Chapter 7
Blue had brothers and friends who watched over her even though she didn’t need them to. She absolutely did not want Jay Haddon stepping into that role just because they’d spent the night together.
“You ladies want anything?” he asked when he’d reached his table that they were now sitting at courtesy of Zoe Duke, the only female in the sibling lineup. She had demanded they come and sit with her.
“No, we’ve ordered,” Blue said. “Thanks,” she made herself tack on when Phoebe frowned at her.
Sex had complicated everything between her and Jay, but hopefully one of them would leave Lyntacky soon, and that would settle the issue.
“So how long are you back for, Blue?”
“Just a short holiday to catch up with everyone, Zoe.”
Phoebe and Zoe leveled her with looks. Jay was staring at something on his screen.
“What?”
“Something is off with you, and we want to know what.”
He knew, of course, because he’d seen her the day she’d quit her job. But Blue also knew he wasn’t the type to say anything.
“Nothing is off.”
“So is,” Zoe argued. “You’re like Jay and never willingly offer up information about what’s going on with you.”
“I protest,” he said, still looking at his screen. The side of his mouth kicked up in a lopsided smile.
“I am nothing like him,” Blue said. “For a start, I have style.” They both knew she’d seen him in that suit, looking all kinds of hot, but Zoe and Phoebe didn’t.
“Listen, just because you work with those New York fashionistas who think anyone outside their borders is a fashion disaster does not mean your type are the only ones with style,” Jay said, lifting his eyes from the screen. “Take Sawyer, for example. Man knows how to wear clothes… am I right?”
They all laughed at that. He was funny, and Blue had never taken the time to see that side of him before.
“So some of the women in Lyntacky have been talking, Blue,” Zoe said. “We have the lifestyle outfitters, which has some everyday stuff, and the recycle shop, but nothing for those that love the modern look in Lyntacky. We have to order it online.”
“Which most people do these days,” Blue said, pretty sure she knew where they were going with this.
“And we’re a growing town now,” Phoebe added, ignoring her comment.
“So you could start a boutique here,” Zoe said.
“Absolutely not.”
Jay had returned to his screen. Coffee in one hand, while he read whatever was in front of him.
“Why not?” Zoe demanded. “You could design your own line. Actually…” She tapped the side of her jaw. “I have that spare room in the homeware store that you could use until a shop space comes up. You’d need capital to start—”
“No,” Blue said, louder this time.
“Star By Right Boutique,” Phoebe said.
“Ooh, that’s a good one,” Zoe agreed.
“And they’re off,” Jay said, shooting Blue a look. “No point in stopping them until they’ve got it all out.”
Blue exhaled slowly. “I don’t want to own a boutique here.” But the weird part was, she’d felt a little sizzle of excitement at the thought of being her own boss. Designing what she wanted.
“Obviously you’d have to buy in because you couldn’t make everything. But you could make some things—for custom orders that come in online,” Zoe said.
“No,” Blue said.
“Try again, but put more force behind it,” Jay drawled.
“Drink up. We’ll take a look at that room,” Phoebe said.
“No,” she said again.
“Until you’re ready to commit to being here full time, it could just be a place you go and start building toward your boutique,” Zoe added.
Jay snorted.
“Why are you looking like a deer in the headlights?” Ryder asked Blue as he arrived with more food and coffee.
“I’ve got this,” Jay said, the lines at the side of his mouth crinkling. “Your sister and Phoebe have decided Blue should run a boutique called Star By Right because apparently we need one here—sorry, the womenfolk do—”
“Would you stock men’s clothing, too, Blue?” Phoebe demanded.
“No,” Blue said again.
The women thought about that and then nodded.
“I think that would be best. Men can be notoriously fickle,” Zoe added.
“You’re not actually serious with that comment,” Ryder said as he began unloading the tray. “I’ve never known a woman with more clothes than me, and don’t get me started on the put-on-and-discard method we go through every time Libby leaves the house.”
“Just for that, I’m not sharing these with you,” Libby said, following her man to the table.
She was a chocolatier and came from a well-known family in the industry. Since falling in love with Ryder, she’d moved here and started making her own specialty line.
Blue looked at the display shelving that was new on one of the walls in the cafe. It held some of Leah’s pottery, pretty wrapped chocolates, plus other things locals supplied.
“Pick me,” Blue said raising her hand. “I love chocolate.”
A large hand beat her to the plate Libby held out, and Jay took the first chocolate.
“No ladies-first policy with you?”
“You only want ladies first when you think it suits you. Usually, you’re all equal rights,” Jay said to Blue.
“He’s not wrong,” Ryder added before heading back to the coffee machine while eating one of Libby’s chocolates.
“Damn, girl,” Blue said after biting into the confectionary. “These are so good and could be my new favorites.”
“Raspberry and pepper,” Libby said. “Great, right? Ryder didn’t believe they would be.”
“Changed my mind!” he called back to her.
They ate and drank coffee, and it was surprisingly comfortable, even considering Jay was close and Phoebe and Zoe continued convincing her about the boutique.
The man was a good conversationalist. So maybe they could do this—be friendly after a night of the best sex she’d ever had.
“Right. Let’s go, then.”
“Zoe, I said no.”
“Just not loud enough,” Jay added.
She was hauled out of her chair and just had time to say goodbye to Jay before they were outside the cafe.
“What was that?” Phoebe then demanded as they headed up the street, with Blue wedged between the two women.
“Which part? There were plenty of things you could question,” Blue said. “The chocolate, or the arrival of the Bandits, which I think Ryder handled well. Then there is—”
“Jay Haddon,” Zoe snapped. “What was that between you and him?”
Blue made herself frown as she looked from Zoe to Phoebe in apparent confusion. Had she given something away? Surely not? They just had a conversation, was all.
“Him protecting you from that head Bandit guy, and then the tension between you at the table,” Phoebe explained.
“Phoebe, what are you talking about? Jay and I have known each other for years. He was protecting both of us, and there was absolutely no tension between us,” she lied. “You two need to get out more. Clearly being loved up is doing weird things to your heads.”
They stared at her a few seconds longer.
“I know what I saw and felt,” Zoe muttered. “But seeing as you’re a good liar, we’ll leave it—for now.”
“Me and Jay Haddon.” Blue pretended to think it over. “I’m just not sure he’s my type.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re perfect for each other,” Phoebe said. “Both a bit uptight in a perfectionist kind of way and secretive. Both hot and single.”
“Sounds like a match made in heaven to me,” Zoe added.
“Because you’re in a relationship, suddenly I have to be?”
“He’s a good guy,” Zoe protested.
“Did I say he wasn’t?”
As they’d arrived at her shop, Petticoat Home Decor, the conversation halted, but she knew it would only be a brief respite.
Blue had found that when people were loved up, they wanted everyone to be that way. She was not ready for that.
“It looks great in here, Zoe,” Blue said, glad they’d dropped the Jay conversation. She’d need to be more careful around him in future—or avoid him completely.
The place flowed seamlessly now and looked aesthetically amazing. A few people were browsing. The surprise came when Blue saw Betsy Regal behind the counter.
“She’s got a great eye,” Zoe whispered, clearly seeing her shock. “And is working out well. With training, she’d be amazing.”
“Who knew?” Blue said under her breath.
They’d gone to school together, and Blue remembered Betsy as not being the sharpest crayon in the pack. Clearly she’d been wrong in that assessment.
“Through here,” Zoe said, opening a door at the rear of the building that led to another room.
“I’m not interested, Zoe.”
“Just move your big feet,” Phoebe said, shoving her in the back.
Light filtered into the room from a window set high in the wall, which she guessed overlooked the parking area behind the shops. The walls needed a paint job, but it smelled clean. A few boxes sat piled on a bench that ran along one side, and there was a floor-to-ceiling cupboard for storage.
“So?”
“So what?” Blue said to Zoe.
“You could bring in stuff and make it a space to start your business.”
“That is if I wanted a business—which I don’t because I’ll be heading back to New York soon, so thank you for thinking of me, but no thanks.”
She told herself she meant those words, but as she looked at the space, that little spark of excitement flared brighter. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her enthusiasm for what she loved. She’d just been going through the motions.
Blue had told herself over and over how much she loved what she did, but it had taken walking away for her to re-evaluate that.
The cutthroat world of fashion wasn’t for the faint-hearted. Blue was tough and strong—resilient. Lately, however, she’d been feeling jaded.
“She’s thinking about it,” Zoe said.
She was, but the prospect of starting up was a daunting one, and Blue wasn’t sure she had the capital or smarts to do it, especially here in Lyntacky, where there wasn’t a huge clientele. But she could start small and take her business online.
“Are we done?”
“Don’t lie to me, I can see the excitement in your eyes,” Phoebe said, clapping her hands.
She didn’t add anything to that, simply turned and walked out of the shop, because her friend was right, she did feel excited. She also felt the nausea again that she’d not been able to get rid of since her illness.