any problems.” Her voice sounded submissive and Maggie felt a flicker of annoyance with the young woman.
    “See?” Britney asked in triumph. She reached out to snatch the gown from Diane, but Laura stepped in between them.
    “No, I don’t see,” Laura said. “You’ve been told to pick something else. Do so or leave.”
    Laura’s gaze flickered to her mother and Maggie gave her a small nod.
    “How dare you?” Britney huffed.
    Laura rolled her eyes. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got? Why don’t you just trot your underdressed booty over to Dumontville and hit the Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom? I mean, isn’t it beneath you to buy resale?”
    “Nice try,” Britney said. “But everyone knows vintage couture is hot, and the Madison family has the best collection of couture clothing in Virginia. Now you either give me that dress, or I swear I’ll ruin you.”
    Maggie stared at her. She hadn’t handled unhappy patients and unhappy insurance-company reps for twenty years for nothing. She knew customer service was critical for her business, but it was
her
business, and she wasn’t about to allow anyone to bully her or her other customers. Period.
    She looked Britney up and down, and in her calmest voice said, “Get out.”
    Britney gasped. The crowd of shoppers parted as if making way for Britney to leave. Maggie stepped forward. Britney stepped back. This continued all the way to the door, which someone was kind enough to push open.
    Britney had bright red spots of embarrassment flaming her cheeks as she glanced over Maggie’s head to glare at Diane. Like any bully, she was going for the weak one.
    “You’re going to pay for this,” she said.
    “Oh, please,” Maggie snapped. “Enough with the drama. Why don’t you go across the street and shop with your own kind?”
    She yanked