Too Distracting

by Bethany Lopez

  Her voice trailed off at you, and she scurried out the door before I could reply. I watched her stop at Carol’s desk, mentally berating myself for checking out her legs and ass to see if they looked as good as they had the night at the bar, then shut the door and returned to my seat, shaking my head at her bizarre behavior.

  10

  Laurel

  Time seemed to be flying by. I was so busy getting everything ready, not only for my business plan, but in the shop as well.

  Chloe and I had been working double time trying to clean up the back rooms and make the office comfortable for the two of us. I’d used the last of my savings on secondhand furniture that we spent the last few days refurbishing.

  This was all in between her moving into her new house.

  Luckily, her fiancé, Reardon, was the best thing since sliced bread and had enough friends and family to pack and move both their houses without the very pregnant Chloe having to lift a finger. She’d taken Thursday and Friday “off” to instruct her minions on where she wanted everything placed in the new house.

  I say “off” because I wasn’t actually paying her yet … but I would, once the business loan came through.

  Now it was the weekend, my business plan was done, and I was on my way to Chloe and Reardon’s new house for their housewarming party. My last meeting with Dillon was coming up, and I was really hopeful that he’d be pleased with the completed plan.

  I knew it shouldn’t matter so much what he thought, but old habits were hard to break, and I really, really wanted to impress him.

  “Welcome to our humble abode,” Reardon said with a gigantic smile when he opened the door and found me standing on his gorgeous wraparound porch with a bottle of wine and plate of cookies.

  “Thank you,” I said, smiling back. Reardon was one of my favorite people and I really got a kick out of seeing him so happy. It was a bonus for me that he’d found that happiness with Chloe, who was not only great to work with, but quickly becoming a true friend. “These are for you,” I added, holding out the wine and cookies.

  “Can I hide them in my office?” he asked, taking the items from my hand.

  I laughed and replied, “Sure, I won’t tell.”

  “Oh, Laurel, you’re just the person I was waiting for,” Zoey said, walking toward me with baby Evie looking out at me from her arms.

  “You were?” I asked, going in to give her a quick hug while being careful not to disturb the baby.

  “Yup, Chloe wants to do joint baby and bridal showers, says she doesn’t need two parties, which I totally understand,” Zoey began. Zoey was a writer and tended to shy away from attention when at all possible. Of course, that was hard for her, being as popular as she was, but it was something she shared with her sister. Neither of them were flashy.

  “I don’t understand it at all,” Jazzy said as she joined us. And, she wouldn’t understand. Jasmine loved flashy, and would want to have big parties for each momentous occasion in her life. “Who doesn’t want two parties, with gifts, food, and all attention on them?”

  “Chloe,” Reardon replied, taking Evie from Zoey’s arms and snuggling her against his broad chest.

  “Anywho, I was thinking it would be prefect to do a Star Wars theme,” Zoey said.

  “Really?” I asked, thinking a Star Wars party would be up Zoey’s alley, rather than her much more traditional sister.

  “Yes, and here’s why… Reardon and Chloe’s first sort-of date was after they each went to see the new Star Wars movie alone, ended up sitting together, and went out for pie after. Then, at Comic Con is where they officially got together and decided to give their relationship a go. So, I think Comic Con, and Star Wars specifically, would be a great theme for the party. Kind of full circle.”

  “This can be a co-ed party, right?” Reardon asked, all perked up at the idea of a Star Wars party. Because Reardon, like Zoey, was huge into fandoms and loved all things Comic Con.

  We all laughed and Jazzy said, “You’re such a dork, Ass. It’s one of the things I love most about you.”

  “Aww, Jaz, you say the nicest things,” Reardon quipped, then looked at me and said, seriously, “But, we can do that, right? The co-ed deal?”

  “Sure,” I replied, since it looked like I was the one who’d be putting on this baby/bridal shower. I made a mental note, and wondered if it would be bad form to ask for the money upfront. Why hadn’t I thought to include that in my business plan? Looked like I wasn’t quite finished after all.

  “Yes!” Reardon exclaimed, doing a little dance with Evie. “I’ll look at our calendars and let you know the best date, oh, and just let me know how much it’ll be and I can either write a check, PayPal you, or give you cash. I know you probably don’t have credit card capability yet … Whatever works.”

  “Oh, no,” I stated, utterly grateful that Reardon had answered my unasked question. “I do have credit card capability.”

  “Perfect,” Reardon said, then walked off with Evie.

  “Jumping Jehosaphat, I was going to pay for it,” Zoey muttered with a frown. “They paid for our co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party.”

  “Reardon’s quick like that,” Jasmine said with a grin for her cousin. “Come on, there’s work to be done in the kitchen.”

  I followed behind Jasmine and Zoey, my head swiveling back and forth as I took in Chloe and Reardon’s new digs. It was beautiful, and looked like they’d been living there forever. As I looked around, I wondered why in the heck Chloe wanted to work for me. I knew she said that she missed working, but it didn’t look like she needed the money.

  That’s rude, I thought, chastising myself, then immediately felt guilty for being envious of my friend. Just because I wasn’t where I thought I’d be at this point in my life, didn’t mean I shouldn’t be happy for their success.

  I looked out the kitchen window and noticed Reardon join Gabe, Chris, and Dillon outside, where Gabe was manning the grill, and I couldn’t help but wonder how different my life would be if I were with Dillon.

  He lived in the house he’d grown up in, the beautiful, welcoming home of my best childhood memories. He was smart, successful, and loyal to a fault. And, he was just Dillon, the boy of my dreams.

  “Have you talked to him?”

  I startled, then shook my head when I realized it was Chloe talking next to me, her voice low.

  “Well, he’s been helping you with the business plan, right? Maybe you could broach the subject…” she began. Chloe was the only person who knew my feelings for Dillon, and that’s because she’d guessed, not because I’d told her.

  “He acts like I’m still in pigtails,” I answered with a sigh. “He’ll never see me as anything other than a little sister.”

  “Maybe you need to show him that you aren’t a little girl anymore. Slap him in the face with it,” she suggested.

  “How do you mean?” I asked, glancing quickly over my shoulder to make sure everyone, specifically Jasmine, were out of earshot.

  “You always look great, classy,” Chloe said, her gaze sweeping over my shorts and tank set. “But to get his attention, you’re going to have to shake it up. Shake him up … Make sure the next time he sees you, he has no choice but to see the woman you’ve become.”

  “I don’t know,” I murmured, my eyes darting back out the window where Dillon’s auburn hair was blowing in the breeze and his face was lit up as he talked to Chris, Gabe’s son.

  “Just think about it,” she suggested with a grin. “And call me if you decide to do it, I’d love to help sex you up.”

  I let out a startled laugh at the thought, and replied, “Okay, Chlo, I will.”

  11

  Dillon

  I was just finishing up with Gabe and Reardon in my office when Carol buzzed to let me know that Laurel had arrived for our final business plan meeting.

  The guys had come by to try and convince me to volunteer for the Cherry Springs Fall Festival Bachelor Auction. Proceeds went to the new hospital tha
t was being built, and it was an event that usually brought in thousands of dollars.

  Gabe and Reardon had both been auctioned off in the past, but now that they were both spoken for, they were laying the guilt on heavy so I would do it

  “You have to represent, man, think of the great PR for Lewis Sporting Good,” Gabe was saying.

  “Yeah, and you might get lucky and get someone actually close to your age,” Reardon added, not able to think of anything better to convince me.

  When he’d been auctioned, Old Mrs. Dingle had been the one to buy his basket. She was seventy if she was a day, and he’d spent the afternoon cleaning her house, doing routine maintenance, and ended with a foot rub.

  No thanks.

  “Uh, yeah, I get it’d be good PR, but I don’t really have time…” I began, then lost the ability to speak when Laurel came walking in.

  At least, I thought it was Laurel, since that was who I was supposed to be meeting.

  She was in all black. A sexy little number that should be reserved for a night out at the club, not a business meeting in the middle of the afternoon. Her hair was mussed, full, falling around her face in waves.

  Her legs…

  Tanned, toned and long, they were showcased in strappy sandals on thin heels, and barely covered by the silky black material that hit her mid-thigh.

  She turned to close the door behind her, and I swear to God, my tongue fell out of my mouth.

  Her back…

  It was golden. Tanned with no lines, and I knew this, because I could see the whole damn thing. The back consisted of one string that started at the back of her neck and traveled the length of her spine, connecting to the material that hung loosely at her hips.

  When she turned, my gaze traveled from the material hugging her body lovingly, up to her beautifully made-up face. Her makeup was smokey, dark liner making her eyes look sultry, and red lips begging to be kissed.

  What the fuck is going on?

  It barely registered that she’d cleared her throat nervously, and that her lips had opened when she realized that Gabe and Reardon were here with me, and we weren’t alone. But she squared her shoulders and moved toward me, a folder extended in her hands.

  “I’m sorry, I only have a moment to drop this off,” Laurel began, her voice wavering a bit. “I forgot I have a prior engagement.”

  I reached out to accept the folder, but still couldn’t find my voice.

  “Wow, Laurel, you look fantastic,” Gabe said, and I swear I saw him shoot a grin at Reardon over my head.

  “Yeah, amazing,” Reardon agreed. “Don’t you think so, Dillon?”

  I made some sort of grunt, which was mortifying, and I vowed to punch each of them in the balls once Laurel left.

  “Thanks,” Laurel said, smiling broadly at my cousins, which drew my eyes once more to those fire-engine-red lips.

  “Say, aren’t you still looking for a date to that ballet fundraiser thing in Chicago this weekend?” Gabe asked, his voice full of innocence.

  “Hey, yeah,” Reardon answered, trying to hide his smile. “What do you say, Laurel, are you free this weekend? You could check out Chicago with Dillon and be his plus one for the dinner. He really hates those things, you’d totally be doing him a favor.”

  Laurel looked at me uncertainly, but I swear to God, I thought I saw hope in her eyes.

  “Well, yeah, I’d be happy to help, if you need someone…” her voice trailed off as she waited for me to finally say some damn words.

  All I could manage was, “Uh, yes, I need a plus one.”

  Jesus, I need a drink. What the fuck is wrong with my mouth?

  “Perfect, he’ll text you the details,” Gabe said, answering for me since I was obviously incapable of forming a complete thought.

  “Great,” Laurel said with a smile that finally made her look like her normal self. “And, let me know what you think of the final product. Sorry, I can’t stay.”

  Then she turned, affording me the view of that gorgeous back once again, and walked gracefully out the door, shutting it behind her.

  After a few moments, I heard my cousin’s snickering behind me like children and shook my head.

  “What the fuck just happened?” I asked, turning my attention to them.

  “You just got played. Beautifully,” Gabe said.

  “I think it was the shoes that did it,” Reardon put in.

  “Nah, it was the back … Did you see that dress? I have to ask her where she got it and pick one up for Zoey,” Gabe added.

  I ignored them, turning back to the vacated door, and murmured, “It was definitely the shoes,” then I reached out my hands and hit them both in the balls.

  12

  Laurel

  By the time I got back to the flower shop, I was shaking in my very painful shoes. Chloe was waiting outside, tapping her foot, her expression full of excitement.

  I’d barely parked when she descended.

  “Well, what happened? Did he die? He must have … I really outdid myself with this look.”

  I laughed at her rapid-fire speech, then let out a squeal and managed one tiny hop without breaking an ankle.

  “It was amazing,” I gushed, and Chloe let out a squeal of her own. “Dillon couldn’t even speak, Gabe and Reardon had to do it for him. And, Chloe, I’m going with him to Chicago as his plus one. Can you cover for me?”

  “What? Oh my God, this is even better than I’d hoped. Yes, of course I can … Wow, I really am good. Maybe I should change careers.”

  “You probably should, but there’s no way I’m letting you go,” I said with a laugh, too happy to contain it. “I hate to let your amazing work go to waste. What do you say to an early Ladies Night? We can call Jazzy, Zoey, and Rena.”

  Chloe nodded. “You’re right, you look too good to go home and hang out with your cat. We should definitely do dinner and drinks, even Zoey can sneak away for that.”

  “Yay!” I exclaimed, reaching for my phone as we walked into the flower shop. I waved to Lisa, one of the college students who helped me out, and said to Chloe, “I’ll call Jazzy and Serena, you call your sister.”

  Less than an hour later, I left Lisa to close up shop, and was at The Eaves, Cherry Springs’ high class offering for dinner and drinks. It was the place you went for special occasions and fancy dates, or in our case, for a night out with your best female friends.

  “I’m so happy you guys could all come out on such short notice,” I said when we were led to our table by the large bay window that overlooked the town square.

  “Well, if I’d known you were going to be looking like that, I’d have taken a little more time to get the smell of spit up out of my hair. You look gorgeous.” Zoey said, patting her bun self-consciously.

  “Seriously, who did that to you?” Jasmine asked. I wasn’t offended; Jazzy was used to seeing me in my normal, borderline sappy sweet clothes, not this bombshell look I was currently loving.

  “Chloe,” I answered.

  “Guilty,” Chloe said with a smile. “Doesn’t she look great? I mean, Laurel always looks great, but I had so much fun dirtying her up a little bit.”

  “Yeah, that’s a great way to describe it,” Serena said, looking me over. “Laurel has a great style, but it’s very sweet. Very Lauren Conrad, but I’m digging this look.”

  “Totally hot,” Jazzy agreed, then narrowed her eyes and asked, “But why? What’s the big makeover for? I doubt it’s just dinner with the girls…”

  Damn, maybe going out with the girls wasn’t the best idea. I should have known Jasmine would get suspicious, she knows me better than anyone.

  Before I could stutter a response, Chloe saved me by answering, “It was my idea. She was indulging me by letting me play around with my new makeup and this dress that has been in my closet torturing me. Being big and pregnant means no slinky dresses and I was itching to play dress up. Laurel agreed to be my doll.”

  I gave a jerky nod of agreement, and Chloe’s answer seeme
d to satisfy Jasmine because she let it go.

  We put in our drink orders. I opted for a glass of red, then perused the menu as everyone caught up.

  “You all set for your trip to Boise?” Serena asked Jasmine as she buttered a piece of bread.

  “Uh, yeah, hotel is booked, and I’m meeting with a realtor to scout a few locations.”

  “How long will you be gone this time?” Chloe asked.

  “Two weeks is the plan, but I’ll know more once I get there.”

  “Is Dillon’s trip to Chicago about the expansion, too?” Zoey asked, thanking the waiter as he set down her sangria.

  “No, he’s going to a convention, it’s just for the weekend.”

  “Actually, I’m going with him,” I said quietly, and all conversation stopped as three sets of eyes turned to me. “It’s not a big deal,” I added, hurriedly, “Dillon needed a plus one so I volunteered to go with him.”

  “Really, are you sure you want to do that?” Jasmine asked with a frown. “I know you guys don’t always get along that great. I’d hate for you to go and have a miserable time.”

  Shaking my head, I replied, “No, things have been fine between us, and I really want to help him out, as a thank you for everything he’s done for me with my business plan. He doesn’t have time to find a date, and I don’t mind going; it’s the least I can do. I’m actually looking forward to getting out of town for the weekend.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure. But if he gives you any shit, just short sheet his bed, remind him who he’s dealing with,” Jazzy joked.

  Rather than reply, I just smiled, thinking that’s the kind of advice that had Dillon hating me in the first place. Then, her words sunk in and I began to worry. Was I going to be sharing a room with him, or expected to get my own? I didn’t have extra money for a hotel room at a convention in Chicago, even if they discounted the rate.