Page 40 of Touch My Shelves

Excitement that I know she’s trying to tamp down rises in her voice. “Yes. Heaps better.”

What would be better than… “Naudi! You have pieces in the new line? Your very own designs!”

We both squeal and cheer, and then she spills. “Not only that, Pop, buthalfthe pieces are my designs! But you can’t say anything. Don’t even think anything. You can’t put bad juju on this happening.”

I scream, “This is incredible! It’s happening, girl! I knew you would make it big. Your name is going to be all over the world and people are going to be clamoring for your designs.”

With a more serious tone, she cautions, “Zip it, Pop. Anything could happen between now and the show.”

I can’t stop smiling. Naudi deserves this and more. “But it won’t. Heck. Now there’s no way you’ll move here and open the store beside me.”

“That would have been fun. I was almost ready to throw in the towel when Dane asked to look at my design book. You know how he always picks apart everything I do, but he didn’t this time. There were a few tweaks he wanted to make, but my work stood on its own.”

“I’m so happy for you, Naudi. It couldn’t have happened to a more talented and nice designer. You deserve to make a splash in the fashion world.”

“Thanks.” Then my best friend leaves me with these parting words. “And, Poppy, I hear what you aren’t saying. Something is going on with you and the big shot author. You don’t have to tell me, but I’m here for you if you need me.”

CHAPTER 14

BRAX

Grumbling under my breath, I jog down the hallway and the stairs to stop whoever is banging on my door. Mrs. Ballard is out grocery shopping. Poppy and Freeya are walking on the beach. Nobody visits and there’s not a fucking reason anyone should. How am I supposed to work if I keep getting interrupted?

“What!” I snap as I throw the door open and my jaw drops. “What the fuck are you assholes doing here?”

Eli Griffin walks in and slaps me on the back. “Wow. Harsh, man. I thought we were your besties. Your posse. Your ride or die.”

Jack Robertson hands me his suitcase and breezes by. “I need a snack. Where’s the kitchen in this place?”

Alec Sellers threads a duffle bag up my arm and hangs it on my shoulder, tilting me over from its weight. “Great place, man,” he says as he takes the stairs to the second level. “We aren’t going to have to share, are we?”

I toe the door shut, drop their luggage where I stand, and yell, “Just a fucking minute! Is somebody going to tell me what the hell you three are doing here?”

Jack’s raised voice echoes through the halls. “Hey, dudes, get back here. Wait until you see this kitchen. Oh, and I found the bar. And snacks!”

“Alright!” Alec and Eli high five and jog down the kitchen hallway. With my hands on my hips, I grin and shake my head in disgust. Whatever they’re doing here, I know we’ll have a wild time. Just what I don’t need. But maybe it’s exactly what I need to get my head on straight about Poppy.

We grab beers and the guys fill their arms with snacks before we head out to sit around the pool. I text Mrs. Ballard to let her know there will be three additional guests for an indefinite stay. I hope she buys out the grocery store, knowing how these guys put food away.

The weather is clear and sunny, but there’s a crispness with notes of fall in the air. I’ve learned that it never gets close to freezing here, not even in the dead of winter, but the heated pool is very appreciated in cooler months.

“You have drinks and food. Now is somebody going to tell me what’s going on?”

The three look at each other and shrug. Eli starts with, “We know you have a deadline.”

Jack is next and shares, “We also know some juicy gossip we had to come and tell you in person.”

Alex picks up a handful of chips and announces, “Yeah, but we also wanted to check out the Buccaneer Days celebration you always talk about.”

My brows draw together. “That’s still weeks away.”

“We know,” Alec answers for the group.

“You’re going to stay for weeks?” I can’t believe they are planning an extended visit. All three men have their own careers as successful authors and sought-after screenwriters. Eli makes his home in New York, Jack lives in the wilds of Colorado, and Alec lives near me in California. All this to say, these guys don’t have time to sit on their asses for weeks doing nothing.

“Three weeks if you count the week of the festival,” Eli is quick to point out.

Three weeks. Hmmm. “Wait. Wait. Wait. What aren’t you saying? There’s no way you three would be away from work that long.”

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