Page 62 of The Business of Love Box Set 1: Books 1 - 4

KIMBERLY

A slice of deli pepperoni. A thick cut of aged white cheddar cheese. A piece of lightly buttered baguette. And the best part? A sweet yum-yum pickle slice.

I finished assembling the perfect little bite-sized sandwich and popped it in my mouth as I moved down the buffet of appetizers and treats spread out on the kitchen table at Rhys and Vanessa’s place.

While I chewed, I collected a paper plate and began filling it with other tasty snacks, all courtesy of me, the baby-shower host and planner.

The afternoon had gone exceptionally smoothly.

We’d just finished opening presents, of which there were ton s, and while Rhys tended to the cleaning up of wrapping and tissue and recycling, the women moved into the dining room and kitchen to help themselves to more food.

I had already done my rounds and made sure everyone’s drinks were full, done my thank yous, and was now stealing a quiet moment to fill my belly after realizing I hadn’t eaten in over seven hours.

My stomach grumbled happily as the mini sandwich landed. I gave my tummy a pat. “Get ready for more.”

“Who are you talking to?” Rhys sidled up beside me with a tray loaded with empty glasses. He began putting the hand-wash-only ones into the sink while he loaded the dishwasher with the cocktail glasses.

“My stomach.”

He chuckled. “Vanny does that too. But there’s a baby in there. Something you want to tell us, Kim?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Just a soon-to-be food-baby.”

“Ah, as you were then. You’ve earned it. This party was exceptional. I can tell Vanessa is really thrilled.”

I stole a glance into the dining room where Vanessa was laughing with her mother and her grandmother while they showed her all the tips and tricks of using her new portable bassinet for baby-to-be.

“I’m glad she’s happy,” I said. “She deserves all of this. And so do you.”

Rhys closed the dishwasher with his hip. “You’re just saying that because I’m standing here.”

“Am not.”

He snickered. “I’m just giving you a hard time, Kim. Go enjoy the rest of the party. Your work is done. I’ll make myself scarce until the ladies are gone and then I’ll help with cleanup.”

“You’re a good man.”

“Right?” He smirked as he left the kitchen.

I stayed in the kitchen a little longer just to have a bit of space from the others.

I’d had a wild couple of weeks, dealing with the fallout of a wedding that never happened.

Rick and Verity’s vendors still had to be paid, articles were still being written, and my income had been cut in half.

I’d already sent the money back to Rick but had yet to hear from him.

In fact, I hadn’t heard a word from him since the wedding night two weeks ago.

That didn’t mean I hadn’t been thinking about him.

Rick Garrett had been on my mind every damn day for fourteen days straight. I went to sleep thinking about him, wondering if he was lying in bed staring at his ceiling like I was staring at mine. Only where I was pining over him, he was pining over a woman who didn’t deserve him.

Part of me was happy the wedding had fallen apart at the seams and Verity had run. Another part of me, the biggest part, felt incredibly sad for Rick.

I loaded my paper plate up with strawberries, chocolate whipped dip, fresh veggies, ranch, and some homemade mini quiches Vanessa’s mother had brought over.

I helped myself to a glass of champagne and moved into the dining room, consciously deciding that today was not the day to get lost in thoughts about Rick.

Today was the day to love on my best friend and the baby in her belly.

I joined Vanessa in the dining room and she eyed my champagne enviously.

I looked from my glass to her. “It’s sparkling apple juice,” I lied.

She sniffed it. “Liar.”

“It’s not very good. Cheap stuff.”

Vanessa groaned. “I’d take anything at this point. I had no idea how much I’d miss a good drink. Or sushi. Or fresh cheese.”

“Sorry, babe,” I said with a sympathetic smile. “But the end is in sight.”

Vanessa looked around the dining room. “Is the end of the party in sight too? Not to sound ungrateful, but if another person puts their hands on my stomach and squeals like a dying animal, I’m going to lose it.”

I snorted into my champagne while Vanessa’s mother scolded her for her poor manners.

I let them bicker and then made my rounds to let the guests know that the party was winding down in the next half hour.

It gave everyone time to say their goodbyes, finish their drinks, help themselves to a bit more food, and then get their shit and get out.

By the time the last person was out the door, Rhys was already in the kitchen. I offered to help while Vanessa waved goodbye to her mother and grandmother in the driveway but he shooed me away.

“Why don’t you and Vanessa sit and relax?” he suggested. “She’s going to want to put her feet up and I’m sure she’d love some one-on-one time with you.”

“I think she just wants everyone out of the house.”

“You aren’t ‘everyone,’ Kim. Don’t be silly. Stay for a bit. Have another drink. Help us eat through this food.”

Rhys was a convincing man. I agreed to stay, loaded another plate with snacks, poured myself another glass of champagne, and moved into the living room where I waited for my best friend to join me.

When she did, she made herself comfortable all propped up on pillows. “Thank you for the party, Kim. It was awesome. I have no idea what we’re going to do with all this stuff, but it was awesome.”

Vanessa and I eyed the pile of gifts I’d organized into one corner of the living room. There was so much of it that I imagined she and Rhys would want to go through it all together before they found homes for everything.

“I’m glad I could make this happen for you,” I said. “How are you feeling? Sorry if it was a little too much.”

“It was perfect, Kim. Really. And how am I feeling? About the same as I always feel. Fat. Swollen. Tired. Irritated and excited and sad all at once. You know, the usual.”

“I should get out of your hair.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Vanessa said firmly. “I want to talk about non-baby-related things for a little bit. Tell me about Rick. How’s he doing? Have you heard from him?”

I sighed and sipped my champagne. “No. Not a word.”

Vanessa picked at a loose thread on the edge of one of her pillows. “And how are you doing?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You. There’s no way the feelings you’ve had for this guy for a whole year just vanished. And now that he’s single again? I don’t know. My emotions would be all over the place if I was in your shoes.”

I chewed the inside of my cheek. Vanessa wasn’t far off-base.

“It doesn’t matter how I feel about it all.

I’m just so sad for him. You should have seen him, Vanny.

Ugh. He was furious. And sad. And confused.

And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to make it better.

” I brooded over my champagne and polished it off before setting the glass down on the coffee table.

“I could’ve just punched Verity in her perfect plastic nose. ”

Vanessa stifled her laughter. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh. But I would pay good money to see that happen.”

“So would I.”

“Why don’t you call him? Reach out? He’s a client. I doubt he’d think it was strange for you to check in on him and just offer support.”

I sighed.

I’d thought about doing that every single day over these past two weeks and I hadn’t been able to work up the nerve to do so.

Things had changed between us. I wasn’t his wedding planner anymore.

And there was that little detail of what had happened outside my hotel room when he walked me back up to my floor after drinks at the bar.

I glanced at my friend.

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Um. Well…”

“Spit it out.”

I licked my lips. “Rick kissed me.”

“What?” Vanessa sat up straight and her eyes widened. “When? Where?”

“At the hotel. The night of the wedding. I found him in the hotel bar having drinks by himself and I joined him. I wasn’t trying to start shit.

I just… I felt bad for him and I didn’t want him to be alone.

Then he walked me up to my room and he kissed me in the hallway and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, Vanny. It’s driving me insane.”

Vanessa ran a hand mindlessly over her belly. “Wow. Okay.”

“Did I do a bad thing?”

“What? No. Not at all. His fiancée bailed on him. The wedding was canceled. He’s a single man now. But I do have a very important question for you.”

“What is it?”

“How was the kiss?”

A smile tugged at my lips and my cheeks grew hot. “It was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”