they had one week where their schedules overlapped at Blackard Designs, and I remember sizing Jeremy up to Cooper. That should have been a red flag to me.
Jeremy came into the diner with Cooper for lunch, and while Jeremy rambled on about this elusive interview Carson had hooked him up with in California, I was eyeing Cooper. Not in an obvious way, but you can’t not look at the guy. He stands out that much. For the love of God, a hot guy moved to town who wasn’t like a brother to me. However, I wasn’t about to become friendly with Cooper, even after Jeremy fled with his shriveled pecker between his legs, because I was still working off my dumb theory about men.
Cooper has paid dearly for my prickly personality over the last year, but after these recent events—a drunken kiss, a sober kiss, and an upcoming social outing—maybe I can try to be friends with him after all.
I’m attempting to play it cool in front of Lauren, and for my benefit, she’s acting like it’s no big deal that her favorite biker, whom I have portrayed as my nemesis for many months, is taking me out to peruse an estate sale.
“Don’t forget the business credit card,” Lauren says as I pop into the workroom to see her current project. “It’s still in the freezer.”
“I can’t use it if it’s frozen.”
“Imogene, people put their credit cards in blocks of ice so they can’t overindulge with them. You put ours in the freezer next to the vodka. The card may be cold, but it works. You can spend up to two thousand. That’s affordable in terms of payments and interest.”
“I hate that.”
“I do, too, but we need the good stuff to make the next twenty designs we have. If we can get them done in the next two weeks, Sasha’s will buy them all. So please don’t back out of this auction like you did last week at the Goodman estate.”
“Maybe you should go to the Murphy place with Cooper. You’re more pragmatic about this stuff.”
“Oh, no. I’m still doing the bead designs,” she says, holding up a fistful of colored markers. “I want all the design sheets done by tomorrow so we can start filling the trays. That’s going to take fucking forever.”
“Then let’s make some less elaborate necklaces.”
“No, Sasha’slikes our big three-tiered ones with the showy lockets and the drop pearls. If you can get some jet pieces, do. I’d love to put some Edwardian beads into these new designs.”
“I’ll do my best.” I sigh, thinking of the cost, even at estate sales where they are highly motivated to negotiate a price down.
Lauren pauses in her work and regards me for a moment. “You look different. Nice.”
“Didn’t I look nice at Yadi’s party?”
“Yes, but today you look better, more relaxed or carefree. Something is different, and it kind of lights up your face.”
That’s because a Viking reminded me what it’s like to have worn out, bruised lips from a passionate kiss. I admit, the irony of the situation has made me happier than I’ve been in a long time. I did not expect it to come in the way of Cooper Mackenzie.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. This is nothing special. Archie started this whole thing by telling us about the estate sale and mentioning the jewelry, so we’re going to check it out. That’s all this is.”
“Okay,” she replies softly and smiles as though she doesn’t want to set me off on one of my unflattering Cooper rants. I can’t blame her there.
“Okay, then, so I’m going to go get our very cold credit card out of the freezer,” I say, checking the time on my phone. “And I’m going to meet him out front. He said he’s always on time.”
“He is.” Lauren nods her head. “He’s very punctual. And tidy. Very tidy for a guy.”
“Now you’re being weird. I’m going.”
“All right, but don’t kick Cooper in the balls, it wouldn’t make for a good date. Have fun. He’s a nice guy.”
“It’s not a date. Cooper insisted on taking me
Jeremy came into the diner with Cooper for lunch, and while Jeremy rambled on about this elusive interview Carson had hooked him up with in California, I was eyeing Cooper. Not in an obvious way, but you can’t not look at the guy. He stands out that much. For the love of God, a hot guy moved to town who wasn’t like a brother to me. However, I wasn’t about to become friendly with Cooper, even after Jeremy fled with his shriveled pecker between his legs, because I was still working off my dumb theory about men.
Cooper has paid dearly for my prickly personality over the last year, but after these recent events—a drunken kiss, a sober kiss, and an upcoming social outing—maybe I can try to be friends with him after all.
I’m attempting to play it cool in front of Lauren, and for my benefit, she’s acting like it’s no big deal that her favorite biker, whom I have portrayed as my nemesis for many months, is taking me out to peruse an estate sale.
“Don’t forget the business credit card,” Lauren says as I pop into the workroom to see her current project. “It’s still in the freezer.”
“I can’t use it if it’s frozen.”
“Imogene, people put their credit cards in blocks of ice so they can’t overindulge with them. You put ours in the freezer next to the vodka. The card may be cold, but it works. You can spend up to two thousand. That’s affordable in terms of payments and interest.”
“I hate that.”
“I do, too, but we need the good stuff to make the next twenty designs we have. If we can get them done in the next two weeks, Sasha’s will buy them all. So please don’t back out of this auction like you did last week at the Goodman estate.”
“Maybe you should go to the Murphy place with Cooper. You’re more pragmatic about this stuff.”
“Oh, no. I’m still doing the bead designs,” she says, holding up a fistful of colored markers. “I want all the design sheets done by tomorrow so we can start filling the trays. That’s going to take fucking forever.”
“Then let’s make some less elaborate necklaces.”
“No, Sasha’slikes our big three-tiered ones with the showy lockets and the drop pearls. If you can get some jet pieces, do. I’d love to put some Edwardian beads into these new designs.”
“I’ll do my best.” I sigh, thinking of the cost, even at estate sales where they are highly motivated to negotiate a price down.
Lauren pauses in her work and regards me for a moment. “You look different. Nice.”
“Didn’t I look nice at Yadi’s party?”
“Yes, but today you look better, more relaxed or carefree. Something is different, and it kind of lights up your face.”
That’s because a Viking reminded me what it’s like to have worn out, bruised lips from a passionate kiss. I admit, the irony of the situation has made me happier than I’ve been in a long time. I did not expect it to come in the way of Cooper Mackenzie.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. This is nothing special. Archie started this whole thing by telling us about the estate sale and mentioning the jewelry, so we’re going to check it out. That’s all this is.”
“Okay,” she replies softly and smiles as though she doesn’t want to set me off on one of my unflattering Cooper rants. I can’t blame her there.
“Okay, then, so I’m going to go get our very cold credit card out of the freezer,” I say, checking the time on my phone. “And I’m going to meet him out front. He said he’s always on time.”
“He is.” Lauren nods her head. “He’s very punctual. And tidy. Very tidy for a guy.”
“Now you’re being weird. I’m going.”
“All right, but don’t kick Cooper in the balls, it wouldn’t make for a good date. Have fun. He’s a nice guy.”
“It’s not a date. Cooper insisted on taking me
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