Page 11 of Before and After

“I was promised food.”

“Allie.” Tessa bustled over and grabbed my arm. “Just in time.”

“I can’t stay long, I need to get Ollie from school soon.”

“Of course. Come and see the samples. We have some great options.” She pulled a face. “If only we could use all of them somewhere. Piper did help me narrow down the selection.”

Ro’s desk was filled with paint chips, fabrics, tile samples, and pictures of lighting and furniture.

Tessa waved a hand at the selection. “Every opinion you give, I’ll feed you a snack.”

I snorted. “Like I’m a dog doing tricks.”

She ruffled my damp hair. “There’s a good Allie.”

With a laugh, I knocked her arm away.

“I knew that without a bribe, you’d just eat and nod, and agree with everything I say.”

Crap, sometimes it sucked when your friend knew you so well.

At the other end of the desk, Sierra laughed. The blonde was standing there drinking tea with Jazz. Sierra was the Outdoors Events Coordinator. She’d moved here a few years back from California. I’d liked her as soon as we’d met—despite her fondness for early morning exercise. She was tiny, barely five feet, and her blonde hair was in a perky ponytail. Jazz was Tessa’s right-hand woman. She was a curvy Afro-Latina, with gorgeous curls I envied, and was happily married to her hubby Hector.

“Well, I at least need a coffee first,” I said.

Soon, I was sipping a cappuccino and trying not to let my eyes glaze over. I loved my best friend, but this isnotmy area of expertise.

Sierra, Piper, and Jazz were all oohing and ahhing over everything. Ro was on his cellphone taking a call. Smart man.

“Allie, what do you think of these colors for in the restaurant?” Tessa held up two squares of blue.

Crap. I tapped a finger against my lips. “Well, the one on the right is blue. And the one on the left is…blue.”

Tessa rolled her eyes. “They’re Cerulean Sky and Windy Morning.”

Was naming paint colors ridiculous names an actual job? “I like the one on the left.”

“Me too.” My friend shoved a pastry at me.

I happily took a bite. Sugary goodness hit my taste buds. Okay, so I was sleep deprived, sex deprived, and needed to collect Ollie shortly, and maybe buy some vegetables, then attempt to make a healthy dinner for the two of us, but right now, while eating this pastry, life was glorious. I took another bite.

“Tessa, these chairs will beperfect.” Sierra tapped a finger at a photo on the desk. Jazz leaned over and nodded.

“I really like them too,” Piper said.

I craned my neck. They looked like comfy chairs. “They get my vote. They’ll—” Movement in the doorway caught my attention. My belly tightened.

I’d recognize that silhouette anywhere.

Caden, in his usual, dark suit along with his usual scowl stood there, scanning the room.

My stupid pulse picked up, and when his dark eyes flicked my way, it did a crazy jump.

Stop it, stupid pulse.

“Caden.” Ro had finished his call and was sliding his phone away. “Come and look at paint samples.”

I saw a muscle tick beside Caden’s eye, and a laugh escaped me.