direction as Everett stood in the door, watching her hobble across his yard, then across the road to her drive. His eyes followed her all the way until she stepped into her door.
“Shawn my boy...I think you’re going to have to pull out all the stops for this one. I think you are.”
Chapter Four
Three Days Later…
Standing in the post office before the four teasing, snickering men, Sylvia could not believe her ears. She knew having her mouth dropped open did not present a very attractive picture. She also knew that she was going to kill him. No ifs, ands, or buts about it!
"What did he tell you?" she finally recovered enough to inquire. Her tone and look made those present clear their throats, choking back further laughter.
"Oh, come on now, Sylvie...don't go ta gettin' all upset," the postal worker, Frank, tried to reason. He cut his eye to the others, trying to douse their humor.
"Don't see what all the fuss is ‘bout, just a couple'a danged bats is all. What was ya runnin' for?" This came from old man Sparky, nicknamed so because he was always around town flirting with the ladies, pouring on the charm with his snaggletooth grin. "'Specially in the altogether, naked as the day you was born." He grinned then, his two front teeth missing. "Sure woulda like to been there, though." He flexed his brows.
Sylvia thought she would disintegrate right on the spot. Obviously her humiliation before him was not enough. He had to spread it around town to further entertain himself at her expense. The four cleared their throats nervously, seeing the look of hostility on her face.
"Now, Sylvie, don't go gettin' all tied up in a knot over it! It ain't all his fault. We kinda pried it out of him," Frank admitted gently. Quite incredulous at that admission, Sylvie crossed her arms over her breast, dropped one hip low as a lone brow shot up.
"Really? Please explain. How exactly did you pry out of him something you didn't even know about in the first place? Please, tell me, because I would just love to know!"she charged, not at all pleased—if her body language was any indication. Frank's head rolled uncomfortably as the others shifted in place, from one foot to another.
"Sylvia, it was all in fun...he didn't mean no harm, now…he really didn't," Frank tried to console her, just as the door opened and the object of their discussion came walking in. Upon entering the post office, it didn't take a rocket scientist to see what he'd walked in on. The belligerent look on Sylvie's face and the uncomfortable silence of the others at his presence, was enough to make Everett Styles sigh deep and wish he'd kept his mouth shut. He stopped right next to her within the door and gazed down into her angry eyes.
"Well, good morning, Mr. Styles. I would just like to start this day off by thanking you very much for using my unfortunate situation to amuse these gentlemen. To my shame , I find that you obviously get a kick out of sharing your sordid exploitations with women!" she accused hotly, uncrossing her arms and glaring at him as he stood in front of the post office entrance.
"Sordid? Exploitation? When did I exploit you?" Everett asked, exasperated.
She was not about to argue with him. "Excuse me! I have taken care of what I came for. Would you please be so kind as to remove yourself from the entrance...I would now like to use it for my exit!" Just then the door came open and a middle age couple entered the post office.
"Excuse me," the woman petitioned as the two combatants stood glaring at each other. Everett stepped aside as the couple passed through. He immediately stepped back in front of Sylvia, whom he'd stunned by the move.
"Excuse me! I would like to leave!" she reminded him, in no uncertain terms.
"You're more than welcome to do so, after you explain how it is that I exploited you! That's a little strong, don't you think?" he tossed back, a little rumpled. Mary Jo and David Kessler, the new couple who entered, joined