Page 101 of Singled Out
I laughed. “I don’t. It’s November though. The real estate market is probably deader than its usual dead. Is it the llamas holding you back?”
Instead of laughing at my joke, she frowned, as if the llamas were indeed an issue.
“Do you have a girlfriend you could move in with?” I asked, flipping to help mode. “One without llamas?”
“The llamas stay outside,” Ben said as if we were idiots.
Emerson seemed to be thinking through options while Xavier pulled at her arm to ask if she’d buy him a crystal.
“The holidays are around the corner, your busiest time at the salon,” Ben said. “You have two young children and a four-bedroom house to pack in three weeks. You’re more than competent, Emerson, but you don’t have superpowers.” That seemed to get through to her as she closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and took in a tight breath. “You can stay with us until the end of the year, then find a place without all the pressure.”
Emerson’s eyes were still closed, but she was nodding. “Yes. You’re right.” Her eyes popped open, and she pegged him with an intense look. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” Ben said, his tone light. “It’s what I do. Usually four-legged creatures, but we can do humans too.”
“Bless you. Thank you. I accept. And now I need to get these two home.” She put her hand on Ben’s arm and squeezed in gratitude, then picked up Skyler, grabbed Xavier’s hand, and rushed off with a “Bye, Max,” over her shoulder.
I was on the verge of cracking a joke about Ben’s tendency to rescue when a look flashed over his face that stopped me. It was gone before I could blink.
“Is there something going on between you two?” I asked quietly.
“What? No. Not at all. I’m just looking after her like Blake would want.”
Before I could comment on that, Harper waltzed up to us, all grins. “You two look like the hired muscle over here.”
I slid my hand around her, to her back, because damn if I could keep myself from touching her bare skin. Harper sidled up against me and kissed me soundly, her happy, joyful energy surging into me. “It’s almost toast time. Then we’re hitting Humble’s afterward,” she announced.
No, we weren’t. But she didn’t know that. “Who’s we?”
“Dakota, Cambria, me, you, whoever else wants to. Ben, you’re welcome.”
He gestured to Ruby, who rested her head on his shoulder, as if to say, no can do, while I scanned for my sister across the crowded room. Dakota was behind the checkout counter, helping a customer, but she caught my gaze and gave me a subtle nod and a wink. She was my coconspirator, so she knew Harper wouldn’t be there.
In the next five minutes, plastic champagne flutes were distributed and filled with bubbly or sparkling juice. Harper headed back to the counter and her business partners, then climbed on a chair so she towered above everyone. Someone in the crowd whistled to get people’s attention.
“Thank you!” the breathtaking love of my life said as the crowd shut up. “Thanks to every one of you for coming out to support us. We appreciate you! This store was Cambria’s baby originally, but she volun-told me to do the talking tonight,” she said to a scattering of laughter.
She might pretend she wasn’t good at speaking, but once again she was winging it, and once again I knew she’d have the crowd in her hands.
“First, I want to make sure everyone knows about that corner over there.” She nodded toward the front corner opposite the door. “That’s our Naomi Finley collection. Everything there was made by my dear friend Naomi before she died. Art was her life, and as you can see, she was gifted beyond compare.” Harper stopped and swallowed hard, took a breath. Dakota squeezed her hand.
“Not only did Naomi’s brother, Ian, help fund our venture,” Harper continued, keeping my name out of it as I’d requested, “but he also donated Naomi’s artwork. Anytime you buy something from Naomi’s corner, all the money will go toward her pet cause, bringing art supplies and instruction to schools. Naomi’s love and giving spirit will live on in that little corner for as long as we have her work to sell.”
The crowd applauded, with most of them craning their necks toward that section of the store as if giving it a closer look.
“It would make my heart happy if you’d drink a toast to dear, talented Naomi. I wouldn’t be up here today if I’d never met her. Cheers, my friend.” Harper raised her glass and her gaze toward heaven, her eyes sparkling with moisture.
The crowd hollered out a collection of “hear, hear” and “cheers.”
“Second, I want to give all of you the biggest, most heartfelt thanks for showing up and supporting our shop. This…” She looked around from above, seeming to really take in the space and the people, then shook her head with a wide smile of disbelief, happiness, and gratitude. “This is beyond my wildest dreams, to be honest. I feel so lucky to be on this adventure with Cambria and Dakota, my partners and friends.” She raised her glass and made eye contact with each of them below her. “So cheers to these two incredible women I get to work with every day, and cheers to every single one of you here tonight.” She lifted her glass again. “I am blessed.”
Again there was a collective “cheers” and “here’s to you, ladies.” Harper climbed down, and the three of them group hugged.
“I’m happy for them,” Ben said after finishing his half glass of bubbly. “I need to get these two princesses home to bed. Best of luck to you.” He gave me a knowing look.
“Thanks. Good night,” I said, my nerves going taut because showtime was nearing. A line had formed at the register, with people ready to cash out and go home. I made my way over to the side of the counter, plotting my next move.
Harper’s dad gave her a tight hug and told her how proud of her he was, said good night to me with an approving wink, and took his leave.