Page 158 of The Business of Love Box Set 1: Books 1 - 4

KATIE

I scrolled through rental listing after rental listing late in the evening on Friday while I spoke with my brother on the phone.

“See anything good?” Jackson asked.

I sighed and sipped my merlot. “No, everything is either way over my budget or way under. And by way under, I mean it’s a room in a basement with flooding issues.”

“Oh.” Jackson sounded like he’d just taken a bite of rotten fruit. “Why don’t you take me up on my offer, sis? You’re not leaving that island anytime soon, potentially ever, so why not buy?”

Over the past two weeks, Jackson had been trying to convince me to let him cover the down payment for a house on the island.

I’d steadfastly refused. I made good money in my line of work and I was working my way toward being able to buy my own home.

Sure, it was still a few years away, possibly longer with the setback of having to pay rent, but that was fine by me.

I’d rather it take a little longer and be something hard earned than a handout—not that I didn’t appreciate Jackson’s offer.

“You know I’m not going to change my mind, Jack. I appreciate you wanting to help me out but I can make this work. I just need the right place to come up.”

“Time isn’t on your side.”

“What do you mean? I have time.”

“You have two months,” Jackson said. “Halloween is just around the corner. Next thing you know, Christmas will be here. And that isn’t the time to be looking for places.”

“I’m hoping to find one before the end of November at the latest.”

“Your life is stressing me out, Katie.”

“It’s stressing you out?” I asked incredulously as I waited for the next page to load. “How do you think I feel?”

“Stressed. Obviously.”

“Obviously,” I reiterated. “And you know what makes me feel less stressed? Not accepting handouts and hustling like I always do to open my own doors and pay for my own shit.”

Jackson laughed into the line and I wanted to reach through it and punch him in his stupid nose. “Relax, Katie. I wasn’t trying to provoke you. Fuck. Do you realize how often I’ve been getting my head bitten off around here with Hailey?”

“I have a bit of an idea,” I said. Knowing that Hailey was giving him a run for his money made me feel a tad bit better about the whole thing. He deserved it. “She kept you on your toes at the hotel and during the wedding.”

“That was her on her best behavior, sis. She’s miserable.

Well, not miserable, but she’s terribly uncomfortable and we’re at the point where there’s nothing I can do to make her more comfortable besides run her a bath or run out and get her food.

Or offer a massage. But when she thinks she wants something she actually doesn’t, it’s frustrating. ”

“Imagine how frustrating it is for her.”

“We both just want this baby out of her and in the world. At least that way, I’ll be able to help out more.”

I smiled as I pictured Jackson holding his newborn baby.

“You’re going to be a great dad, Jackson.

And Hailey is lucky to have you. You won’t be out of the races for a while.

Her hormones are going to give her a hard time.

But she knows you love her, and if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, she’ll see and appreciate all your efforts. ”

Jackson sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Any day now, I hope.”

“Any day,” I agreed.

Jackson changed the subject. Usually when babies came up, we only stayed on topic for a brief amount of time because he was always afraid of saying the wrong thing and making me sad.

However, after my talk with Peter about kids, that heaviness I’d been carrying around since that fateful doctor’s visit in LA had vanished.

One minute, it was there, and the next, poof, it was gone.

“How are things going with you and Mr. Dreamboat?” Jackson asked.

“Sometimes, it feels too good to be true.”

“You really like him, huh?”

“I more than like him.”

Jackson made a gleeful childish sound. “Really? Well, I’d say I’m surprised, but based on the way you two were looking at each other at the wedding, I kind of had a hunch this was in the cards for you. Do you think he might be the one?”

Yes. “I’m afraid of putting that out into the universe in case it doesn’t happen,” I said.

“So yes.”

“I’m not saying anything more about it.”

Jackson laughed. “That’s fair, sis. That’s fair. But I have to let you go. Hailey just got home from her last haircut before the baby comes and she has food with her. I’m going to see if she’s in the spirit of sharing.”

“Doubt it. She’s eating for two. Go get your own food.”

“But she brought ice cream.”

I laughed. “It’s definitely not for you, Jack. Tread carefully.”

We said goodbye and I closed my laptop, submitting to the fact that I wasn’t going to find a place tonight. I had things to do and places to be, and if I didn’t get off my ass and start getting ready soon, I wouldn’t get there.

Ginny, Roman, Peter, and I all had plans to head back to Skip’s for a night out on the town.

I wouldn’t spoil it by drinking too much this evening.

I wanted to be fully present of mind so I could enjoy every second with them.

They were my family and it would be the first time Peter spent quality time with my friends.

I was equally as nervous as I was excited.

I spent the next hour picking out a cute red dress and strappy neon pink shoes.

Usually, I didn’t like to stand out too much but tonight felt like a reason to celebrate.

The last couple of weeks had been rough after Peter’s father’s passing.

His moods were low, and grief hit him in waves, so we’d spent a lot of time lounging in his cabin, watching movies, cuddling on the sofa, and just being close to each other.

It had been his suggestion to go out and do something fun. I jumped at it.

I called a cab to come pick me up in twenty minutes. En route, I would pick up Roman and Ginny. Then we’d meet Peter at the bar so he could drive his truck and drive us all home at the end of the night.

Like every time I had plans with Peter, I couldn’t wait to see him. My day at work had passed with agonizing slowness as I thought about getting up on the dance floor with him and feeling his hands on my back as we swayed to the music.

Once I’d done my hair and makeup, I stared at my own reflection. “No tequila tonight, woman. You can’t handle it and you know that. Stick to the light stuff. The safe stuff. No bathroom of one-person pity parties.”

Usually, I was pretty good when I went out but I couldn’t deny that I was feeling a bit low about having to move out of my dream home.

I stopped and looked around the suite that would only be mine for the next two months and sighed heavily.

It had been a good home to me. I hated to think about how hard moving day was going to be.

My friends, especially Hop who always had my coffee ready, would no longer be just a quick walk away down a series of hallways anymore. I wouldn’t get as much time with them because I wouldn’t be on the property as often.

Peter was aloof about the whole thing. Perhaps he didn’t realize how big of a deal this was to me.

He’d been optimistic about me finding a place and tried to ease my stress with encouragement.

It only worked a little bit. He was also very supportive and kept telling me that maybe this was the change I needed and was ready for.

If he was the one enjoying the five-star accommodations, I doubted he’d still say that.

Regardless, his heart was in the right place.

When I left my suite, I bumped into a young man from an island delivery service toting a massive square, flat package down the hall. He looked up at me, his brow creased with exertion and glistening with sweat, and looked down at the shipping label on the package. “Are you Ms. Katie Smithe?”

“That’s me,” I said, slowing to a stop. The echo of my heels striking the floor died around us.

“I have a delivery for you.”

I frowned. “I didn’t order anything.”

“Well, then someone else ordered it for you. Do you need me to carry it to your room?”

He was a little dismissive, but I ignored the comment and walked him back to my suite. I opened the door and he brought it in. I thanked him as he propped it up against the back of my sofa and took his leave.

I stared at the package. It was most definitely a picture of some sort. It was roughly four feet tall and three feet wide.

A familiar size.

I began tearing through the paper until I got to the plastic wrap underneath. Taped to the front of it was a card. I tore it free and opened it up.

Hey babe,

Rick and I noticed how much you loved this piece, and when we heard you were in the market for a new place, we decided you absolutely needed to have this for your new digs.

Don’t stress about the price. Rick wanted to do this for you and Walker gave us a good deal.

Promise. Can’t wait to see you the next time you’re in New York. Tell Peter we say hi!

XOXO,

Kim & Rick

Grinning to myself, I put the card down and tore through the plastic wrap.

Beneath it all lay the masterpiece I’d fallen in love with at Walker’s gallery.

It was the picture of the naked dark-skinned woman wrapped up in red and copper fabrics.

I ran my fingers over the foiled gold paint through her dark hair.

“Beautiful,” I whispered.

It was my first official piece of art I’d ever owned and I couldn’t wait to hang it up in my future home, wherever that home may be.