Chapter 7
Tess
“Wait, I didn’t order this,” I told the delivery guy from Dumont Gourmet. He stood in front of the store, holding a bottle of my beloved Bardoux’s Brut Traditionnel. I’d only looked online to see if they had it available and planned to pick it up later.
Dumont Gourmet was run by my brother-in-law’s sister, but she couldn’t possibly know I was planning to order it.
“No, it was a gift order. Sender is a guy named…” He paused, checking a list on his phone. “Harrington.”
My pulse quickened. I took the bottle from him, inspecting it closely.
I was bursting to know more details. When had Liam ordered the bottle?
Had he scheduled the delivery just as I was about to leave?
I didn’t make the delivery guy stay to question him.
By the looks of his bulgy backpack, he had lots of stops to make.
The second he left, I grabbed my phone and headed to the back room; the front was packed with customers, and I didn’t want to be in the way.
The front of the shop was very elegant, with velvet couches and golden light fixtures.
We were determined to make lingerie shopping a pleasant experience for everyone.
Girls transitioning to womanhood, adult women embracing their sensuality, or mothers learning to feel sexy again.
We had something for everyone, and we were proud of that.
We’d redone the back room a few months ago because we spent a lot of time here playing around with customization options.
The room was windowless, so we had half a dozen lamps in the corners as well as spots in the ceiling.
It was also where we kept part of the inventory, so black metal shelves lined the walls.
The silky terracotta carpet was the centerpiece, along with the two dark-green armchairs and the ottoman. This room might not have windows, but it had plenty of life. We’d hung paintings everywhere, so you didn’t even notice the lack of natural light at first.
I wasn’t even trying to tone down my grin as I typed.
Tess: You sent me a bottle of champagne???
Liam: Yes.
Tess: Why?
Liam: I don’t know. Impulse. I wanted to surprise you.
Tess: You certainly did. I was just about to head out to meet Skye.
Liam: I know. You said you’re meeting her at six.
Wow, he was so thoughtful!
Liam: Maybe also a gift to get in your good graces. Easier to make you tell me all about your inappropriate habits next time.
Holy shit, he was being flirty again. It was so much easier to resist flirting back over the phone than face-to-face.
He was going to be our business partner.
There was no place for anything else. Besides, the way my relationships were going, the chances of the next one going bust were at 99 percent.
Liam: What are you doing now?
Tess: Working on more customization options.
Liam: Want to send me pictures?
I burst out laughing, shaking my head.
Tess: I’m trying them on myself.
Liam: …
Tess: Liam!!!!
He didn’t reply, so I sent another message as I sat down on the round red velvet ottoman, crossing my legs.
Tess: I meant that in a fierce tone. Does it translate into writing?
Liam: Not really. I’m picturing you trying on merchandise.
Heat spread through me like wildfire, from the top of my head all the way to the tips of my fingers and toes.
Liam: I know it’s risky territory, but I like you, Tess. You’re driven and determined and the most interesting person I’ve met in years. Kind, warm. And you’re sexy as fuck.
Oh wow. I read his message a few times until every word sank in. I had no idea what to reply, so I decided to tease him.
Tess: You’re still not getting pictures.
Liam: I didn’t think you’d change your mind on that. I was just being honest.
And precisely because he was honest, I was completely on fire. I swear my panties just combusted. I rose to my feet, too jittery to sit.
Tess: Thank you :)
Instead of replying, he called me. I hesitated for a few seconds, because I wasn’t sure how hearing his voice was going to tame the heat, but he was our investor. I had to find a way to work with him.
“Hey,” I said.
“Believe it or not, I actually meant to text you about business.”
I could hear the smile in his voice, and I couldn’t help but grin. “You don’t say.”
“So now I’m calling.”
“Think that will improve the situation?”
“I don’t know, Tess. We’ll see.” After a beat, he added, “I want us to get to know each other better. I know it’s best not to mix business and pleasure, but I can’t help myself. I’m crazy attracted to you, and I think it’s mutual. Am I wrong?”
“No,” I admitted. Butterflies were roaming in my belly. “But I’m not sure we should…do anything.”
“Think about it, okay?” His voice was relaxed, and I was thankful he was letting me off the hook, because I needed time to process this.
“Okay. I’ll email any questions we have about the contract.”
After hanging up, I looked at the bottle and hugged it to my chest.
I was in an excellent mood. We had a reputable investor wanting to work with us. I had a bottle of our favorite champagne. What was there not to be happy about?
Celebrating milestones was a religion in my family. I’d always insisted on that. We all had hurdles to overcome, so good things needed to be enjoyed and celebrated.
I headed to Ryker’s place. Skye was meeting us there. Since my brother worked on Wall Street, we wanted his input on the contract. He’d know if the terms were fair.
On the way, I received a message, and I scowled at the phone when I read it.
Kevin: Think I’ve got a shot at this?
Attached was a picture of a gorgeous blonde.
Kevin was the owner of a food truck not far from our store. We met a few months ago when I bought lunch from him. I thought we clicked, so in a typically overoptimistic Tess fashion, I asked him out. He turned me down gently, saying I wasn’t his type and that we were better off as friends.
Ever since, he kept in touch—more often than not asking for advice with women. I toyed with the idea of just ignoring him, but really, I didn’t want to be rude. He’d been honest. But looking at the picture, I couldn’t help but ask myself, What does she have that I don’t? It stung.
Tess: I don’t see why not :)
There, that was a good reply, and it didn’t invite more conversation.
He didn’t send anything back, thank goodness.
My brother lived in a gorgeous apartment not too far from Soho, on the fifty-fourth floor of a skyscraper.
I was excited to see my niece Avery again and to give her the gift I purchased for her in Nolita.
I took it out as I stepped off the elevator, smoothing the pretty pink wrapping paper and the bow.
Ryker opened the door. My brother was a mountain of a man with permanently rebellious hair and dark-blue eyes that broke their fair share of hearts before he settled down with Heather.
He pointed at the package. “Hey, Sis. What’s that?”
“A present for Avery.”
“She’s not here. Heather took her out for dinner. You can leave her present, though. I’m sure she’ll be happy.”
I pouted, holding the package to my chest along with the bottle as I stepped inside. “But I like watching her when she gets her presents.”
That was one thing I loved about kids. They didn’t hold back anything. It didn’t matter if they were overjoyed or throwing a temper tantrum.
I gave him the package, though.
“Send me a pic when you give it to her, okay?”
“Sure.” Ryker laughed, guiding me inside the living room.
I toed off my shoes in the foyer before zeroing in on the couch, where Skye was sitting all alone. “And you didn’t bring my nephew?”
“No, I thought we’d need all brain cells to focus on the contract.”
I sighed, resigning myself to getting no cuddle time with Jonas or Avery today. I placed the champagne bottle on the table and sat next to my sister. That was when I realized she was running her hand all over her face and through her hair. She only did that when she was worried or annoyed.
“I haven’t had time to read it. Something wrong with it?”
I’d been elbow-deep in all sorts of duties at the store. Skye didn’t answer. I looked between her and Ryker, who was sitting in the armchair opposite the couch.
“Nothing wrong. I just don’t think you’ll like it,” he said.
My stomach bottomed out.
“Okay, should we go through it, or you want to sum up what I’ll dislike first?” I asked.
“I’ll start with the good points. They don’t ask for a percentage of your company, just a percentage of profits. I don’t think you’ll get a better deal from any investor.”
I frowned. “We knew that already. It’s why we chose them as our potential investor. So what’s the problem?”
“They want a lot of decision power. More than I usually see in this type of alliance. It’s understandable, but it’s unusual. I for one wouldn’t have a problem with it, but I know you two like to be in control.”
That was an understatement. Skye and I both worked full time when we opened the online shop, and we only quit our previous jobs once we opened the brick-and-mortar store. We’d done everything from prototyping to online marketing ourselves.
I looked over Skye’s shoulder at the laptop. Over the next two hours, we dissected every section of the contract. My mood just kept plummeting.
“Liam did say they’re open to negotiation,” Skye said, chewing on her lower lip.
I gripped her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
I’d been the one who convinced Skye years ago to go into business with me.
There was a reason my family nicknamed me “the hurricane”: when I put my mind to something, there was no stopping me.
I talked Skye into it, and now I felt responsible for making this work.
I didn’t know what to say though, because our dream of expanding was slipping through our fingers. No way could we agree to these terms.
“Tess, we have sixty-five points we want to discuss. I don’t see how we can reach an agreement.”
I was tempted to just reject the deal, because these negotiations would likely take time, and we didn’t have any to spare.
“Okay, I’ll send him an email with our comments, asking for an appointment,” I said.
I sent the email right away, keeping my fingers crossed that he would want to meet soon.
“Come on, girls. Let’s go out to dinner. My treat. You two need something to cheer you up,” Ryker said.
“Have I told you I love you recently?” I teased, getting up from the couch and kissing his cheek.
“Only a couple of times.”
“We planned on ordering a cheese platter,” Skye said.
I vehemently shook my head. “No, that’s for celebrating. Let’s not spoil that by turning it into comfort food.”
Needless to say, we hadn’t opened the champagne.
To my astonishment, Liam emailed before we left the apartment.
Liam: I can see you and Skye tomorrow at eight and discuss your worries.
“Perfect,” Skye said when I read her the content. “Works for me.”
I emailed him back right away.
Tess: We’ll be there.
I tucked the phone in my bag, determined not to be swayed tomorrow by those baby-blue eyes or his sexy-as-hell ass. I planned to keep it all business.
“Okay, it’s all set. We’re meeting him tomorrow.”
“Let’s take our dear brother up on his offer, then,” Skye said.
“Yes. Hey, here’s a thought. Why don’t we go to the same place Heather took Avery? Think they’re still there?”
“For sure,” Ryker replied.
“Perfect. That way I get to see Avery too and give her the gift myself. I need extra cuddles tonight.”