Page 21 of The Last Key (Baker Girls #2)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

KENNEDY

Tuesday

“Oh my god!” Lily squeals, as she walks over to where Claire and I are standing, a signed book and a photo with Justin in her hands. “You are incredible! I can’t believe I got to meet him.”

Claire snickers.

“What? You don’t think he’s hot?” Lily demands.

Claire shrugs. “I’ve had hotter.”

“Why did you even come?” I ask with a laugh.

“To heckle, obviously. And I wanted to see what my potential clientele is.”

“What do you do?” Lily asks.

Claire stares at her for a second, but I elbow her before she can say something snarky.

“I’m the CEO of Bloom Beauty. We have a store here in Brighton, and I want to reach the local market more.” She gestures around at all the women fawning over Justin. “And this is my market. ”

Lily’s eyes are wide. “Oh my god! I love that store. I didn’t even know there was one in Brighton! I always order online. God, I’ve been paying shipping this whole time.”

Claire’s look is somewhere between amused and annoyed. “Yep. We have one here. Frankly, I need to get more people in the door. Kennedy suggested doing an event there. Maybe a girls’ night in, wine and facials kind of thing? Possibly with makeup tutorials?—”

Lily grabs Claire’s arm, and I bristle. Claire isn’t exactly the touchy-feely type. And Lily is the type who doesn’t care what type you are.

“That sounds like so much fun! I know a lot of the women in this group would love it. Probably some of the moms at school, too. But they kind of scare me.”

“I’m surprised anything scares you,” Claire says dryly.

“Anyway,” Lily continues as if Claire hadn’t spoken, “you totally have a market here. You just need to utilize it. I think Kennedy’s right.

Events are a great way to do that. Plus advertising at local businesses.

Everyone finds out everything here through word of mouth.

” She snaps her fingers. “I could put together a little marketing plan for you.”

Claire is about to snort and roll her eyes when I flare mine, reminding her this is a potential customer. Clearing her throat, she simply says, “I have a marketing team.”

“Well, duh,” Lily says. “But they’re looking at the broad markets, not the individual ones.

I know this area, and I know marketing. I have a bachelor’s degree in it.

Right now, all I use it for is helping get people in the door at the library, but that’s not too hard. I’d love to do more. Help you out.”

I look between the two, thoroughly amused at this unlikely turn of events.

“Okay,” Claire says warily. “Sure, let’s talk.” She pulls out a card and hands it to her. “Call me tomorrow. The first thing you can do is help Kennedy plan an event at the store for some time next month.” Claire turns to me. “Assuming, of course, that you’ll still be here then.”

I wince when she says it. Lily’s eyes go wide again.

“Why wouldn’t you be here?”

“I have an interview in New York tomorrow, but I’ll be back on Thursday. I’m not sure yet if I want the job or not.”

“Oh,” Lily says. Just when I think she’ll be disappointed, she smiles. “Well, if it’s what you want, I hope you get it. I’ll just have to become your number one social media stalker if you leave.”

I’d laugh at that, but I know she’s one hundred percent serious.

“Hey, babe,” Devon croons, strolling over to me and wrapping an arm around my waist. I swear, the longer he’s around Justin, he starts to pick up some of his southern accent.

Lily goes rigid, eyes massive, and cheeks pink.

“What’s happening right now?” Claire asks.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Lily, why don’t you go see if Cindy needs any help.”

Lily stares for a moment longer, then coughs. “Right. Yeah. I’ll see you later.” She scurries away.

Devon watches in confusion. “Uh, what was that?”

I lower my voice and lean in toward him. “No telling, but she saw the underwear ad you did with Justin back in the day. You had quite the effect on her.”

Claire lets out a loud laugh. “Fucking priceless. At least we know how to shut her up now.”

“Hey, be nice,” I say.

Her brow furrows. “I’m not sure I know what that word means.”

I roll my eyes at her, then look over at Devon. “Did you need something?”

“A kiss,” he says, pressing his lips to mine as Claire makes a gagging noise in the background. “And Justin was hoping you’d help with the reading. He says it’s more entertaining when he has someone to read the female parts, and he rejected the idea of me using a high-pitched voice.”

“Tell him I’m in as long as he doesn’t choose a sex scene.”

“I’d kick his ass if he did. I’ll let him know. Love you,” he rumbles, kissing my cheek as he walks away.

I look over my shoulder at him, lost in the gooey feelings I have for him and how perfect his ass looks in the jeans he’s wearing, until Claire pinches my arm.

“Ow. What was that for?”

“You’re obsessed.” My smile does nothing to discourage that thought. “I’m surprised you’re going back to New York.”

“Just for the interview. Do you think I shouldn’t since I’m with Devon?”

“No. You know I’d never tell you that. I want you to pursue whatever future you want. I’m just surprised you still want that, I guess. Ever since you’ve been here, you’ve been stupidly happy. Every time I saw you in New York, you weren’t like this. You’re…” she makes a face, “glowing.”

“Oh. I don’t know about glowing, but I’m having a good time here. It’s a complete change from the rest of my life. That’s part of why I’m going back. I need to see how I feel in the real world, not the Brighton bubble.”

Her brow furrows. “So, you’re going back to see if you can be less happy in New York for a job you might want?”

“Jeez. When you say it like that…”

“Look, I’m not trying to discourage you.

If you want it, grab it by the balls and go get it.

Don’t give up. I guess I was just surprised when you told me because you and Devon are happy as fuck, and while I’m not dying for an epic love story, you two are perfect.

” She clears her throat. “I just want you to be happy, wherever that might be.”

“Aw, look at you being sentimental.”

“I hate it. Stop making me do it.”

“I don’t know what New York will bring, but it shouldn’t change things between Devon and me,” I say, though in the pit of my stomach, I know it will.

If I get that job, I’m not sure what’ll happen.

If he’ll move to New York or if we’d have to do long distance for a while.

Frankly, I’ve been trying not to think about it since he’s being really supportive and said we’ll figure it out together.

“So he’s willing to move out there?”

I look over my shoulder at where Devon is laughing with Justin, Gladys—who we convinced to come tonight—and his mom.

“Yeah,” I say, turning back to Claire and trying to exude confidence. “I think so.”

Claire gives a slow nod, which I know means she’s not confident in my answer.

Fair, because neither am I. But before I can think about it anymore, Justin calls me over to read with him. As I walk past Devon, he gives me a little swat on the butt and a wink, making me temporarily forget all my concerns.