“Do not encourage her. It’s not happening.”
“Think about it. You could go back to Carl and teach him a thing or two. Show him what you like. The man is a doctor, after all. The least he can do is figure out how to find a woman’s G-spot,” Olivia said.
I barked out a laugh, and Reese pointed at the door. “Goodbye. I told you that in confidence when you got me liquored up in London. No more sex talk. Go find yourself a man and stay out of this.”
“So touchy. Or is she just in need of being touched?” Olivia squealed when Reese pinched her arm and guided her toward the door.
“Thanks for coming,” Reese grumped.
“That’s what she said, Finny!” Olivia bellowed.
“Damn. You beat me to the punch on that one. That’s my line, girl.”
Reese closed the door behind her sister and shook her head at me.
“You’re both insane.”
“Are we, though?” I teased.
Because I didn’t think it was a bad idea at all.
Hell, I’d had a little preview last night.
And I couldn’t get the vision of her out of my head.
twelve
Reese
Finn helped me bring a bunch of things over to the new office this morning, as I’d spent the last week moving stuff over here and getting set up. My parents had surprised me with a desk that had just been delivered. Tonight, we were going to the Bumpkin Pumpkin Fall Festival downtown. It was one of my favorite events in Cottonwood Cove, and Finn and I had been going to it since before we could even walk. This year it was falling on the day before Halloween, which would make it even more fun because the kids would all come in costume and take advantage of the opportunity to dress up two days in a row.
Everyone in town would be there, and the weather was getting chilly, so we’d need to bundle up. Tomorrow was the interview with The Hollywood Moment, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being a little nervous now that it was so close. I didn’t want to do anything to mess things up for Finn.
“I’ve got macaroni and cheese and cornbread,” my dad said as he and Finn walked back inside.
I’d chosen a name, and it was Sunset Cove Design.
I like what it represented.
Three of my favorite things. The water and the sunset and design.
To me, this represented beauty.
I’d minored in graphic design in college, so I’d been working on my logo for a long time—long before I even knew this pipe dream of mine could actually become a reality.
My friend, Maggie, was coming by to paint the logo on the large front window this weekend. She’d done a few of the shop windows in town, and I was thrilled that things were really coming together.
“Oh, good, I’m starving,” my mom said. “I just got those pictures hung in your bathroom for you.”
“Thanks, Mama. You guys are the best. I don’t really have any clients, so it’s not like there’s any urgency.”
“Hey. I take offense to that. I’m your client.” Finn set down a large bag of food on the card table my parents had brought over for an extra place to sit for now.
“I know that. But I live with you. So, it’s not like you meet me at the office.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” He smirked before helping my dad carry the folding chairs and placing them around the table.
I had bins of fabric samples I’d been collecting, along with endless design notebooks and magazines that were stacked on the built-in shelving that had come in handy.
It was a start.
“You just got the keys a week ago, so I think you’re doing really well,” my father said.
“Thanks. I appreciate you all helping me get set up.”
“Always,” they all said at the same time before my mom started grilling us about the interview.
“Are you nervous? It’s a big magazine. Will they be taking photos of you guys?” she asked.
I glanced at Finn. We hadn’t discussed me being in the photos, but he knew I’d do whatever he needed. He’d literally pushed me to get my business going, believed in me probably more than anyone in my life ever had, and was putting his life on hold to help me get mine back.
To help me get Carl back.
“Well, I’m guessing once they meet Reese, they’re going to want to take a bunch of photos. I’ll leave it up to her.”
“You know that I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” I said, moaning when I took a sip of the best hot chocolate from Cottonwood Café. Finn’s eyes snapped to mine, and I cleared my throat. I’d caught him looking at me differently ever since that night in his bathroom. He’d play it off and look away or wink and make a joke of it. But I saw the desire there. Maybe I recognized it because I felt it, too.