Noah: What do I have to do to get the red dress?
I pull my lip between my teeth and glance at the door, the rain still coming down in torrents. Grinning, I reply and then put my cell down to actually get on with some work.
Me: How about you bring back the sun?
I hear my cell buzz with his reply but choose to wait to look at it. I need to get this concept design together for Thea ahead of meeting her later. The idea came to me in the middle of the night two days ago, and I have been itching to get it together; I just had to wait for all the pieces to come in, which they did late yesterday. She has no idea what I have in store for her, but that’s how I wanted it. A surprise that nods to her background and career.
Getting to work on the piece, I lose myself to the colors and textures, arranging each part strategically sothere’s both a clash of color and a smooth transition from one point to the next. Once I have all of it arranged, I finish it with a hessian wrap and tie it together with a dusty pink satin ribbon. It’s tiny in comparison to what Thea wants for the day, but it shows exactly what she could have, and it’s different—themoreshe was asking for without going overboard or giving it too much.
With an hour to go before I’m due to meet her, I get it packed up safely so I can transport it and then lock up shop, ducking through the rain and into the cab I ordered to take me to my meeting, finally pulling out my cell to check my messages from Noah.
Noah: That can be arranged, Sid. I’ll bring
the warmth; you wear the dress. Deal?
Me: I’m curious to know how you’re going
to bring the warmth, but you
have yourself a deal, Calahan. I’ll wear the dress.
There’s no end in sight for the rain to stop; the sky is still as gray as it was when I got to work this morning. Tires splash through puddles, and a sea of colorful umbrellas take up the sidewalks.
The car pulls up to the hotel, and I get out, rushing inside to where it’s dry. I’m shown through to the same meeting room as before, again empty since I’m early and the first one here. I get everything set up, fiddling with the design while I wait.
Behind me, the door opens, and I hear the clip of shoes against the floor. Turning, I expect to find Thea or even her grandmother coming in, but instead it’s a face I haven’t seen for months.
“Isaac?” I frown, staring at the man Ialmostwent on a date with.
Knowing what I know now about Isaac Shaw, I never would have taken his number, but back when I met him, I had no idea he was Noah’s biggest rival. Don’t get me wrong, he’s handsome. Tall with broad shoulders and artfully scruffy hair the color of chestnuts. Blue eyes crinkle at the edges as he smirks in my direction, his tailored suit pressed and fitting him perfectly.
“Miss Adams,” he cocks his head, his eyes rolling down me, “What a pleasant surprise.”
Swallowing, I try to hide my surprise. “Sorry, am I in the wrong meeting room?”
“Well, that depends,” he stops at the end of the table, keeping a good ten feet between us. “You're here to show the bride to be some flower arrangements, right?”
“Well, yes,” I glance at my arrangement and back to Isaac, “Why are you here?”
“Our grandmother couldn’t make it down, so my sister asked me to come along.”
“Your sister,” I repeat.
“Thea,” he confirms.
Shaw.
My mind had completely blanked out that his surname was Shaw. I mean, it is a common name; I suppose, but I hadn’t made the connection. Now that I look at him, I see the slight resemblance between them. It isn’t obvious, but now I know their relation, I see it. It’s in the shape of his nose, the shade of blue in his eyes.
“Oh, um,” I stutter, “I didn’t know you were related.”
“Few people do,” he lowers into the chair at the end of the table, “How about we keep that our little secret?”
I’m saved from responding when the bride herself stumbles through the door, her rather intimidating bodyguard right behind her. I guess the intimidation part is kind of the point, but damn, does he have to bethatbig? The man could have his own zip code.
“I’m so sorry,” Thea rushes out, stumbling over her own feet before she even makes it to the table. Tripp catches her before she face-plants the carpet, yanking her back up until her spine hits his chest. And he doesn’t let go; his hand remains on her, gentle but strong all at the same time.
Thea shakes her head and subtly removes herself from his grasp. “People don’t know how to drive in the rain!”
