Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Adalyn bit her lip, blinking away the tears burning the back of her eyelids. This was the absolute last thing she needed that morning. She had been an emotional mess for the past two days, snapping at everyone and ready to cry at the drop of a hat.
Seeing Jaxon the other night had thrown her completely off balance, but that was nothing compared to what she had experienced over the past few days: Nothing. Nada. Not a phone call, no emails, not a visit to her house or the salon.
It was extremely unnerving, and she didn’t believe for a second that he would leave well enough alone.
He was biding his time, waiting to swoop back into her life and ruin everything.
The possibility of him popping up unexpectedly hung over her head like a black cloud, and she was stressed almost to the point of breaking.
Amy had asked about him once but promptly dropped the subject when Adalyn had practically bitten her head off.
She needed to tell him about Jaclyn. There was no putting it off any longer.
She had allowed herself to fall into a state of complacency for the past year, but that had dissipated in a matter of minutes.
Now that Jaxon was back, it felt as if the ground of her perfectly constructed world was crumbling beneath her feet.
She could only imagine his reaction. He would be furious, and she wasn’t quite ready to deal with it just yet.
“This is horrendous. I don’t understand why you can’t figure out—”
Adalyn whirled at the sound of Caryn Andersen’s voice and steeled her spine, lifting her chin as she stared her down.
With everything spiraling out of control around her, she finally reached her wit's end. She was done with this woman throwing her weight around. “Caryn, I appreciate your business, but clearly we are not seeing eye to eye. I think it’d be better if you went somewhere else.”
The other woman’s mouth dropped open in shock. Likely it was the first time anyone had stood up to her. “Are you kicking me out?”
Adalyn clasped her hands in front of her stomach and affected her most calm but firm expression. “I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to find someone better suited for your needs. Someone who can make your vision come true.”
Good freaking luck to whomever that might be. The woman was a menace, and if Adalyn never had to see her again, it would be too soon.
Caryn’s jaw dropped open, gaping like a fish. The sight would have been comical if Adalyn weren’t so pissed off and frustrated with their constant battling. “You can’t just quit! Who do you think you are?”
Adalyn spread her hands wide. “I don’t believe I’m the best person to design your dream dress. You said so yourself.”
Caryn threw the dress on the floor. “I’m not paying you a dime. Your work is—”
“Actually,” Adalyn interjected, holding up her index finger, “your contract states that you’re required to pay for the amount of work that has been completed.
However,” she cut Caryn off again as she opened her mouth to protest, “I’ll cut that number in half as a courtesy. I’ll mail you the bill next week.”
She didn’t care what she had to do to get rid of her; she just wanted the woman out of her salon and out of her life.
The woman’s eyes narrowed to angry slits. “You’ll regret this.”
“I seriously doubt it.” Adalyn smiled serenely. “Best of luck to you.”
Throwing her giant designer handbag over one twig-thin arm, Caryn stomped off the dais—taking care to grind her stiletto-clad heel into the delicate lace of the dress on her way out.
Adalyn closed her eyes at the sight, anger simmering deep in her belly.
She clenched her hands together in an effort to refrain from leaping over the dais herself and strangling the woman.
The bell over the door jingled, announcing Caryn’s dramatic exit.
The slam of the door made Adalyn flinch, her shoulders jumping to her ears.
“That woman could piss off a nun.”
A smile cracked Adalyn’s face, and, relaxing, she turned to Jenn. “Amen, sister. She’s a walking nightmare.”
“Is that salvageable?” Jenn pointed to the fabric puddled on the floor, and Adalyn scooped it up, inspecting it.
“I think so. Except where she ripped a hole in the lace.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Adalyn passed it over with a smile. “You’re a saint, you know that?”
“Better believe it.” Jenn shot a cheeky smile her way and cradled the dress in her arms. “I’ll see if I can work some magic, and we’ll use it as a display.”
“Sounds great. Thank you.”
Jenn headed toward the back of the salon, and Adalyn took a moment to compose herself before striding to the welcome desk. Amy sat behind the computer and swiveled toward her as she approached. “You okay?”
Adalyn offered a small smile. “I’ll be fine. We shouldn’t hear anything from her anymore, I hope.”
Amy chuckled. “She certainly left in a huff. Looked like someone pissed in her Cheerios.”
Adalyn smothered a giggle behind both hands. “That’s awful.”
“No,” Amy deadpanned. “She is awful. I’m just honest.”
“Fair enough,” Adalyn said with a laugh. “I’m going to straighten up a bit before the next appointment.”
She paused in front of the large glass window overlooking the street, watching the world outside.
What made women like Caryn so cold? She’d been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, had everything handed to her on a platter, while Adalyn had scrimped and saved and sacrificed everything.
Despite all that, Adalyn wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
The struggle she had endured made it all worth it.
She shook her head and turned away with a sigh. Meandering the display room floor, a sense of pride swelled deep inside her. Her fingers trailed over the sleek satins and delicate lace as she fluffed the skirts, carefully arranging the fabric.
The shattering of glass behind her ripped a small scream from her throat, and she instinctively covered her head with her hands as she dropped to one knee. A full second of silence ensued before chaos broke out across the salon.
“Adalyn!”
“What happened?”
“Are you okay?”
Voices assaulted her ears from every direction, and she opened her eyes.
Tiny shards of glass littered the floor at her feet, and, dazed, she turned toward the window.
The sounds from outside filtered in through the gaping hole in the lower portion of the window.
What remained of the pane was splintered, looking like jagged teeth ready to chomp down on its next victim.
There was only one reason it would have exploded like that. Rushing forward, she braced one hand on the sill, carefully avoiding the shards of glass. Leaning out, she scanned the sidewalk to her left and right, looking for anyone, anything, responsible.
Cars whizzed past, and a couple of people ambled around the corner farther down the sidewalk, but whoever had broken the window was long gone.
Shaken, she turned back to the group of women gathered around, watching her intently for guidance. Placing one hand over her still racing heart, she pasted on a soothing smile. “Everything’s fine. It just scared me.”
“What happened?” Amy asked, concern evident on her face.
“I’m not sure.” Adalyn debated voicing her fears but decided against it. “Whatever it was, I’m sure it was just an accident.”
“Mm-hmm.” Amy hummed a low sound in her throat, and the rest of the ladies exchanged uneasy glances.
Adalyn reached for patience. “Maybe someone was mowing the grass and it ricocheted through the window. Or something fell off a truck.”
None of the ladies seemed to like either of those explanations, but it seemed to calm them at least.
Jenn rounded the corner but came to a dead halt when she saw them. “Is everything okay? I heard a commotion, and—” Her eyes rounded as they moved over Adalyn’s shoulder to the shattered window behind her. “Oh, my gosh! What happened?”
Adalyn held up her hands. “Just an accident. Let’s get this cleaned up, then—” Her words were cut off as the bell over the front door jingled, and they collectively turned toward the sound.
Please, God, no.
Adalyn stared at the one single person on earth she had no desire to see—one far worse than Caryn. She had been dreading this moment, waiting for him to walk through that door and change her life forever.
Her heart dropped to her toes, and a steel band constricted around her lungs as blue eyes cut to her, sending a fiery sensation through her body that she didn’t understand. God surely hated her. There was no other explanation for it.