Page 6

I looked around the studio. “Of what?”

“Working for me?” Victoria crossed her arms, keeping her amber eyes on me.

“I haven’t even seen the house.” I shook my head, a light chuckle escaping my lips.

Victoria smirked at me. “I’ll show it to you whenever you’d like. Besides, given your portfolio, I don’t think you need to see it to know it’ll be a good project.”

Sucking in my cheeks, my mind switched to negotiation mode. “Ms. Bradley, reno projects are time consuming. They’re ever-changing and wildly unpredictable. I have other clients already waiting for my recommendations, and a project like this could get in the way.”

“I’m willing to double your rate, and I’ll buy out your other clients.” Victoria licked her teeth, loving the game.

Something about that smile of hers pulled me in. I walked closer, crossing my arms as I left just a couple of feet between us. “I’ll think about it.”

Victoria smiled, standing straight from her leaned position. She was tall in her pumps. Looking down at me, Victoria nodded. “Good. Call me if you have any questions.” I hadn’t even seen her reach into her pocket to grab a business card. But somehow, a slick, slate card was being thrust toward me, sandwiched between her long fingers.

“Thanks.” I snatched the card out of her hand, turned back toward my desk, and let her see herself out. But once I heardher heels clicking away from me, I looked over my shoulder. Her hips swayed from side to side with an ease I’d never seen in my life.

I shook my head, unsure what exactly was taking over me.

Instead of questioning it, I pulled out my phone and typed out a text.

4

SARAH

Within an hourof sending the text, I was grabbing an orange cart from the corral of the home improvement store. The wheels rattled as they crossed the threshold of the automatic doors.

“Wait for me.” Zoey hollered from behind me.

I looked over my shoulder to see my little sister waddling closer. “Speed up.”

Rolling her eyes, Zoey picked up the pace. “You’re not supposed to be rude to pregnant ladies.” She cradled her baby bump as she got closer.

I leaned onto the cart handle and winked at her. “I mean, you weren’t around for any of my pregnancies, so this is your payback.” Zoey had been back home for a little over two years, and as much as I liked to give her shit over leaving, it was nice to see her finally settling into the slower pace of New Winford.

“What do you even need?” Zoey brushed off my snark and started scanning the aisle labels.

I was already guiding us toward the decor section. “I’m just looking for final touches on the Scanlon house.”

Doing her best to keep up, Zoey nodded. “Cool, I’m going to have to use the bathroom in a matter of minutes.”

Pointing toward the back of the store, I laughed. “It’s back there.”

Zoey shot me a glare as she groaned, “Yeah, smartass, I know that. Robin and I are here practically every other day.”

I scanned the shelves, hunting for the perfect plant hanger. “How’s Robin feeling?”

Instantly, her sour attitude was gone. Talking about Robin always had that effect on her. “Good, she’s trying to hide how anxious she is by obsessing over the nursery. I’ve told her a million times that it’s beautiful and that she’s going to be a great parent, but I don’t think she’ll believe it until the baby’s finally here.”

“That sounds like Robin.” I laughed, taking a pillow off the shelf and turning it around in my hands.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Zoey raised her index finger. “She got hired as the general contractor for that lake house restoration.”

I sucked in my cheeks and nodded. “I heard.” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.

Zoey tilted her head. “From who?”

Letting my head fall back, I sighed. “The millionaire. She came to my studio and asked – no, she actually kind of demanded – that I design the interior.”