Without any hesitation I told him yes.
He nodded, accepting my answer at face value. Which I really liked. His trust was absolute. It made me feel secure, in which I know I shouldn’t care, but I did.
“Alright, the girls should be just about here. The issue of these threats is closed. I will take care of it. No one will get to you, without getting through me. I’ll have someone watch over you.”
I pushed back from him with an adamant, “No.”
“No what, Siddaleigh?”
“I will not have someone looking over my shoulder. I can’t. Mikhail did that to me. I won’t stand for it. Promise me this and I’ll promise you if I see or receive or hear from him, you’ll be the first to know.”
He stared into my eyes for what seemed like forever and I could see he didn’t like that idea. Not one bit. I could tell we were about to argue over this. I know he needed me safe, but I had to take my own safety into my own hands too, without a damn watchdog.
“Dammit. Fine. You keep your gun on you at all times. Do you understand?”
My body instantly relaxed. “Thank you. And yes, I promise and understand. Clearly, boss.”
“Ha, don’t be cute. I only want you safe.”
There was a sing song type knock on the door. I knew it was Mags. Only she knocked like that.
“Go ahead and sit down, babe. I’ll let them in. I also told Nate to be here. So get comfy on the sofa babe.”
I watched him walked towards the door and couldn’t help myself.
“Mmmm…mmm...hot.”
Konner froze about ten feet from the door and turned his head to look back at me.
“Just wait until tonight. I’ll show you hot.”
“Oh my.” Turning on my heel, I hurried to the living room. I felt myself get aroused and I had to put a hold on it or else everyone would know my naughty thoughts.
I sat down at one corner of the large sofa and waited as the girls traipsed in. It was more than just the girls from the store and Mags. Surprisingly Candace was present along with Brianne. And Nate.
Crap. I was not dressed for other male company. I snatched the afghan and settled myself back into place as Konner stood behind me and leaned to whisper in my ear.
“This is a surprise for me, too. Thank you for covering up,” I nodded, then louder he said, “ladies, me and Nathan will get tea for all of you. This won’t take long but Siddaleigh and myself would like you all to get comfortable.
♥
..::Konner::..
Nathan followed me into the kitchen where I grabbed the pitcher of tea from the fridge.
“Domesticated, huh?”
“Fuck you, dude. I take care of my own. Find one for yourself and your arse will just be as ‘domesticated’ as me.”
Nathan stilled and the tension he was containing was getting way too damn thick all of a sudden.
“What is it, Nate?”
“What if the one I want isn’t mine to take care of? Then what am I supposed to do?”
I had a strong feeling I knew exactly who he was talking about. That feeling didn’t piss me off as much as I thought it would.
“Like my dad told me once, ‘No smart man lets a good man take what’s his.’ Good thing we’re both, Nate. Her relationship with Kent won’t last. She’s been pining for your ass since she was fucking seventeen. No, I’m not necessarily happy with knowing my best friend has the hots for my kid sister but if anyone would be good and true to her, you would. I say good luck, bro. You are so gonna need it.”
I left Nathan there to think about what I said. What I told him was true. He would be good for my wee sister. I could see the want and love in both their eyes. They were both too damn stubborn to get with the program already. They’ll just have to find their own way.
Bringing the girls the tea, I situated myself next to Siddaleigh and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. I tucked her in tighter against me and kissed her neck. I felt the blush rush into her face and her body still.
“Uh, Konner?” I knew she was flustered by my naked chest, but I didn’t care. The only one who had me was her, so I wasn’t too concerned.
“I needed that, Siddaleigh.”
I released her and leaned forward. Nathan casually made himself shift behind the sofa where Brianne sat. Poor bastard had it bad.
“Not that this affects you personally, Candace.” Siddaleigh began but the younger woman cut her off.
“I know, and I wouldn’t even be here, but Mags and I discussed something before all this went down and I was wanting to sign onto the store with you. I would love to put my designs with both of yours. If you needed any help? I am moving into this area. I would pitch in with whatever needed to be done.”
Brianne quickly said, “I’m here for Konner’s moral support.”
I made a side-eye to my sister. Moral support? Really? Rolling my eyes but smiling anyway, I dissuaded Candace of any thoughts of helping.
“That won’t be necessary. The help part anyways. Whatever you want to discuss with Siddaleigh regarding fashion stuff is solely up to her. Ladies, I would like you to think of this as only a hiatus. A small break.”
“Yes, I have severance packages that will tie you over until I can reopen at the mall.”
“No, Siddaleigh. I have something else in mind. All I want you and the ladies to worry about, is getting what you need to take from the damaged site. Get it taken care of with the insurance shit and be ready to move to a new location within two months’ time.”
30
To the Nines
..::Siddaleigh::..
New location?
“Konner, what have you done?”
I couldn’t for the life of me, believe he was actually going to build me a boutique! My very own, not in a mall, but an actual boutique. I felt shocked and pissed off and excitedly happy all at once. How can one man be so generous and so surprising?
“Be ready by six, babe,” he looked down at his watch, then back to me,” That gives you about six and a half hours to get yourself ready for me.” He bent down, kissed the hollow of my neck and whispered, “Wear a dress. No hose. I love you, binneas.”
He left with Nathan and the promise of later. He was going to run some errands for his uncle and get with his dad about the location for my store. He waited until he was about to leave to put on a shirt too. That scallywag. Made me hot and flustered throughout the whole discussion. Paybacks are a bitch. He’ll get his tonight, when he sees me.
Candace, Koralen, and Cammy left quickly with smiles of reassurance. Now that they knew they didn’t have to look for another job, they felt better knowing they were secured. Konner just told them to think of this as a long vacation with pay. Cammy was going to take Damien to her parents for an extended visit. Koralen said she would be in the area if I needed any help and Candace promised to get with me and Mags later about adding her designs to the store.
That left Callie and Mags with me.
“What?”
“So he’s finally going to take you out on a date?” Mags did not have a filter sometimes.
“Yes, it’s our official first date.” I looked at them in excitement.
“Good, let’s go and get primped! I haven’t had a mani-pedi in a long ass time. This is gonna be fun. We’ll all go, then come back here and help get you ready. I know exactly what you’re thinking of wearing, too.” Callie preened as if I was a teenager getting ready for her prom night.
“Yes, I plan on wearing the purple 50’s style swinger dress I designed a while back. I’m gonna look hot! Yes, I want a mani-pedi, a facial and a wax,” I said as I wiggled my eyebrows at them.
The wax wasn’t going to be where anyone besides Konner would see. I smirked at the naughtiness of my thoughts.
“I don’t know if I have any accessories with it though. So a little shopping for that. I have the perfect heels already. I want to blow him away.”
I never really cared for my self-image. Yeah, go figure right? A fashion
designer who doesn’t care about image. I haven’t, though, it just didn’t seem important. Especially since Mikhail. I had realized I was beautiful the way I was. I wasn’t fat, but I wasn’t by no means thin. I’m a solid size fourteen, if I’m lucky, sometimes a twelve but I couldn’t be happier. My sisters were about my size and/or a size bigger. The youngest of three girls, I wanted to design clothes that flattered and flaunted with elegance, not trash. Some bigger women try and pull off wearing cute clothes made for thinner people but with a larger size tag and it only made them look chunkier. My line was meant to present full figured women with a sexy, sleek and just a bit scandalous look.
At good affordable prices. I’ve walked into the big brand-line stores and I some tops were easily over thirty dollars. For women who have a budget or can’t afford to buy better fitting clothes each season of the year but want to, they come to my store. I couldn’t be happier, of course. That was a plus about having a store at the mall. People milling around and window shopping, then finally venturing in. I wanted my customers to enjoy what they were wearing. What made them feel sexy and beautiful without looking slutty and slumpish. A little sluttish is great but not skin tight like leather and all the extra flesh there for all to see. Lord, getting off topic here.
I wanted to knock Konner’s socks off. He’s never seen me at my absolute best. Even last night I was working my tail off so I just looked nice. It was a sexy get up to wow everyone else, not solely for Konner.
Mags, Callie and I left together in my Mustang and I drove the ten miles to one of the best nail salons in Houston. I got the wax first. Hurt like a mother for a good minute, or five. Beauty had a price. Konner was definitely worth it.
I had always liked being clean and bare down there ever since the first time I tried it. I guess after reading all those romance books and the heroines being that way made me try it one day. I was curious. I shaved, never waxed though. It wasn’t like anyone had ever been down there. Mikhail thought it was ‘unhygienic’. Konner did it the first night we were together and he loved it. Loved seeing my arousal coating my flesh and it hadn’t mattered if I shaved. He just dived in there with gusto and lust.
This time, I wanted to be perfectly stripped of any stubble. Smooth and sexy is how it made me feel. When I wore under clothes it would feel so silky soft.
Mags absolutely refused to try it.
Callie on the other hand said “What the hell, only live once, right.” And got herself only a trim bikini wax. The yelp that came from her made not only me laugh, but Mags burst out in hysterics.
“Y’all are idiots for doing that. Callie, you’re crazy for trying. Sids, you don’t need to get all fancy for a man.”
I knew what to expect, so I only winced every time the strip came off.
“Mags, my wonderful bestie. This isn’t really all for Konner. Trust me, I’ll get you to do it one day when a guy goes to your ‘sacred place’ and loves on it. I’ve always used a razor, but a wax makes it so much better sometimes. Besides, I want to feel the sexiest I’ve ever felt for him. He is worth all this silly primping, okay? I promise.”
Mags shook her head once and then nodded in acquiescence. Then I heard a mumbled barely there, “Sure, whatever.” Her voice sounded unsure and not quite steady. I knew she really hadn’t dated much in college. I didn’t think she was a virgin then but come to think about it, I never remember her mentioning dating or kissing or anything that involved a guy.
She never really talked about her internship overseas. She was there for just under nine months. After coming back here for the show, she had told me she was staying. She didn’t want to stay there anymore. She hadn’t made any lasting friends and she was terribly homesick. She figured she learned everything she needed and since her designs were already showcased in my store, she felt she had what she truly wanted.
She didn’t need the money, since she came from it but shoe designing was her great passion. That and she said she wanted to stay closer to home so she could be a better friend. Whatever she meant by that, I didn’t know. I thought she was the perfect bestie. The time when Konner and I were in what I called my “foot in mouth” hiatus, she was with me. There for me and she never mentioned a guy or anything.
When Callie and I finished, the three of us proceeded to get our nails done. I did mine in a deep purple that would match my theme perfectly with a white flower design and a diamond gem in the center on my middle fingers. Callie got black French tips with red diamond gems in the corners and Mags got an emerald color with a white leaf design on her thumbs. Then, we got a full out massage and scrub pedicure and got matching nail polish on our toes. After getting buffed, scrubbed, massaged and polished, we got facials.
Never had a facial before and afterwards, I felt like I was a brand new woman. The girls agreed.
“Maybe we should get together and do this every once in a while. I feel like a shiny new pair of shoes.”
“Geez, Callie. I think that’s a compliment.” Mags laughed and agreed with her. “It really does. I don’t think my face has ever felt so effing clean.”
We walked down the small strip center to an Orange Leaf, a fro-yo joint and talked over some yummy yogurt that didn’t taste like yogurt at all. I hated yogurt with a passion. Never ate it because the few times I did, it left an after taste that I hated. Like Diet Coke. Loved Coke every once in a while but DC? No way. Yogurt? The same way. Callie persuaded me to try some flavors, I tried chocolate. Hmmm…not bad. Cotton Candy? Yummy-nums. Birthday Cake flavor? OMG! Best taste ever! I also indulged in the confetti waffle cone that you could chose to get in the cup. Delicious.
“You so didn’t know what you were missing girlfriend.” Mags said with a mouthful of the stuff and continued to eat until she was finished. After the tasty snack we sat in the little couches and just chatted about life for a bit.
Mags talked about how she was ready to start looking for a place so she wouldn’t be a crutch to me. I didn’t really understand what that meant either, but she wanted to live on her own two feet and start ‘living’. I figured since Konner and I had gotten engaged, she wanted to give us alone time. I told her it didn’t bother me. We could always just go to his place but she was adamant. There was no changing her mind once it’s made up.
Callie was then telling us about how the detectives on her case still couldn’t find any leads on her daughter. I remembered when she first moved here a year ago because her year old daughter, Aurora, was kidnapped. Callie knew she’d find her one day.
She worked, and tried whatever she could to get word out there about Aurora or where she could be. They had lived in NOLA and when the leads led to Houston, Callie packed up everything she owned and moved down here. I was getting everything ready to open the shop and she had nowhere to go so I got her to stay with me. I told her she could manage the store, since Mags was only a private investor and only wanted her designs sold. We came to an agreement and after two months of PPDS opening, she got into a little rinky dink apartment.
When I moved into the loft, I invited her to live with me, but she declined. I understood her need to be independent. So I left it alone.
“So do you know Detective Hindrons?” I asked because the previous night, he couldn’t stop looking back at her any time throughout the ordeal.
“No, I’ve never officially met him. He isn’t on missing kids. But I’ve sometimes caused a scene in the earlier days. I am almost ready to give up hope. It’s been over a year since her disappearance. She just turned two in August.”
“Callie, they’ll find her.” I kept hope for my friend. That little girl was her life. When I lost my boy, I learned to cope because I didn’t know what he looked like, or never held him. I imagined it was ten times worse knowing the life you brought into this world and it was taken away from you.
Callie just smiled solemnly at us and Mags blessedly changed the subject.
“I can’t wait to get you all dolled up. Let’s finish getting some accessories and get back to your
place.”
We shopped at the mall and got beautiful pieces of jewelry. We drove back to my place and it was already four in the afternoon. I took my time in the shower, I made myself shine by washing my body and hair twice. Getting out, I massaged lotion deep into my skin and rubbed lavender oil on the folds of my vagina until it was silky smooth. Placing a towel around myself and one wrapped in my hair, I exited the bathroom and made my way to my bedroom where the girls awaited me.
31
A Man with a Plan
..::Konner::..
After running a few errands for my uncle, I went to go visit my parents. It’s been a few days since I visited and it was lunch time. I knew mother would have something on the stove. I didn’t bother knocking, knowing my mother would have a kitten about me thinking I needed to be formal. I heard my Uncle Braedon and Lucan, my cousin, in the dining area along with my dad’s voice.
“Where’s the party?”
“Konner, my boy. Come in and join us for a spell.” Hearing my mother’s voice always brought a quick smile to my face. Whereas my accent faded a bit, theirs, along with my uncle, was thick as it ever was.
I sat down where she immediately put a plate of delicious food in front of me.
“Dad, we need to talk.” I said around a mouth full and my mother clipped me in the back of the head with a swift hand.
“Manners, Konner!”
My da just laughed and pulled her into his lap.
“Love, leave the boy be. Can’t you tell he’s in love?” Chuckling and holding onto my mother was always a happy sight to see. I wanted that in my life and now that I had Siddaleigh, it would happen.
“That strip the company is trying to sell in Houston? I want it. The whole thing.”
The shock on my family’s face was priceless.
“That strip has four or five properties, Konner. What are you wanting with so much?” Da asked.
Love Came Back (a Pyro-Princess Design and Style novel Book 1) Page 18