Page 2 of Love in Beauty

She’s been talking nonstop about them since freshman year of college. Thinking back about how I missed Stephanie’s college graduation makes my blood boil. My ex-fiancé didn’t tell me when the graduation was because I was so busy with work and had booked us on a cruise. She took my phone and hid it from me once we were on board. To say after the cruise, she was no longer anything to me, was an understatement. Michelle was always jealous of my relationship with my sister. It was just the two of us and me being three years older than Stephanie, I was protective of her. I didn’t deny how close my sister and I were, and Michelle Initially said that was one of things she fell in love with me for, was my love for my sister. Then it warped into a jealous she can be the only female in my life creepy thing I never noticed until the graduation. It broke Stephanie’s heart for me to miss her graduation, but after I told her everything Michelle had done to keep me away, she forgave me.

ME: I can’t wait to meet them and my apartment is yours to use as you please. You know that. What can I do to help?

STEPHANIE: Just give me away on Saturday

ME: I think I’m keeping you forever. Isn’t that the contract we signed when you were five?

STEPHANIE: HA You have me forever, but you need to share me with my one true love

ME: Fine, but I’m calling dibs on the first dance

STEPHANIE: SEB!

ME: ??

I finish my coffee before heading into the office. I’m CEO of a book publishing company. We handle everything from edits, designing, marketing, and publishing. I’m an avid reader, so I enjoy taking the manuscripts home with me to find the next Stephen King, Danielle Steel, or Nora Roberts. My parents built this company when they were an editor and a graphic designer. The book world is constantly changing since technology is growing so I’ve been able to expand on what we can offer authors. I want the authors to focus on the words because it’s their story they’re telling, and I want them to keep their creative juices flowing, so to speak. When my parents decided they were done with the corporate world, they gave it to me and walked away, wanting nothing more to do with it. I don’t even know where they are right now because last I heard; they were backpacking through Europe with some college students. They won’t even be attending their daughter’s wedding. I often shake my head when I think of my parents.

Work is the place where I’m in control of my thoughts and movements. The hours are long, and the work is stressful. Sometimes I wish I could get away from it all and find that special someone who wants a partner and not checkbook with a black card and no limit spending. I sigh as I flop into my office chair where there is a stack of books I need to read, and I know there are a ton of emails about design concepts and marketing ideas, all needing my approval. I know I told Stephanie I wouldn’t work this weekend, but I think while she and Carmen do whatever last minute wedding stuff they need to, I’ll be in my office working my ass off to make sure I can enjoy the next couple of days with my sister.

It’s almost five o’clock when my assistant Rita tells me she’s leaving for the night, and she’ll see me on Saturday. I gather up my stuff when my phone rings. I smile as it’s my favorite person in the world.

“Hey, sis, what’s up?”

“Are you at the apartment or the office?” Stephanie sounds out of breath.

“Just packing up to leave for the apartment.”

“Carmen’s flight got in early. I’m stuck at work for another two hours. Can you be a great big brother and go pick her up?”

“I don’t even know what she looks like?” I shut down my laptop and grab my suit jacket. I didn’t get nearly half of what I needed to get done, so it’s going to be an all-nighter.

“I can send you a picture of her. If you can feed her and show her how to use your TV until I get there, then she should be fine. I’m sorry about this.”

“Hey, it’s fine. Just let her know that I’m coming to pick her up instead of you.” She hangs up before sending me the photo of Carmen. “Wow. This is the famous Carmen? She’s gorgeous.” I smile as I leave my office. I’m looking forward to meeting this Carmen woman.

chapterthree

Carmen

STEPHANIE: I’m stuck at work, but Seb is going to pick you up. Here’s his picture.

I finally gotoff the plane and when I turn my phone on, the first thing I see is I’m finally meeting the mysterious big brother. My heart flutters a little because I’ve been lusting after him for a while now. Stephanie talks a lot about him, and I feel like I know him better than some of my friends from college. I’m sure I built him up on this pedestal, but it feels like I’m actually going to meet the man of my dreams, and I can’t help but smile to myself as I wait at the luggage carousel for my bag. I know I overpacked, but the gifts I bought for the girls from Cupid’s Cove and my clothes wouldn’t fit in my carryon. Once I find my yellow suitcase, I grab it, then head out of the terminal. I scan the crowd as I gaze down at the handsome guy I’ve been secretly crushing on in the photo. I send Stephanie a quick text letting her know I landed safely and can’t wait to see her.

“Carmen?” The tall brown-haired man’s voice caught my attention. I smile, comparing the picture to the man standing before me. His face now has a full beard instead of the clean-cut man from the pictures I’ve seen in the past when I was living with Stephanie.

“Sebastian?” I quirk up an eyebrow at him. It has me squeezing my thighs together, wanting to know what his beard would feel like between them.

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you, finally.” He grabs my suitcase and carryon.

“I’ve heard so much about you and I didn’t think you could walk on Earth.” I chuckle. “Stephanie believes you’re larger than life and like a god.”

He blushes.

“I think it’s the other way around, to be honest. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” The smile lights up his face. Oh, to be the one to make him smile like that.What the fuck was that thought?I chastise myself. I need to keep this crush to myself. I don’t know if she’d forgive me for going after her brother. She’s protective of him especially since his ex-fiancé did a real number on him. “She’s working for a few hours since she’s taking so much time off work for the honeymoon.”

“Yeah, her and Lucas are coming to Cupid’s Cove for Valentine’s Day. We do it up every year. She came one year during college and told me she wanted to be there when she first got married.”

“It’s why the wedding is at the end of January. I often wondered since they met during the summer, and she always told me that getting married on Valentine’s Day was too cliché for her.” He shakes his head.

---