I was immensely happy that I was in a position where I could afford buying anything I wanted not just for myself but also for my family. I just liked buying presents for no reason.
I loved that there were so many kids in the family. It all started three years ago when my brother Ryker started dating a single mom, Heather, who’s currently pregnant with their baby. My cousin Hunter was also married to our very good friend Josie, but they hadn’t had children—yet.
The family had grown fast when Skye got pregnant. In addition, her husband’s sister also had a ten-year-old daughter, Lindsay. I still hadn’t decided what kind of pendant to buy for her, though she loved just about anything I’ve given her. It had to be different than Avery’s, so each girl would feel special, but not different enough that they would fight over whose was nicer. There were so many options to choose from that I was slightly overwhelmed. In the end, I picked up one that had an identical teardrop shape but a pink quartz.
“Pack them both in pink paper please,” I told the sales associate. That was one thing the girls agreed on: pink was better than any other color.
“Right away.”
I was smiling from ear to ear as I revised my shopping list. All done. I felt wildly more relaxed than yesterday. One thing was still nagging at me, though. We hadn’t heard from Harrington & Co. yet; I checked my email every thirty minutes today to make sure. I was jittery every time I remembered not only my bathroom run-in with Liam but also the shameless flirting at the lockers. I hadn’t expected that!
Stepping out of the store, I glanced around, deciding what to do next. A cupcake shop caught my eye, and though I was more of a chocolate cake kind of gal, the pink sign and the fluffy pillows in the window display sold me on it.
My phone rang as I crossed the street. I transferred all my bags to my right hand, searching for the phone in my purse with my left. It was Skye calling, and I answered right away, hoping she’d heard something.
“We’ve made it to the next round!” she exclaimed.
“Awesome, I didn’t get to check my email yet. When is it?”
“They gave us three options to choose from. One is tomorrow, one Friday, and the third one next Monday. Always at seven o’clock.”
“I’m free for all of those, so you choose.”
“Okay, I’ll reply right away. Tess, I’m so excited. I wasn’t sure what to think when they just sent us on our way yesterday so quickly.”
“All of us had fifteen-minute slots, Skye. I think it just seemed faster because we’d been the ones presenting.”
“You’re right. Well, I worried for nothing, because we’ve made it. I can’t wait.”
“Hey, I’m just looking at a fabulous cupcake shop. Want me to grab some and stop by your place to celebrate?” There was no better way to celebrate good news than quality time with my sister, her husband, and my nephew.
“Oh, I can’t. We’re going over to Rob’s sister’s for dinner.”
“Just so you know, I’m pouting right now, but have fun.”
“Thanks, Tess. I’m so excited about this opportunity.”
I grinned. “So am I, Sis.”
One would think I would have taken that as a sign to ignore the cupcake place, but instead I went over to take a closer look at the display. And what do you know? They had a slice of chocolate cake on a golden platter. I couldn’t just pass that by, could I?
***
My excitement grew by leaps and bounds when they confirmed we were meeting them for dinner on Thursday. That whole day, I was nervous from the moment I woke up.
I didn’t have any meetings, so I worked from home. Sitting on my couch in yoga pants and a baggy T-shirt, I tinkered with a spreadsheet with budget projections throughout the day. I wasn’t very productive, though.
I kept trying to imagine how the evening would go. What would they want to talk about? Our designs? Our detailed plans for the company’s future? Potential questions popped in my mind faster than I could come up with answers.
I pressed a palm to my chest, breathing in deeply. I needed to relax so I could be at the top of my game this evening. I crossed my legs at my ankles, rested my hands on my knees, and closed my eyes. I tried one of the meditation techniques my yoga instructor recently taught me—visualizing that I was at the foot of a very old, very large tree and its majestic crown was sweeping in the wind. I’d been successful during the yoga class. I could have sworn I felt a light breeze on my skin.
I grinned. Yeah, I wasn’t seeing any trees in my mind right now. Instead, I was seeing a pair of gorgeous blue eyes. Liam Harrington’s eyes were definitely closer to aquamarine. I could visualize the rest of him in perfect detail too. Everything from his sharp jawline to those defined arms had registered in my memory. The man was seriously delicious. I could map his body with my mouth for days.
Still grinning, I opened my eyes. Well, I wasn’t relaxed by any means, but it was fun.
I can’t ogle him tonight, I reminded myself. I just had to make a good impression, that was all. I was hoping the hot energy between us at the locker before I left was just because of my wardrobe mishap. I was really, really hoping that, because if the man pinned me with those sinfully blue eyes again, I might combust. Just at the thought of it, I swear my panties felt on fire.
Half an hour before Skye was supposed to arrive at my place, I dressed up in yet another power outfit. This time, it was a black wraparound dress with short sleeves that I paired with dark green stilettos with silver heels and a matching clutch. I also wore huge round silver earrings. My hair fell to my shoulders in delicate waves, all accomplished with the use of a curling iron. I ran a hand through it so the blonde strands would pop out more.
By the time Skye got here, I was downright jittery. The venue for the dinner was closer to me than to her, so we decided to meet at my place and head out together.
She was wearing a gorgeous cream-colored silk dress and a black cashmere coat. I put on a matching coat; we bought them together as a present to ourselves when we’d hit our most recent milestone: one million products sold.
“Uh-oh,” I exclaimed, pointing at her face. “I see worry everywhere. Don’t. We’ll kick ass.”
Skye pouted. “I’m really hoping so. How come you’re not worried?”
I laughed. “I am. I’m just better at hiding it.”
With a sigh, I took my sister’s hand between my palms, looking her straight in the eyes. “Sis, you have to promise to keep me in check.”
“Tess, that’s not possible.”
“You know I can get overexcited about things sometimes.”
Skye wiggled her palm from between mine, then cupped my cheeks with both hands. “You do everything on a grand scale. I don’t think you even know how to do things differently.”
She had a point. I celebrated good news exuberantly and generally liked to make a huge fuss about everything. Once when our brother Cole came back from an overseas trip, I waited for him with a Welcome Home sign at the airport. I’d wanted to buy balloons, but Skye and Ryker talked me out of it.
“Just no bathroom incidents and we’ll be fine,” Skye said with a smile.
I groaned. “Don’t tease me about that. I’m trying to pretend it didn’t happen.”