"This isn't even his nicest piece. There is doll furniture, handcrafted houses, animals. You should see the animals. The elephant with these tusks. So pretty. The problem is that the price is high, and it doesn't make the kind of revenue that my boss is used to."
"Yes, that's got to be a niche market for sure."
"Oddly, there is a big market for it. We just need to reach those families. I have tons of ideas for social media and a vigorous ad campaign. I just don't know if this guy will go for it."
"Why wouldn't he? You're brilliant," Abby said, sipping from her mug.
"I don't think he's the type that puts any stock on the internet."
"It's the way of the future. You either join it or die out," Abby said, shrugging her shoulders.
"I think he's the type that would be okay with dying out. You know, the purist type."
“Hasn’t that place been around forever?” Abby asked. I could see her head starting to droop as she propped her head on her hand. I felt bad for keeping her up as long as I had. She worked hard and had a demanding job.
“Yes, it has. Abby, I’m so sorry. I just noticed the time. You must be exhausted.”
“Oh, no, girl, I love this. My life revolves around blood and disease. Any excuse to hang with my bestie.”
“Well, when you are finally done and open your own practice, it will all be worth it,” I said, smiling at my best friend. She was remarkable. Working her butt off to finish her residency and make all her dreams come true.
“One more year. It’s grueling. Most days, I pass out ten minutes after I get home. But I live for these chats. So what outfit are you going to wear on Monday to top that sweater?”
“A suit. A boring navy pantsuit,” I said, frowning at her.
“I was thinking something a little less formal, but you do you, girl. You do you.”
"Like what? A little black dress?" I asked, rolling my eyes.
"I was thinking of jeans and a T-shirt. But if you want to go balls to the wall, who am I to stop you?"
"I have never worn jeans to a job my entire life," I said, but I was really warming up to the idea.
"I can't see a woodworker being formal. He was probably wearing jeans, wasn't he?"
"That's such a stereotype," I said, smiling as I thought about Nic's dark denim jeans and black T-shirt that accentuated every taut muscle. I couldn't help thinking about his massive biceps and the feel of his large, calloused hands as they held mine.
“Oh, oh,” Abby said. I turned to look at her on the screen as she batted her eyelashes in an exaggerated flutter. “You’re smitten.”
“I. Am. Not!”
“You know I’ve known you our entire lives, right?” Abby asked. “You can’t lie to me.”
“Okay, fine. I admit he was very easy on the eyes.”
“Well, no one says you can’t mix a little pleasure with your business,” Abby said, wagging her eyebrows.
“Stop it,” I said, laughing uncontrollably. “Besides, you should talk. All you do is work.”
“That will end eventually. One more year, baby.”
“Okay, Abs, I think we need to both hit the hay. Love you.”
“Love you too, babes. Talk to you next week.”
I put my laptop on the desk and then crawled into bed, letting sleep take me over.
Chapter 3
Nico
I parked my car, groaning as I got out. Every single muscle in my body hurt. I’d taken the girls off Sarah’s hands for the weekend, and I had a newfound appreciation for what my sister goes through regularly. Parenting was hard. Those little humans needed constant stimulation. I was cursing myself for telling Candy to be at the shop at seven in the morning, wishing I had that extra hour of sleep.
Serves you right for being a jackass.
When I looked up, I saw Candy sitting on the wood bench, a box of Beau’s and two cups of coffee from It’s Beginning to Look a Latte like Christmas, the local coffee shop in town.
“You’re here early,” I said, pushing by her and unlocking the front door.
“Better early than late, my daddy always says,” she said with a sweet smile. She stood out today, more than she had when we first met. Maybe it was the change of outfit that I could acutely notice her and not that brash thing she was wearing. She was hot. Beautiful, actually. Hot wasn’t the right word for her. She was wearing jeans on her long, curvy legs and boots, those ugly slipper-looking ones. I would usually make fun of them, but on this girl, I was just jealous of them because they were touching her sun-kissed skin and I wasn’t.
“Where’s the tan from?” I asked, pushing the door open and letting her pass by me to enter the store and out of the cold.
“Florida. I was down there visiting my parents.”
“Ah, a Sunshine State girl.” I smiled, taking the box and coffee from her and placing them on a nearby table.
“Thank you.” She rubbed her hands together, blowing on them.
“You’re far from the sun, sweetheart. You might want to invest in some good gloves.”
“I had a pair. I lost them somewhere this morning. I thought I left them at that cute little bakery, but when I called, they said they weren’t there,” she said, walking over to the table. “That place is fantastic. I didn’t think y’all would have something like that. It reminded me of New York bakeries.”
“What did you get?” I pointed to the box.
“Just an assortment.” She opened the box, holding it out to me. “Please, help yourself.”
I took out a chocolate cupcake and took a bite.
“If I’d known you liked baked goods that much, I’d have brought some in on Friday,” she said, staring at me. “Maybe you would’ve been nicer.”
“I’m very nice, I’ll have you know,” I said, “If that second cup of coffee is for me, I’d be absolutely jolly.”
She handed me a cup before shoving her hand in her pocket and presenting me with packets of sugar, cream, and milk. “I also brought this ’cause I wasn’t sure how you liked your coffee.”
I took the cup from her, peeling back the seal and taking a sip. “Black, always black. No need to ruin perfectly good coffee with that extra junk.”
“Gross,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
“There’s nothing gross about black coffee. It’s how it’s meant to be enjoyed. I don’t understand all these flavors and whipped cream.”
“Whipped cream in coffee is delicious,” she said, taking a sip of her own.
“Let me guess… You have one of those cappuccino concoctions” I teased.
“What if I do?” she asked as she started playing with the coffee cup. I watched as her delicate fingers glided in circular motions.
“Let’s just say that doesn’t shock me,” I said, watching as her mouth fell open. “You might want to close that. Don’t want any flies running in,” I said, grinning at her. She closed her mouth abruptly and started biting on her bottom lip. “How did you manage to get this and be here on time?”