Page 40 of Second Chance Wedding
Sasha’s laughter bubbled up from the back. “Ain’t that the truth.”
Decision apparently made, Quinley moved back to the chair and took off the shoes.
“It’s a…car service.”
Ana winced, noting the way Quinley froze for a split second before resuming boot removal. “Is there a reason you’re asking about how to advertise a service you don’t offer?”
Ana watched as her best friend boxed the booties, shoved her regularly pedicured feet back into her sleek heels and approached the desk with a searching gaze that left Ana squirming.
“Give it up, girlfriend. Are we talking a certain limo service owned by a certain ex?”
Ana nodded at Quin’s question. “Are you still looking, or should I start ringing this up?”
“Ring and talk,” Quinley ordered.
“Done!” Sasha called. “Taking my break. I need a mocha, stat.”
Ana smiled and waited for her assistant manager to exit the boutique before trying to voice the weirdness of her weekend. “Cole dropped Ben off at the house yesterday.”
“There’s some service,” Quinley murmured dryly. “And?”
“Long story short, the estimate for the repair was even more than expected.”
“Typical and not surprising. Go on.”
“Well, I offered to dip into my savings to pay the difference, but Cole said he’d looked up my business, liked my ads—thank you, by the way—and wants me to work with him on advertising the Blackwell businesses in exchange for the additional $2,500.”
“Talk about southern charm at its finest,” Quinley murmured.
“He…wants to discuss it on Friday after work.”
“Fridaynight?”
Ana nodded. “He, um, also asked me to wear my gala gown—What?”
Quinley’s grin was pure orneriness. “I didn’t say a word.”
“Well, your face certainly says a lot.”
Quinley canted her head to one side. “I’m just wondering if you’re really not getting it or just pretending your first love didn’t ask you on a date.”
“So itisa date? Really?”
“Well, I’ve never worn a formal to a business meeting. Although,” Quinley said, pausing, “I suppose if it’s a networking event…”
“See?Isit a date or business? Because I can’t ask Cole. That’s just…humiliating. Like I’m begging for it to be one.”
Quinley leaned against the counter and drummed her picture-perfect nails on the surface. “Do you want it to be a date?”
The question drew the breath from her lungs, and her mind shifted to when Cole had her hands pinned behind her back and his lips on her skin.
“You justblushed. What is up with that?”
“Nothing. Nothing, really,” she said, drawing out the word. “But we…had a moment.”
“What kind of a moment?”
Ana pressed both hands over her face and then shoved her hair back as she stared at the gilded chandeliers above her head, ever so grateful that the boutique was currently empty of customers. “A kind of hot one?”
