Hustle & Bustle, page 1
Hustle & Bustle
Synopsis
Hannah Monroe is ready to dazzle customers with her pop-up shop at NYC’s winter holiday market. NYPD beat cop Toby Beckett, who just wants to protect and serve, barely notices the spirit of the season until events keep pushing her into Hannah’s path.
Hustle & Bustle
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By the Author
Totally Worth It
Serious Potential
Definite Possibility
Perfect Partners
Against All Odds (with Kris Bryant and M. Ullrich)
Brooklyn Summer
Bulletproof
Hustle & Bustle
Hustle & Bustle
© 2020 By Maggie Cummings. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-340-5
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: December 2020
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Ruth Sternglantz
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Tammy Seidick
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
Chapter One
“Deeper. You need to go deeper.”
“You think?”
Hannah Monroe tilted her phone to reexamine the image. Picture and angle aside, she was proud of her efforts. The display was on point, if she did say so herself. Sixty square feet wasn’t much to work with, but she’d maximized every inch. Little white lights framed the edges of the product display tables. Twinkling holly garlands bordered the booth and hung from the ceiling. Even if it was corny, the presentation filled her with holiday spirit and pride. The booth showcasing Gaia’s Glow was going to look amazing when the sun set.
“The lights are a nice touch.” Priya Sundjaren, her best friend and business partner, stood next to her and nodded approval.
“Thank you.” Hannah tilted her head to the side. Something wasn’t right. She stepped forward and pulled a short, stout decorative Nutcracker in front of a grand princely one in the back. “Ah, much better.”
Priya waved her hand in a circle. “Did you bring all of your decorations from home?”
“Not quite,” she said, but she’d hardly skimped either.
Even though it was still early November, Hannah had gone full boat with the holiday decor. Christmas came around once a year, and as far as the Central Park Holiday Market was concerned, that season started on the heels of Halloween. Some folks found that off-putting, but Hannah played right into the logic, dressing her pop-up shop to the hilt. Gaia’s Glow was her baby, and like any proud parent she wanted her pride and joy to shine.
“I just think we need to take advantage of this opportunity. Really try to draw people in, you know?”
She’d posed the question sort of rhetorically, but Hannah believed in her own rationale. With no real store to speak of, their natural skin-care company survived through online sales and the investment of a few small retailers they’d been able to seduce along the way. This tiny booth in New York City’s open-air holiday market was the closest Gaia’s Glow had ever come to having a storefront, and Hannah wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by.
To that end she adorned it with pine boughs and greenery all around. She’d even crafted custom sachets full of product samples and tied them with berry-festooned ribbons. For the perfect finishing note, she’d adorned the booth with various nutcrackers of all sizes from her personal collection. There was no tie-in, just a nod to her favorite ballet and a touch of home to make her feel comfortable.
“It looks fantastic.” Her uber-pragmatic business partner leaned over her shoulder to examine the photo again. “But you were too close for the picture. Back up and try again.”
“I thought I was in charge of setup and social media,” Hannah teased.
“Partnership through and through.” Priya waved her backward. “The same way you hung around the lab until we found the right aroma profile for the new moisturizing line. I’m here to do my part to ensure our presence at this holiday market is leveraged to the fullest.” Priya adjusted her headscarf. “That includes having an opinion on our Instagram presence.”
“So bossy.” Hannah stuck out her tongue just to make sure her BFF knew she was kidding.
“There. That should be far enough,” Priya said, moving out of the frame.
Hannah assessed the image before taking the picture. One more step would really be better.
“Ow!” she said, as she bumped right into something behind her.
“Oh my gosh, are you okay?”
It was a person. A cop, to be precise. The impact was so solid Hannah hadn’t expected it to come from another human.
Hannah could feel herself stumbling as she tried to find her footing, and she was keenly aware of the cop’s strong grip keeping her from completely wiping out. She fixed her gaze on the silver shield and nameplate at her eye level and grounded herself as she focused on the uniformity of the letters in Officer Beckett’s name.
“Hey. Are you all right?” The officer was still holding her arm, and it took her a minute, but Hannah finally snapped out of her daze.
“I’m okay.” She was more embarrassed than anything but shook it off with a smile. “Sorry about that.”
“I thought we were both going to bite it there for a second,” the cop said with a laugh.
“It was my fault,” Hannah admitted. “I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing.”
“No worries.” The officer patted her arm. “You sure you’re good?”
“Yes.” Hannah blinked slowly using the extra second to find her composure. “I’m fine. Are you?”
“Good as gold,” she said with a radiant smile. The cop was tall and female, which threw Hannah even though she knew the thought was ridiculously closed-minded. Hannah forgave her instinctual bias on the spot, blaming the sturdiness of the officer’s stature. Quite frankly it had felt like she’d backed into a brick wall. But in contrast to her formidable build, the officer’s voice was soft and even, and her eyes had a kindness to them that was almost enchanting. “Do you want me to take a picture of you and your friend?” She nodded toward Priya, standing in front of their storefront.
“No. Um, no,” Hannah stammered out. “I just need a shot of the booth. Thank you anyway,” she said, finding her manners.
“Okay. If you change your mind, feel free to grab one of us. I’m Officer Beckett,” she said pointing to her own chest. “But you can snag any one of us if you need something.” She ticked her head toward a gaggle of officers close by. “We’re here to help any way we can.”
“Sure,” Hannah said with a wave as she backed the few steps to her booth, very nearly knocking into Priya setting out some giveaways.
“An officer of the law?” Priya’s nod said she was surprised but supportive. “Not what I expected. But I have to say, I’m into it.”
“Shut up.”
“Mm, I don’t know,” she crooned. “You looked awfully good together. The way you almost fell on your butt, and she caught you with ease and steadied you as you gazed in each other’s eyes. You had that beauty and brawn thing going on.” Priya nodded at her romanticized description. “I dig it.”
Hannah laughed outright. It cracked her up that her bestie was always trying to marry her off. Whether it was a newly single worker in their small factory or their divorced local honey supplier, no one was off-limits, and Hannah imagined Priya would have her coupled up with a myriad of other vendors and patrons over the next eight weeks.
“You have an overactive imagination,” she said, just to keep her friend in check.
“And you, my dear friend, have an underserved libido. It’s the holidays. Live. It. Up.”
“I love that your advice is always so carpe diem, when you got married at the ripe old age of twenty-five.”
“I can’t help that I found the love of my life in college. I wasn’t expecting it either, but I seized that moment because I was not about to let Dev slip away. Nuh-uh. Sue me for wanting the same kind of happiness for you.” Priya whacked her with a product brochure. “Anyway, let me see how the picture came out.”
Dammit. The picture. In the chaos of her near spill and the aftermath, she’d forgotten to take the picture. Hannah winced, mortified that she had to admit it.
“I…um…about that,” she said with a finger raised high in the air. “It seems I may have actually neglected to take the picture.”
“Hannah!” But Priya wasn’t mad. On the contrary, Hannah recognized signature excitement in her voice, her eyes growing wider by the second. “I knew it.”
“Relax, Priya. It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“If you say so.” Priya stared at the circle of officers crowding the novelty doughnut booth across the way. “She’s lo
Hannah resisted turning around. “Who?”
“Don’t you who me. Your future wife, that’s who.”
Hannah rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile from emerging. “You’re ridiculous—you know that, right?”
“Protest all you want, but I’m not the one who practically forgot my name after locking eyes with a sexy cop.”
“Gross.”
“What’s gross?” Priya’s tone called her right onto the carpet. “Is it her strapping physique or her sweet smile that turns you off?” She held a finger up, even though Hannah hadn’t even tried to interrupt. “Wait. Wait. I know.” Priya nodded in agreement with herself. “It was her chivalry.” Priya’s eyes widened as if to underscore her disapproval. “I, for one, would not have minded a pic together. For the record.” Her shrug was playful, and Hannah couldn’t help but laugh.
“Her smile is lovely,” she said almost under her breath as she recalled Officer Beckett’s face. She was attractive in an unusual way. Square jawed with full lips and short hair hidden under the police hat. She had a smooth complexion, and her eyes were a soft, dark brown. Rich and expressive, even at a glance. What was she doing? A cute cop was still a cop and, ugh, no thanks. “How come the entire NYPD has to congregate right across from our space?” she said, switching gears.
“Well, Hannah”—Priya surveyed the corridor of booths that made up their section of the market—“I’m going to go with the obvious. The cops are interested in that fancy doughnut stand and the custom coffee booth right next to it.” She straightened a row of age defying serum so that the boxes lined up perfectly. “The cute girls in Santa hats flirting with them are probably just an added perk.”
“Exactly my point.”
“Which is?”
“They’re barely here to protect and serve. More like hook up and party with the vendors. Most of whom are from out of town, all of whom are here for business.”
“You couldn’t sound more uptight if you tried.” Priya dropped a look on her. “You should get over there and get in on the action.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s the first day of the market. There’s no one interested in buying yet. Probably because it’s all locals, and it’s too early in the season for them to commit.” Priya braced her shoulders in support. “You’re not interested in the cop? Fine, have it your way. Talk to the doughnut vendors. Maybe you’ll find a love connection there.”
“What if I’m not looking for a love connection?”
“I refuse to entertain such malarkey,” Priya said with an exaggerated sigh. “But if that’s the line you’re going with, it wouldn’t kill you to make friends. At least some folks to maybe grab a drink with after work when I’m back in Queens making nice with my relatives.”
“I hate that you can’t stay at my dad’s with me.” Hannah pouted.
“I suppose I could. But my aunt and uncle would be so offended. It’s not worth hurting their feelings.”
Hannah tipped her head back in exasperation. She had no idea how she was going to entertain herself night after night in the city. “I know our participation here will be good for the company.” At least that was the gamble on this venture. “But the price may be my sanity.”
“Which is precisely why you should offset work with some fun extracurriculars.” Priya licked her lips and added an over the top wink.
“And your top contender for me is a cop? Get real.” Hannah stared at Priya’s belly. “I think pregnancy is messing with your brain. It’s like you don’t even know me.”
“Your hang-ups will leave you a spinster. I think this could be the perfect holiday romance. The city cop, the country girl.” Priya hugged herself and spun in a small contained circle. “Think of the possibilities.”
“First of all, I’m not from the country. I was born in Manhattan, in case you forgot, and the town of Hudson is hardly rural.” Hannah stole a glance across the way in spite of her objections. “Secondly, you read too many romance novels.”
“Pshh. I read too many medical and chemistry texts. Not enough romance novels.”
“Well, if you think I’m going to settle down with a cop, you’ve lost your mind.”
“Who said anything about settling down? I swear, Hannah, you’re your own worst enemy sometimes.”
Hannah made a big show of looking around so her BFF would know she was lost. “So you didn’t just suggest I find love with one of New York’s Finest?”
“I was merely suggesting you make nice with a rather attractive police officer. Where it goes, it goes.” Hannah shook her head to signify utter disbelief at the suggestion, but Priya was still talking. “Just think of it. A Christmas rendezvous characterized by holiday windows, hot chocolate, and mistletoe. Long winter walks with carols playing in the background.”
“Let me get this straight,” Hannah said with a laugh. “You want me to have the montage section of a Hallmark holiday movie?”
“Yes!” Priya was all excitement as she grabbed her hands. “That is exactly what I want.”
Hannah was a sucker for how much her bestie always championed romance. But then, she imagined it was easy when you’d already found your person. For a fraction of a second she let Priya’s enthusiasm rub off on her because, honestly, it didn’t sound terrible, and the cop was adorable. But when she cast another look back at the doughnut stand, the police officers had already dispersed.
“I hate all that stuff anyway.”
“You hate Christmas and romance?” Priya was aptly horrified. “Since when?”
“Not Christmas,” Hannah corrected. “I love Christmas. But the crowds and the city.” She shuddered just thinking about the weeks ahead. “So not my thing. Especially this time of year. It’s all mayhem.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure? The spirit of the season?”
“I do love your energy, Priya.” She rubbed her friend’s forearm, knowing that in spite of her outlandish proposal, Priya’s heart was in the right place. “Anyway, I’m content focusing on growing our exposure and making mad cash.” She crossed her fingers in anticipation.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.” Priya smiled. “Single lady and all…”
“Eternally, it seems.”
“Only yourself to blame for that.”
“I’m actually not assigning blame at all,” she said as she made slight eye contact with a patron perusing the wares of a crystal harvester set up diagonally from them. “I don’t even think it’s a bad thing,” she added. Even though it was the truth, she did get lonely sometimes. And while she’d outwardly pooh-poohed Priya’s idea of a fling, she’d be lying if she didn’t admit allowing herself some fantasizing in anticipation of her time in the city. She was only human.
Hannah could see it now: a nice meet-cute with a gorgeous, arty millennial. Perhaps they’d converge over the latest provocative MOMA exhibit, which would naturally lead to talking politics and culture over espresso, subtly touching and laughing as they discussed their favorite guilty pleasure movies and books. Subway travel would find them tossing spare change and small bills into the hat of a street musician mellowing out “Auld Lang Syne” on the sax. They’d hold hands on the sidewalk and kiss under the shadow of a red and green illuminated Empire State Building.
Okay, so maybe she’d thought about it a little.
“I can see the wheels turning. You’re considering it. Maybe not the cop, but something.”
She almost hated how well Priya could read her. Through the years they’d endured highs and lows, seen each other through girlfriends and boyfriends, family drama and heartache, tackled the trials and challenges of starting and maintaining a business together. There wasn’t anyone in the world who knew her better, and she was about to say exactly that, but she was distracted by the sight of two cops escorting someone down the aisle in handcuffs. They were just steps from her booth, and Hannah could tell it was the officer from before. The one with the nice eyes. Beckett.
“Nice and easy.” Officer Beckett’s calm, even voice preceded her. “We’re just going to walk straight toward the exit,” she instructed.
