by Tonya Kappes
“Please excuse me,” I stood up and politely dismissed myself without giving eye contact to anyone in the room. A sudden chill invaded my bones as I walked to the front door.
“Luvie, please wait.” I flinched at the tone of his voice. “I would have never gotten to know you if…”
“If you realized how much I hate hunting and stand against it? And you were on my land!” I swallowed hard trying to manage a feeble answer. “You had weeks to tell me. Weeks! You knew I was falling in love with you.” I pounded on his chest before I darted out the door.
I jumped into the limousine without looking back. “Go! Hurry!” I yelled to the driver. I had to get out of there. I suffered a dull ache of desire and loss at the thought of him…us, as the limousine driver took the curves as fast as he could.
“How could he keep me on the line like that?” Tears dripped down my face. I clung to the memories as if they were a life preserver on a stormy sea keeping me from drowning.
Chapter Twenty-Five
There was a knock at the field house door, waking me up. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. How was it three in the afternoon?
I dragged myself out of the bed that I dove into as soon as I got home last night. I must have cried myself to sleep because I didn’t even recall going to bed.
With each step toward the door, my heart ached deeper and deeper.
Vivian and Millie were standing at the door.
“Where have you been?” Millie asked.
Vivian had an axe looking like she was about to swing it at my head. “A few more seconds and we would have been going to the emergency room to find you.”
She sat the axe down outside the door and they walked on in.
“What has happened to you?” Millie flipped on the light switch and illuminated the room. I sunk down into the large soft cushion of my brown sofa and pulled one of the quilts off the quilt rack next to me.
“Are you sick? Did you call your appointments?” Vivian asked. I could hear the faucet at the sink running. I knew she was getting me a cold cloth for my eyes.
“Shit!” I buried my head into the quilt and started to cry all over again.
“I’m taking that as a no?” Vivian came and sat beside me. She stroked my hair out of the way. There was a deep-set worry in her eyes. She placed the folded cold cloth on my eyes. “You officially have me worried.”
“Us worried.” Millie sat on the other side of me.
“Jase is a hunter. He hunts all year round for the St. James Pet Stores and uses the residual meat as the organic part of the food department after giving the good meat to the Food Bank.” How was I such a fool? “They have been using Lady B’s land to hunt which has caused all the coyotes to come.”
“Oh.” Vivian sat up tall. She knew where this was going before I even had to say it. “I’m guessing he never told you until last night?”
I nodded. I tried to rub the big crocodile tears away, but they just kept coming.
“I know you love him.” Millie was going to bring out her voice of reason. Her positive bull crap. “I’m sure there is a way around all of this.”
“No. I could never ask my family to compromise their morals at this stage of the game. I just found them all over again since I’ve been back. I love my mom more now than I ever have.”
Instantly, I felt sick from the trapped memories of my own emotions. I ran to the bathroom.
Vivian and Millie were still on the couch waiting for me when I got back.
“Oh sweetie.” Millie held her arms out. I fell into them to be comforted by my friend. “There has to be a way. True love is rarely found in a lifetime.”
“If it were true love on his part, he should have come clean when he realized exactly who I was.” Anger began to build in me. Fury filled my soul. “He knew that the Beiderman family has been a life-long animal advocate. There has never been any hunting on our land. He knew it!” I pounded my fist into the couch when I pulled away from Millie.
“Okay, now you are getting mad.” Vivian sat back on the couch. “Let’s talk about this calmly. You have obviously been thinking about this since last night. There has to be a solution. After all, you are an employee of their business.”
Damn! The pet clothing line. A light bulb went off in my head. I jumped up and grabbed my phone.
“What are you doing?” Vivian asked. “Are you calling him to make up?”
Millie nodded her head like what Vivian had said was a good idea.
“Make up? No.” I put the phone to my ear after I hit redial. “Sasha, this is Luvie Beiderman. I’ll be back in New York tomorrow. I’m taking the position of Head Designer or I won’t let you have my line.”
“What?” Vivian merely stared, tongue-tied.
“You heard me.”
“But what about Primp My Pet, what about Gloria, what about all the, ‘I’ve just rediscovered my family’ bullshit? Us, the three musketeers?” Millie threw her hands in the air. “The fundraiser is next weekend. Lucia will kill you.”
“I’ll be back for the fundraiser. And for Primp My Pet…” I tapped my temple. “I’ll sell it.”
Just by pure luck, I had not erased the woman’s information that had called and asked to buy me out. She was first on my list of people to call.
“You had better talk to your parents about this and also see what Jase has to say. Don’t jump the gun, Luvie,” Vivian begged before she and Millie left. At this point, it didn’t matter what anyone thought. I was good at running away from my problems, and this was as good a time as any to run away. I would never be able to choose my family over Jase, or vice versa. I was choosing me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Being back in New York was amazing. I had Sasha secure me a long term suite at the Plaza along with a driver.
After I had made my decision to sell Primp My Pet, I didn’t look back. I called the woman who had expressed interest. We settled on a price, along with my client list, making it a done deal.
Of course, I had called all my clients and either told them personally or left a message. It was up to them if they wanted to continue under the new ownership.
The papers were going to be drawn up and I would sign over ownership this weekend when I came home for the fundraiser. Lucia and Leonard were not happy with my decision.
They said my decision was hasty, and that in itself was a bad business move. I told them that it was my decision and I thanked them. It was like we had regressed to the old relationship we had before I was fired from Sasha Designs.
I was a little more uncomfortable when I called Granny. After all, she had done so much for me and this was really no way to thank her. I would make good on my deal with Coco St. James and create one line of pet clothing for her international stores. Jase had nothing to do with that. Coco and I could talk over the phone.
I set up a meeting with her as well for the weekend at Granny’s house. That way Jase wouldn’t be there.
It was funny—my parents didn’t even mention Jase. They were more concerned with the business decisions I had made than with my personal happiness.
“Oh, how I have missed you,” I said to the city as I stared out the window as the limousine driver made his way to the fashion district. I ran my hands down my pantsuit—one I had designed—happy not to be wearing the khaki Sasha ensemble.
The driver pulled up to Sasha Designs and I noticed there wasn’t even one butterfly in my stomach, only confidence.
“I’ll let myself out.” I tapped on the window at the driver.
“Are you sure, Ms. Beiderman?”
“I’m sure.” I opened the door and when my heels hit the pavement, I took off. There wasn’t any way I wanted to forget the feeling of having “made it.” I was finally at the top of my game…for now. My next venture would be to knock Sasha off the food chain and have a big “L” as the iconic design in fashion.
“It’s great to have you back, Luvie.” Hank took his hat off and held it close to his heart as he
held the door open.
“It’s great to be back.” I winked and stepped into my old but new world. It felt so good having my confidence back, knowing that my designs were going to be worn by people everywhere.
“Good morning, Ms. Beiderman. I have your coffee ready.” Madison stood up and handed me a Starbucks coffee. “A Java Chip Frappuccino in a Trenta cup, 16 shots of espresso, a shot of soy milk, caramel flavoring, banana puree, strawberry puree, vanilla beans, mocha powder, protein powder, and a drizzle of caramel and mocha, exactly the way you and Sasha like it.”
There was something holding me back from asking Madison how good crow tasted because she was eating a big ole plateful right about now.
“Thank you, Madison.” I took the cup. It felt so good to be on the receiving end of such an expensive cup of coffee. “Next time, I’ll just have a regular coffee with two creams.”
I had to correct her. It just made me feel good.
“Yes, ma’am.” She nodded and pointed toward the conference rooms and office. “You will find your office at the end of the hall on the right.”
“On the right?” My insides squirmed. The big glass corner office that overlooked the city was waiting for me. It took everything I had in me to not run down the hall and look at the nameplate…the golden nameplate.
“Luvie Beiderman.” I ran my finger across the engraved letters. It was nothing like I had imagined. It was better.
“Yes, that’s you.” Sasha stuck her head out of her office, which was next to mine. Her arms stretched out. “I hope you like.”
“Like? Love!” I embraced her, careful not to spill the coffee.
“Nothing but the best for our head designer.” She tweaked my nose. “Meeting in ten minutes. Paris, Milan, and New York will all be on the line anticipating your predictions for the summer line.”
Paris, Milan, New York. All the names ran through my head. I walked into the office and looked out over the city. Suddenly, I had an urge to call Jase and explain to him how I felt.
Stop it. I shook my head, driving the memories out. This is where you have always wanted to be, I reminded myself.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Thanks for picking me up.” Granny didn’t seem as happy to see me as I was to see her when she and Charlie picked me up from the airport. I held out the earnest check I had gotten from Patricia to give to her. “I have your money.”
“I don’t want your money.” Granny pushed my hand away. “Primp My Pet was a gift. You had all the power to do with it what you wanted.”
“I couldn’t have made it without the two of you.” I sat in the back of Charlie’s car as he drove us to the Lady B. “How are things with Mom and Dad?”
I didn’t want to walk into the lion’s den without being fully prepared.
“They have settled down quite a bit since you have been gone. Lucia even came over to help with my roses again.” Granny stopped when Charlie nudged her.
“Tell her,” Charlie coaxed her.
“I went over to the Lady B and helped weed the rose garden to get ready for the fundraiser. It was nice being back there.” Granny made sure not to give off any emotion, though I knew deep down she was happy to have Mom and Dad back in her life on a daily basis.
“So the fundraiser is all set for tonight?” I asked.
“It sure is.” Charlie pulled up in front of the retirement home. Primp My Pet was in the lot next to the awning Charlie always set up. “Patricia is grooming this morning and then going to Adopt-A-Pet this afternoon.”
“Good.” I was glad to see that the new owner was sticking with the business model I had created.
As we pulled up, Patricia ran out of the RV holding her hand in the air with Sparky running after her.
“He bit me!” she screamed. It looked like her finger was half off. “Damn dog bit me!”
James snickered and grabbed Sparky’s leash before he darted after Patricia.
“Get in here and I’ll rush you to the hospital.” Charlie opened the door. I got out as she jumped in.
“The least you can do is finish up my day,” she screamed at me before Charlie zoomed off.
Sparky ran up to me, dragging James behind him.
“He didn’t like her like he likes you.” James tried to pull Sparky back when Sparky jumped up and gave me kisses all over my face. He was soaking wet with suds still in his hair.
“Come on. I’ll finish you up.” I took the leash from James and looked back at Granny.
There was a big smile on her face. She really was happy to see me now. I was happy to see her.
Inside the RV, I took down an apron and filled the pocket with treats. Sparky was as happy as a clam when I got him back in the tub.
“She doesn’t know how to treat you like I do, does she,” I cooed to him in my best doggy voice. He showered me with kisses.
When we were all done, I took a moment to reflect, looking around the RV. It had only been a week, but I couldn’t help but feel like it had already been a lifetime since I was in there. It seemed like the stress of designing the world’s next clothing line had fallen off my shoulders once I had those shears back in my hand.
I put them down and looked at her calendar. There was one address I immediately recognized…Jase’s place.
The entire way out to his house, I questioned a million different scenarios as to why he was having Duke groomed. He knew that I was gone. At least that was what Vivian told me when I didn’t answer any of his calls. Mom and Dad weren’t home when he came by, so he went to Vivian’s house instead.
She told him that I had taken an offer with Sasha Designs that I couldn’t refuse. She also told him not to bother bugging me, because I was done with him. She told me that he was so apologetic that she had felt sorry for him. I told her that he was just a guy that had only wanted to get me into the sack. No matter how much I told her that, I knew it wasn’t true. There were some real feelings there and we both knew it; only he jeopardized those feelings by not telling me the truth when he did find out my name.
Not that I was truthful with him in the beginning, but it was nothing as life-changing as his big secret.
When I pulled into his gravel drive, I noticed his truck and Mercedes were both there, which meant he was definitely home.
Woof, woof. I honked the horn. I’m sure I was the last person he expected to see. I had to do a double-take when he walked out the door. His clean-shaven handsome face was covered in a thin beard, his hair was a mess, and he had on ripped-up jeans and a shirt that looked like they hadn’t been washed in weeks.
I opened the door to the RV and he stepped in without seeing me.
“I really appreciate this.” The sound of Jase’s voice made my heart quiver. Duke came in first. “He’s a big stinking mess…”
He stopped. Our eyes met. He let out an audible gasp. I fought back the tears as Duke jumped up with excitement.
“Luvie.” He heaved a sigh of relief. I did love how he said my name. “I…”
“I’ll have him all washed up in no time.” I held the door open for him to leave.
“Are you back? I thought you went back to New York,” he said breathlessly.
“I’m filling in for Patricia today. I leave after the fundraiser.” I held Duke’s leash tight. “Please leave. I have several more clients after this and I can’t be late to the fundraiser. My parents have always been there for me, and I can’t let them down.”
“Luvie, please let me have Duke’s hour to talk to you. I can bathe him,” he pleaded.
A wild flash of grief ripped through me. There was no way I could let him lead me down that path again.
“Please leave.” Deep sobs started to rack the inside of me. I had to look away or all hell was going to break loose. All the anger and love I felt for him were beginning to slowly tangle themselves inside me.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched forward.
“Fine.” He turned to leave but stopped at the bottom st
ep. “I want to talk to you before you go back to New York. It’s only fair that I explain my position.”
I reached out and grabbed the handle. He took my hand. I inhaled sharply at the contact and slammed the door, almost taking off his hand.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it.” I stomped around for a few minutes. “Why?” I looked at Duke like he really understood, and then I looked back at the fingernail polishes. “Let’s see how good it looks for a hunting dog to have pink nails.”
Duke was great the entire time I bathed him. He even sat straight up as I painted all of his nails hot pink. I made sure that I had clipped around each nail so they would be perfectly visible from afar.
I took out the girliest handkerchief I could find with pink polka-dots all over it and tied it nice and snug around Duke’s neck.
Woof, woof. Normally I took the dogs back to the owner, but I wasn’t going to waste any more energy on Jase.
When he opened up the door, he was completely clean-shaven, with clean jeans and a white tee shirt on. His muscles ripped beneath, giving me that tingling feeling all over again.
“You cleaned up.” I swallowed. My memories of him were pure and clear.
“I haven’t been able to function over the past few days since you’ve been gone.” He broke off with an apology, “Please forgive me. When I saw you an hour ago, it made me feel whole. I would give up my family to be with you. I love you, Luvie.”
I handed him Duke’s leash.
“I could never ask a man to give up his life, move to New York and start over.” I didn’t give him time to say anything else. My voice hardened ruthlessly, “I never once told you that I loved you back. I don’t love you. You were just someone to pass my time with while I was in this god-forsaken town.”
I held the door open.
“What the hell?” he asked once he was out the door and saw Duke had pink nails. “What the hell have you done to my dog, Luvie Beiderman?”
I locked the door behind him and jumped into the driver’s seat, throwing the RV in gear.