Chapter Six
Beckett
“Nope. That color is no good for you.” I waved Vanessa back toward the dressing room. “Next.”
“Really?” My sister paused to regard herself in the three-paneled mirror. “I like this color.”
“Hey, did you ask me to come with you to pick out new clothes only to disregard my input?” I asked.
“No, but—”
“Get your butt back in there and try on the next thing.” I shooed her away.
“Fine.” She stomped back into the dressing room and shut the door. “My girlfriends aren’t this bossy when we shop for clothes.”
“Well, why did you ask me to come then?” I brushed at some dirt on my jeans. Living in Vermont meant cars were dirty like all the time and the likelihood of getting dirty as well was high.
“My girlfriends were busy, and out of all my brothers, you’re the only one that has any fashion sense,” Vanessa said.
That was true. I did enjoy clothes shopping while my brothers would choose to be tortured in Hell for all eternity instead of setting foot in a store that didn’t include power tools.
“You also looked as if you needed cheering up,” Vanessa said.
“I did?”
“Yeah. You seemed glum all week.” Vanessa came out with a purple sweater on and a pair of black leggings.
“Now that’s your color,” I said. “And the fit is good both on the sweater and the leggings.”
“My body is finally back to pre-birthing-a-tiny-human size.” Vanessa angled one way then the other. “I love Little Ben, but being pregnant takes a toll.”
“And that’s why you deserve a new wardrobe,” I said. “Put both of those in the Definitely Buying pile.”
“Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere.” Vanessa scurried back into the dressing room.
“And I wasn’t glum.”
“Yes, you were!” Vanessa called from behind the closed door. “There was a . . . I don’t know . . . a trudging-like air about the way you moved.”
“I don’t trudge.”
“Normally, you don’t,” she said. “That’s what made it so noticeable.”
I reviewed the week that had just passed while I waited for Vanessa to showcase her next outfit.
After thinking I’d found a dead woman in the brush on Sunday—and having my aura insulted by her—I’d gone back to Hartley’s Nest to help my mother, which unfortunately had only taken about an hour.
My video game buddies were still unavailable so I’d poked around online, hoping to find a new game to download.
A good digital quest would have kept me busy for a while, but nothing had caught my attention, which was odd because new video games always caught my attention.
I’d spent some time planning some marketing stuff for Hartley’s Nest, applying for a grant, and looking over the budget to decide if we could afford to upgrade the fencing around where we kept our horses and llamas.
Then I’d still had hours left in the day. I hadn’t been able to figure out why time was moving so slowly, but damn, I was actually a bit bored.
And I kept thinking back to the dead woman. Who hadn’t been dead at all.
Sadie. The name hadn’t fit her. It was too simple, too casual for a woman who looked like she did. I’d expected something a little more exotic.
I’d also expected to forget all about her and her aura accusations, but both had stuck with me for the rest of that day and into the week.
I’d gone jogging on the same trail again on Wednesday and half expected to see a tent erected where I’d found Sadie.
I was glad not to find one. That meant she’d moved along and hopefully had acquired proper accommodations.
Then I’d wasted some time wondering where those proper accommodations might be.
Then I’d gotten mad at myself for wondering that.
I’d even gone so far as to hop back onto Cyber Mates and set up a date with an interested girl.
But that date had fizzled the moment she’d announced that animals being used to test cosmetics didn’t bother her. Hadn’t she read my profile at all? Hadn’t she noticed the phrase wildlife rehabilitation center in my bio? Of course I loved animals and would rally to save them.
And clearly, she’d lied in her profile. She’d called herself an animal lover. False. She’d also said she was friendly, but she’d been rude to our waiter several times during our dinner.
On Thursday, I found out that Hartley’s Nest wasn’t awarded a grant I’d thought was a sure thing so that had soured my mood and . . . yeah, okay. Maybe Vanessa was right about me being glum this week.
My sister reappeared wearing a long, flowing skirt in a cranberry color with a short, brown, corduroy blazer over a cream-colored shirt.
“Keep,” I said without hesitation. “That will look nice with the brown boots you bought at the other store.”
“Oh, yeah! Great idea.” Vanessa did a little twirl. “I like the way this skirt moves.” She stopped her spinning to face me. “Hey, you look glum again . . . or maybe you look glum still. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know actually.” I rested my elbows on my knees and regarded my reflection in the mirror behind Vanessa.
Your aura’s a bit off. Sadie’s voice echoed between my ears.
My sister came to sit beside me on the little bench in the dressing room area, her hand resting on my knee. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah. It’s nothing physical,” I said.
“Could it be that all your siblings are neatly paired off and you’re not?”
I flicked my gaze up to meet hers. “How did you know that was on my mind?”
“Because I know how I’d feel if I was the last one to find love,” she said.
I braced myself, but the teasing I expected next never came.
“You’re not going to bust my stones about this?” I asked.
“Of course not.” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “I’ll leave that to our brothers.”
“They do relish such an opportunity.” I scrubbed a hand down my face then got to my feet so I could pace. “I mean, I never was worried about finding someone, but now it feels as if I should find someone to like . . . I don’t know . . .”
“Keep up with the rest of us?” Vanessa offered.
“I guess so, but isn’t that a crappy reason to start a relationship with someone?”
Vanessa shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be, but my advice is to be open to possibilities. You’ll make yourself nuts if you try too hard to make it happen.”
I sat back beside her. “That’s good advice.” I dug out my phone and handed it to her. “Delete my Cyber Mates account, will you? It’s the definition of trying too hard and not yielding any positive results anyway.”
“Are you sure?” Vanessa asked, her thumbs hovering over the screen.
“Yes.”
With a few taps, my sister wiped me from Cyber Mates and handed my phone back to me.
“I have one more outfit to try, then let’s get to that dinner I promised you if you came clothes shopping with me.” She stood and approached the dressing room.
“I’m hungry so be prepared to drop some coin on this dinner.”
Vanessa laughed as she closed herself into the dressing room and I slouched a bit on the bench.
Be open to the possibilities. I could do that.
As I waited for my sister’s next ensemble viewing, movement at the end of the dressing room area caught my attention. Another woman had entered the space and stood beside a dressing room as the employee unlocked it. The employee was in my line of view so I couldn’t see the shopper all that well.
“Let me know if you need different sizes or an opinion,” the employee said as the shopper entered.
A muffled thank you sounded and the dressing room door closed.
A few moments later, that door opened again and Sadie Rodgers strode out, that red hair cascading around her shoulders like wild flames.
She had on workout leggings in a mossy green color and a blousy top that gave off a gypsy vibe.
Her delicate feet were bare and added to her overall waif-like appearance.
Stunning.
The word wasn’t enough, but with my brain short-circuiting at the sight of Sadie checking herself out in the three-paneled mirror near her dressing room, I couldn’t come up with a better adjective.
She hadn’t noticed me yet so I enjoyed precious moments admiring her from the bench where I sat.
Until Vanessa busted out of her dressing room.
“I don’t know about this one, Beckett,” she said.
At the sound of my name, Sadie’s head whipped in my direction. Our gazes connected and a heartbeat of stillness, of absolute silence, tethered us to one another.
“These pants make me look as if I have no butt at all,” Vanessa continued, oblivious to the enchanted staring contest happening between Sadie and me. “I mean, I don’t want my butt to look big in my outfits, but I should have some butt, don’t you think?”
Sadie blinked, peeked at Vanessa, then grinned over my sister’s commentary about her butt.
“Some butt is good. Definitely,” I said, but my gaze was still on Sadie. “You wouldn’t want your aura to be negatively impacted by not having any butt, Vanessa, now would you?”
Sadie turned to face me, her hands going to her hips as she regarded me.
“My aura? What does my aura have to do with my ass?” Vanessa swiveled from the mirror to face me too, but then she noticed Sadie. “Oh. Hi, there.”
“Hi.” Sadie waved a hand at Vanessa’s outfit, which did indeed include a pair of pants that made her butt look non-existent. The denim jacket she had on, however, was a great piece.
“No to the pants,” Sadie said. “Yes to the jacket.”
“I agree,” I said.
“Okey-dokey!” Vanessa gave herself one more glance in the mirror then headed for her dressing room. When she reached it, however, she paused and regarded Sadie. “I love what you have on from top to bottom. You look ready to do some serious yoga.”
Sadie’s face brightened as she gave my sister a full-wattage smile.
If I hadn’t already been sitting on the bench, I would have been knocked off my feet by the power of a smile like that one.
Truly. Sadie’s nose scrunched up a bit, a dimple adorably dented her left cheek, and that sprinkle of freckles rippled along her nose.
“I’m actually shopping for yoga outfits,” she said. “I’m starting my own business that will include yoga, meditation, breathwork, sound healing, and the like.”
“Oh, that’s just what Greenridge needs.” Vanessa took several steps away from her dressing room to get closer to Sadie. “We have a dance studio and that’s fun and a gym for serious workouts, but nothing that is all about that mindfulness stuff. I would have loved some of that while I was pregnant.”
“Did you just have a baby?” Sadie asked.
“In July,” Vanessa said.
“Well, you clearly made use of the dance studio and the gym because you look fantastic,” Sadie said.
Vanessa glanced back at me then angled her head at Sadie. “I like this one.”
As if Sadie was someone I had brought into the dressing room area.
My sister extended her hand to Sadie. “I’m Vanessa Hartley and that’s my brother—”
“Beckett Hartley,” Sadie finished as she shook Vanessa’s hand, her gaze on me though. “Your brother and I have already had the pleasure, although I’m not sure he found the interaction pleasant.” She looked back at Vanessa. “I’m Sadie Rodgers.”
“Why wouldn’t Beckett think it was pleasant to meet you?” Vanessa asked.
“She insulted my aura.” I sounded sulky, but I couldn’t rewind and say it differently. Or not say it at all.
“I didn’t insult your aura,” Sadie said. “I merely pointed out that it was a little off.”
“See?” Vanessa faced me, her index finger jabbing in my direction. “I said you were glum.” She turned back toward Sadie. “Was he glum when you met him?”
“That might be a good word for the state of his aura,” Sadie said.
“It’s because he’s—”
“Okay,” I interrupted. “We don’t need to discuss my aura or the reasons it may be less than stellar at the moment.” My gaze flicked over to Sadie then I focused back on Vanessa. “Wasn’t I promised dinner? Let’s wrap up here and get to the food, yeah?”
I got up from the bench and ushered Vanessa back to her dressing room.
“It was nice meeting you, Sadie,” Vanessa said as she peeked around me. “Good luck with your business. You know, Beckett could probably help you with that.”
I gave my sister a little push so she had to step into the dressing room then I shut the door.
“Ignore her.” I went back to the bench and sat, hoping and praying that Vanessa would change into her original clothes with an inhuman speed.
“How can you help with my business?” Sadie asked.
“He’s the finance and marketing and tech guy for our family’s wildlife rehabilitation center, Hartley’s Nest!
” Vanessa yelled from inside the dressing room.
“He’s a whizz with numbers and keeps us all organized and updated with technology that helps us do our work.
I’m sure he could help you launch your business successfully. ”
“The meal you promised me just got way more expensive, Vanessa,” I said.
“What? Why? I’m complimenting you,” my sister shouted. “I didn’t say anything mean or untrue.”
“I am having a little trouble getting started,” Sadie said. “I know what services I want to provide and how to do them, but structuring it all into a business that will work and reaching clients are things I don’t have any experience with.”
“Exactly what Beckett does for us.” Vanessa strode out of the dressing room with two piles of clothing draped over her arms. She unloaded one pile on the discard rack then came to stand near me with the clothes she intended to buy.
“Why don’t you come over to Hartley’s Nest and meet with Beckett?
Share your vision for your business and I’m sure he can map out the financial, marketing, and technological sides for you.
” She gave my shoe a little kick. “Right, Beckett?”
I glared at my sister, but I was rather bored this week, and my family members and gaming buddies were busy with their significant others. I technically had free time to spare.
The way Sadie looked at me with a hopeful arch to her eyebrows was having an effect on me as well.
Maybe her toned legs in those leggings had hypnotized me too.
“Fine,” I said as I stood. “I’ll help you.”
Vanessa and Sadie both clapped and did little jumps, but then Sadie’s face grew solemn.
“I can’t pay you, Beckett,” she said. “So I understand if you don’t want to take on this task.”
“He doesn’t care about that,” Vanessa said. “We Hartleys love doing good deeds.” My sister looped her arm around mine and gave it a squeeze. “Besides maybe you could exchange services. Like, Beckett helps you with your business and you help him with his aura.”
“My aura doesn’t need help,” I said.
Vanessa and Sadie gave each other a look that definitely said they disagreed.
“Okay,” Sadie said. “I’ll trade you business help for a sound bath. You’ll love it.”
Love it? I had my doubts.