Page 21 of How Dare You
7:00 – Allie’s charity event & Azul Lounge Prep
9:00 – Azul Lounge Prep
- From Devon’s schedule, August 15th
Rhett holds me captive with his gray eyes and rugged jaw, and it doesn’t bother me like it should. At all. This is getting out of hand. Taking a step back, I tuck my laptop under one arm and sip my room temperature drink. “Well, this has been completely unnecessary.”
“I disagree.” Rhett smiles, the twist of his lips amidst his chiseled features making him the definition of devilishly handsome. “My days are always better when I get to talk to you.”
What a line. I walk past him without another word.
Bea’s spiced vanilla perfume signals her heartening presence just before she steps into stride with me as I walk back toward Allie’s office to stash my computer. “Hello, angel,” she says. “Feeling ready for Azul in the morning?”
Hiring her earlier this year was the best thing I’ve done for my business and my sanity. Even with the stress of keeping the business afloat, having her on my team has made everything far more enjoyable.
“We’re in good shape.” My response is a half-truth because Rhett’s already gotten me to do the wrong thing once tonight without realizing it. Ignoring him and getting back to work ten minutes ago would have been the right thing to do. Telling him I’d finished my work when I hadn’t and humoring his asinine conversation was the wrong thing to do. He shook my focus, which is unacceptable, and unfortunately not at all unusual when it comes to Rhett McCoy. I’ll have to spend another hour reviewing and perfecting the presentation tonight when I get home so I don’t lose yet another major project to Trina because that’s what would happen if I didn’t finish my work on time.
Bea’s perceptive hazel eyes narrow briefly, before saying, “We’ve been in better shape than you’ll admit for days now. We’ll be golden.”
I sigh.
“Would it kill you to chill out a touch?” she asks, joking with me in a way few people do.
“It might.”
She shakes her head, silent laughter lifting her shoulders. “Alright, boss lady. I’ll meet you early so we can run through it one more time. I have my class tomorrow morning, so I can even bring coffees.”
“You’re a dream,” I say, eating the last of the olives from my martini and abandoning the barely-sipped drink on a side table.
“Aren’t I, just?” She smiles as she opens the door to Allie’s office, revealing my new roommate sitting on Allie’s desk, face red from crying, sipping directly from a bottle of wine. Allie sits next to her, bare feet dangling far above her discarded heels, scratching Sadie’s back and saying, “Fuck him,” in a bright, soothing tone at odds with her harsh declaration.
Sadie’s hair is half up, with the pink-tipped ends curled to perfection. She bought the pale green swing dress earlier this week just for tonight, and I know she spent over an hour on the makeup that’s now running down her face.
She looks up at us and sniffles. “Good. Now it’s like our own mini party, except with more crying and less fun. Got booze though.” She holds out the bottle toward us, which Bea accepts, taking a swig.
At her core, Sadie is a ray of sunshine, but she finally left her horrible boyfriend of nine years and came down from Portland to move in with me. The I’m single and free excitement wore off pretty quickly, and now she’s trudging through the ugly part of moving on.
Dabbing a tissue at her eyes, she explains, “He dropped me from his phone plan. Didn’t even warn me. My phone was just shut off, and now I’ve lost the phone number I’ve had since I was twelve.” Her voice cracks on the last word. “I guess I can get a Palm Springs number now. What’s the area code here?”
“I’m not a violent person, but your ex makes me wish I were,” Allie says, taking a sip from the community bottle of wine. “Also, 7-6-0.”
That pulls a genuine laugh from Sadie who swings her legs back and forth while taking the bottle back and downing another generous swig.
“I can have you added to our family plan in the morning,” I suggest. “How’s that?”
Sadie tilts her head. “Who’s our?”
“Us two,” Allie responds pointing a hand between us. “But we can always add more. Bea, you want in on this?”
“That is so dang sweet,” Bea responds. “But I’m all set.”
“How about it, Sade? Family plan?” Allie asks, pulling her in for a hug.
“That actually sounds really nice,” Sadie sniffles, fresh tears welling in her eyes.
“Perfect, we’ll get it squared away in the morning,” I say. “Now, how about food?”
“Yes, you should eat,” Allie gives her a final squeeze before hopping down off the desk and bracing herself on the arm I supply as she steps back into her heels. “I’ll bring you a plate.”