them appear slapped. She pretty much was. “I know how important your daughter’s wedding is and understand how grand the social engagements must be. Honest, I would never do anything to screw them up, I just think Ellie’s searching for fresh ideas; that’s why she won’t commit to a cake or flowers or dresses. I’m almost positive she would have said no to everything today if I hadn’t shown her something completely different.”
“A few days with my daughter and you’re an expert? I’ve been dealing with her social engagements my entire life; if anyone’s the expert, it’s me.”
“I’m not saying your choices suck—”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes grow wider than the bonbons in the display.
“I’m just saying, you must’ve seen my potential or you wouldn’t have approved my internship. I can do this job.” Cassidy counters Mom’s angry stare with a steel hard glare of her own.
“Cocky, aren’t you?”
“Persistent.”
“Ballsy.”
I hold back the snort I want so badly to release and rise to my feet. “Why did you hire her, Mom?”
“Stay out of this, Quincy.”
“I would, but I know you. You don’t hire sort-of-maybe-type individuals. You only hire the best of the best. If you agreed to take her on as an intern, then you saw her potential.” I rise and thrum my fingers on the back of the chair.
“You have promise, Ms. Beck, but your talent needs to be honed in the right direction. Right now, your ideas are too vast. You need to nail down your focus.”
“Like tunnel vision?” Cassidy seems hopeful.
“ I’ve said enough and I need to head to another meeting. I gave you six weeks, Ms. Beck, but I can shorten it to one.” Mom rises and Cassidy follows suit.
“Are you saying I’m not doing a good job?” Cassidy asks.
“Your artistic abilities are phenomenal, but your people skills are lacking. You’d fare better keeping your comments to yourself.”
Cassidy’s mouth opens, words teeter on her bobbing lip. “Did you get to where you are today by keeping your comments to yourself?”
Priceless. She cornered Mom the way Mom cornered her. Watching them is like watching two queens diplomatically war over a single realm while staying at the top of their game.
“Let’s come to an understanding. Blow my mind or you’re fired.”
“Noted.” Cassidy gathers up her papers and jots down a few notes before slipping everything into her bag.
“That went well,” I say after the door shuts behind Mom.
“If that went well, then what does something going bad look like?”
“You don’t want to know.” I chuckle and lead her out, making sure to get at least one hand on her. I pat her lower back and then take both her shoulders and give them a good squeeze.
She sighs into it instead of tensing but won’t look me in the eyes.
“Cassidy,” I whisper.
Her chin tilts up and she gives me a crooked smile. There’s a brief moment where I’m ninety-nine percent positive she’d let me kiss her. Right there in front of everyone walking by.
She breaks the moment, turning away from me to fan her armpits. “Great. Stress stains.”
I chuckle. “A little hot?”
She peers over her shoulder, gaze raking down me like she’s stripped me down to my socks. “A lot.”
Chapter 6
Cassidy
After a full day of meetings with Ellie, I’m not back at the plantation more than five minutes before she texts and requests my presence in her room. A rest to clear my brain would be nice, but I doubt that would be a legitimate excuse. I debate leaving behind the wedding binder, but in the end bring it along. Just in case she’s changing the cake, the flowers, the location, or the date. Who knows with her.
“Oh, good. You haven’t changed outfits. Kat and I are meeting friends at the yacht club and you’re coming with us. Wait here while I throw on something fresh.” Ellie points at her bed and disappears into her ginormous closet.
Going to the yacht club where the Covingtons are
“A few days with my daughter and you’re an expert? I’ve been dealing with her social engagements my entire life; if anyone’s the expert, it’s me.”
“I’m not saying your choices suck—”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes grow wider than the bonbons in the display.
“I’m just saying, you must’ve seen my potential or you wouldn’t have approved my internship. I can do this job.” Cassidy counters Mom’s angry stare with a steel hard glare of her own.
“Cocky, aren’t you?”
“Persistent.”
“Ballsy.”
I hold back the snort I want so badly to release and rise to my feet. “Why did you hire her, Mom?”
“Stay out of this, Quincy.”
“I would, but I know you. You don’t hire sort-of-maybe-type individuals. You only hire the best of the best. If you agreed to take her on as an intern, then you saw her potential.” I rise and thrum my fingers on the back of the chair.
“You have promise, Ms. Beck, but your talent needs to be honed in the right direction. Right now, your ideas are too vast. You need to nail down your focus.”
“Like tunnel vision?” Cassidy seems hopeful.
“ I’ve said enough and I need to head to another meeting. I gave you six weeks, Ms. Beck, but I can shorten it to one.” Mom rises and Cassidy follows suit.
“Are you saying I’m not doing a good job?” Cassidy asks.
“Your artistic abilities are phenomenal, but your people skills are lacking. You’d fare better keeping your comments to yourself.”
Cassidy’s mouth opens, words teeter on her bobbing lip. “Did you get to where you are today by keeping your comments to yourself?”
Priceless. She cornered Mom the way Mom cornered her. Watching them is like watching two queens diplomatically war over a single realm while staying at the top of their game.
“Let’s come to an understanding. Blow my mind or you’re fired.”
“Noted.” Cassidy gathers up her papers and jots down a few notes before slipping everything into her bag.
“That went well,” I say after the door shuts behind Mom.
“If that went well, then what does something going bad look like?”
“You don’t want to know.” I chuckle and lead her out, making sure to get at least one hand on her. I pat her lower back and then take both her shoulders and give them a good squeeze.
She sighs into it instead of tensing but won’t look me in the eyes.
“Cassidy,” I whisper.
Her chin tilts up and she gives me a crooked smile. There’s a brief moment where I’m ninety-nine percent positive she’d let me kiss her. Right there in front of everyone walking by.
She breaks the moment, turning away from me to fan her armpits. “Great. Stress stains.”
I chuckle. “A little hot?”
She peers over her shoulder, gaze raking down me like she’s stripped me down to my socks. “A lot.”
Chapter 6
Cassidy
After a full day of meetings with Ellie, I’m not back at the plantation more than five minutes before she texts and requests my presence in her room. A rest to clear my brain would be nice, but I doubt that would be a legitimate excuse. I debate leaving behind the wedding binder, but in the end bring it along. Just in case she’s changing the cake, the flowers, the location, or the date. Who knows with her.
“Oh, good. You haven’t changed outfits. Kat and I are meeting friends at the yacht club and you’re coming with us. Wait here while I throw on something fresh.” Ellie points at her bed and disappears into her ginormous closet.
Going to the yacht club where the Covingtons are
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