Chapter Twenty-Nine
Taylor
“Okay, Bec, I have to ask,” I say, setting my mug on the table.
“Why did we have to drive all the way across town to have an early lunch? I’d ask if you’re hiding from someone, but there’s no hiding in that dress.
” It’s Wednesday, and we’re at the Daily Grind, a cute café across from Boyer University.
Half the customers are checking out Becca in her cherry-red polka-dot dress with a fitted bodice that accentuates her assets and a sweetheart neckline.
With bumper bangs, her hair rolled up in a faux bob, and a red silk scarf as a headband, she looks flirty and fearless in a room full of dressed-down college kids.
Becca leans forward and lowers her voice. “There’s a good-looking guy who comes here.”
“How do you know? You’re never here.”
“I have connections,” Becca says with a wave of her hand.
“More like spies.” I stir the foam into my latte. “So, this is a recon mission?”
Her eyes narrow. “I prefer to think of it as strategic positioning.”
“You’ve been positioning for an hour,” I point out. “I think your mystery hottie is a no-show, but you could probably pick one of these college kids. They seem to be into cougars.”
Becca’s jaw drops. “You did not just call me a cougar. I’m only thirty.”
I smile. “I was kidding. So, what do you think of Dad visiting Patsy?” My father was tired and sore for days after our caving trip, but that didn’t stop him from going to the city to visit Patsy last weekend.
“I like her. Don’t you?”
“I do. I just don’t want him doing too much, you know? He was tired when he got back.”
“Of course he was tired. But he also had a pep in his step.” She swirls the straw in her glass and wiggles her shoulders. “Dad’s getting his groove on.”
“Ew. Can we not go there? I’m having breakfast with him tomorrow. I do not need that image in my head, thank you very much.”
“Get over it. It’s good for him to give those numb fingers a workout. I wonder if his other extremities get numb.”
“Gross.”
“I love annoying you,” she says with amusement.
“I’m so glad I drove all the way out here just so you could harass me.”
“You love me.” She snags one of my fries. “Who’s the new client you’ve been buried under all week?”
“A travel publisher. They’re launching a new book series, and I’m designing the event swag and promo materials.
They’re going all out, and I’m having a lot of fun with it.
We’re doing the usual stickers and postcards and all that, but we’re also doing bags, notebooks, and luggage tags.
” I take my tablet out of my bag and scroll to my mock-ups, then hand it to Becca.
She scrolls through the designs and zooms in on a tote mock-up with watercolor mountains and a minimalist compass. “Tay, these are gorgeous. They even give me wanderlust.”
“Thanks. When they saw the foil-stamped luggage tags, they started using words like elevated.”
“Of course they did,” she says, handing me the tablet. “You’re so talented. Seth is right. You could do that full time if you wanted to.”
I tuck the tablet into my bag. “When did he tell you that?”
“At dinner after you guys went caving. We were doing dishes, and you were in the living room with Dad, drawing. Seth couldn’t stop talking about you. That man is hot, smart, and head over funky-colored sneakers for you.”
Happiness bubbles up inside me, and I can’t stop grinning.
“It must be difficult to see with all those hearts in your eyes,” Becca says as she finishes my fries.
“Do you blame me?” I say almost giddily.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be here or that he’d be as wonderful as he is.
He’s so freaking insightful. He gets me, Bec, and he cares about everyone and adores his family and puts up with Dad.
And you’ve seen how loving he is.” I sip my latte.
“Don’t even get me started on his other talents, if you know what I mean. ”
Becca shakes her head, her eyes serious. “I have no idea what you mean.”
I give her a deadpan look.
“Oh, you mean he can work magic with his man sword.”
“Ohmygod.”
“And he’s all about your pleasure.” She sings the word pleasure.
“Shut up.” I lean across the table and whisper, “I love him, Becca. I love everything about him, and I swear one of these days I’m going to burst if I don’t tell him!”
“So tell him!”
“I can’t. I’m afraid I’ll jinx us.”
“Taylor.” She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “You can’t jinx true love.”
“I know that in my head, but he hasn’t said it yet, either.”
“Then you’re both nuts, and I’m officially jealous.” Becca sits back. “You should have heard him raving about how you’re a natural at caving, how great you are with Dad, and how hard you’re working with him and Knox. All I heard was, I love your sister. I love your sister. I love your sister.”
My heart sings. “I love you, and I love hearing that. I have been working really hard, and I was happy to help Knox, but I’m glad Mila is going back to work for him next week. I’ve been so busy, I’m starting to dream in deadlines.”
“At least your dreams are on brand.”
I’m about to say that I’m starting to have other dreams, too—dreams about me and Seth—when the sound of a helicopter draws our attention, along with the attention of other customers and people outside on the sidewalk.
We look out the window as a helicopter flies over the university and descends toward the athletic field.
“Well, that’s not something you see every day,” Becca says. “Let’s go see what’s going on.” She’s on her feet before I can argue.
“I hope nobody’s hurt,” I say as we toss our trash and put on our coats, following a handful of other curious people out of the café.
“I wonder if it’s someone famous,” a woman beside us says.
“I hope so,” someone else responds.
As we cross the street, the rhythmic sound of the helicopter blades overrides the din of the crowd forming along the edge of the roped-off field. People are filming on their phones as the sleek black helicopter touches down.
Becca whips out her phone and starts filming.
“Zoom in. Can you see who it is?” I ask.
“Nope.” She pans the camera to me, and I wave. “Look at this crowd.”
She pans back to the helicopter as the blades slow to a stop, and the pilot’s door swings open.
Squinting against the sun, I dig my sunglasses out of my bag and put them on as a tall figure steps out of the helicopter, his shoulders bent instinctively as he jogs away from it.
When he straightens, his sunglasses catch the sunlight, and my heart stumbles.
Seth.
“What’s he doing here?” I ask with disbelief, watching his powerful legs eat up the distance between us.
Becca pans to me again. “I told you a good-looking guy was going to show up.”
I can do little more than try to remember how to breathe as Seth approaches, grinning from ear to ear, a black leather jacket stretched across his broad shoulders. He climbs over the rope. “Surprise, sweetheart.” He leans in for a kiss.
Aws and whoops ring out around us, and I realize all those phones are now pointing at us.
“What are you doing here?” I exclaim.
“Taking my girl on a very special trip. Thanks, Bec.”
“My pleasure,” she says.
Seth reaches for my hand. “Ready, sweets? Your ride is waiting.”
I look at Becca, floored, and she says, “Go, before I steal your billionaire boyfriend and his helicopter!”
“You wouldn’t dare!” I say.
“Oh, I absolutely would, little sister. Now get your gorgeous butt out of here.” She gives me a playful nudge.
Seth helps me step over the rope and drapes an arm over my shoulder as we head for the helicopter, cheers ringing out behind us. “Where are we going?”
Seth flashes a coy smile and says, “To dispel a rumor.”
“What rumor?”
“That hope is a myth.”