Page 31 of Stirring Up Love
Chantal’s grin hit her ears. “‘Only my finger,’ she says.” She chuckled. “You’re not wrong.”
Simone’s cheeks flamed hotter than the coastal sun filtering through the streaky windows, but her embarrassment had nothing to do withFinn’s mouth and everything to do with millions of viewers who’d watched him pull one over on her. “Glad my public shame is a source of entertainment for you.”
Chantal’s smile slipped. “Sim, it wasn’t that bad. It was kind of cute, to be honest.”
“Yeah, a random dude is about to become equal owner of my family business. Super cute.” About as cute as a baby cobra and every bit as deadly.
The screen blurred to show greige carpet on a staircase, and Chantal’s breathing turned labored. She and Simone had lived in the same fourth-floor walkup since college. A year into law school, Chantal took the leap and dropped out to chase her design dreams, creating an eclectic line of jewelry.
With her business taking off, Chantal had decided to turn Simone’s old bedroom into a studio. She tried not to feel replaced—silly, when it was beads and thread, not even a new roommate occupying the space she used to inhabit—but an ache settled into her chest as she thought about the home that used to be hers. It wasn’t only Hawksburg she was homesick for.
“I know you moaned about him selling sauce on your turf all summer”—Chantal panted—“but I don’t see the big deal. Hawksburg is not exactly a destination.” Not yet. But her vision was to make it one, impossible if she was trying to build a franchise. “How much money did his presence actually cost you?”
“That’s my point! Why come back every week?” To scope out her weaknesses. Wear down her defenses. “He might not have cost me much all summer, but he just cost me half my business.”
He’d played the perfect long game, and she’d admire his strategy if she hadn’t fallen victim to treachery. Fool me twice ...
“What if he didn’t know you’d be on the show? Could he have been a pawn just like you?”
“He did know. And even if he didn’t, a partnership would be a disaster. It would be a constant battle of wills, and that man has an ego bigger than—”
“Than yours?” Chantal’s bubbly laugh filtered through the connection as she unlocked her door. “Doubtful. Besides, who cares about the size of his ego?”
“That’s my line.” One she reserved for rationalizing hookups with self-indulged men, not signing business deals with them.
“I know, I learned from the best.” Her friend’s grin was upshot by the phone, her tasseled earrings swaying as she took off her macramé tote. “I’m just saying, personal objections aside, aren’t you curious what he might bring to the table?”
“I know what he brings to the table. He’s got decent sauce, but he’s been in business less than a year.”
Chantal squinted at her. “Technically, so have you.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, always yours,” her friend said. “And I wish you weren’t living so far away so we could talk this out in person.” Something Simone wished for every day. To somehow be close to everyone she loved most in life. But she was thousands of miles away from everyone she cared about, facing down an uncertain future all on her own.
“I just don’t want you to let He Who Shall Not Be Named ruin what might be an amazing opportunity for your company.”
She refused to utter it after what he’d done, but the name Jason Whittaker was forever seared into her consciousness. He’d been her office bestie from day one, right up until he’d turned traitor. Jason had cost her her job, but if she let Finn into her company, she might lose everything. And this time, the blame would fall squarely on her own shoulders.
“A franchise might be a great opportunity, I’ll give you that. But I’m not risking my future by going into business with a wild card. I’ve got to figure out a way to take Finn out of play.”
“And you’re going to accomplish this how? You do realize wedding stuff is going to monopolize your time. Trust me on this.” Chantal had five sisters, all older, all but two married. Her closet was half bridesmaid’s dresses at this point.
“I know it’s going to be hectic, but the bachelorette party isn’t until Thursday. That still leaves me a few days to strategize, plus a four-hour flight’s worth of planning time.” She’d need every minute to contrive a way to save face before she arrived back in town. She couldn’t let everyone see her as the contestant not good enough to get an offer on her own. “Speaking of, I’d better get to the airport.”
Her flight didn’t leave for another few hours, but it never hurt to arrive early. And maybe a change of scenery—she cast a last disgusted look at the concrete monstrosity blocking the California sky—would help her brainstorm ways to get rid of Finn.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to your ridiculous timetable.” Chantal knew her too well. Downright annoying. “But when you’re outlining your sinister plan, make sure you’re not so fixated on getting rid of him that you wind up hurting yourself in the process.”
Now was not the time to hold back. So what if her emotions went haywire around him? Her emotions were drunk and disorderly, downing Jell-O shots and singing karaoke. They’d led her astray before.
“I’ve got a few days to discover Finn’s weakness and use it against him. Trust me: there’s no downside to going it alone.”
CHAPTER 13
FINN
“I need to get her to see this is the best way forward for both of us.” Cell phone crooked into his neck, Finn dragged his duffel bag higher on his shoulder and hustled into the airport. The automatic doors whooshed shut behind him, silencing the chorus of honks and shouted farewells, sealing out night air thick with exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke.
