by Laurie Roma
“Don’t you keep records?”
“I do…now. It was a simple mistake, but it wouldn’t have been as bad if mom hadn’t donated that month, too.”
“The rescue center was very grateful for our support,” Siobhan said diplomatically. Her lips twitched as she tried to remain stoic, then her bubbling laughter spilled free. “Lord, Evie must have thought we were crazy. She did try to give me back some of our money, but I made her keep it.”
“That’s just one of the many reasons I think we should direct all of our philanthropic efforts through one source instead of doing it separately. This way, the Foundation can keep track of everything. We can ensure donations aren’t repeated unless we set up reoccurring payments to specific organizations. By streamlining the process we use we can expand our outreach through different programs.”
Intrigued, Griffin leaned forward. “What do you have in mind?”
“Obviously, it would be best if you continued to handle most of the large donations. People expect you to show up at benefits and big events since you were the big winner.”
“Lucky me,” he grumbled, and Vivienne rubbed his back in sympathy.
“Whether you like it or not, you’re the public face of our family. So, the donations mean more coming from you. Perhaps we can change that perception with time, but—”
“Can’t happen soon enough.”
“To make things easier, we can take care of the vetting process for you. Once the options are narrowed down, we can vote on them like we usually do, but we’ll do it as members of the board. Besides that, the foundation will have two other programs. One will focus on assisting smaller organizations that might require things ranging from money to renovations to supplies. The other program will focus on helping individuals.”
“Like a scholarship program?” Vivienne asked.
“That is definitely something we can set up. Another thing I’d like to do is give people a chance to nominate individuals who are doing good works within their communities. There will be a page on the website where people can submit potential candidates, like a teacher who has helped them or a local hero. Or someone could let us know about a person who is going through a rough time. Sometimes a random gift card and a thank you for doing something kind can really make a difference in someone’s life.”
Zane nodded. “And by doing this on a smaller scale, more people can benefit. Nice. I dig it. You’d have to set a limit of recipients.”
“We will, and just like the other donations, we’ll need a vetting process. I wish I’d brought my laptop with me. I’ve been working on a presentation to show everyone that explains all of this in more detail.”
“I’ve got that covered.” Jolie retrieved her laptop, tapped a few keys, then showed the group an official website for the Five Leaf Clover Foundation.
“It’s already done?” Elle sputtered in surprise. “Wait a minute. I never showed you all of this when I asked if you could help me set up the website.”
“I had some time to work on the website last night when I took a break from my current project. Retrieving the information myself was easier than calling or texting to ask you to send it to me.”
Aria let out a loud groan. “Jolie, we talked about this. We don’t hack into our friends’ computers.”
“She was going to give me the information anyway. It’s not my fault it was ridiculously easy to get into her computer since we’re all on the same network in the condo building.” When everyone just stared at her, Jolie frowned and huffed out a breath. “Fine. I’m sorry. I should have asked you to send me your presentation and prospectus instead of retrieving them myself. There, I apologized. Are you happy now?”
“Sorry, Elle.” Aria sighed. “If she can hack into government agencies, your computer would have been no challenge whatsoever.”
Elle laughed. “Thanks for putting this together. You are amazing, Jolie.”
Ignoring the compliment and her sister’s glare, Jolie said, “You’ll want to work on it more and make changes since I only spent a couple of hours on it, but it’s a start. And you should really upgrade your cyber security considering how much money you all have. You’re just asking for someone to clean you out. Never mind, I’ll take care of it.”
“You can really hack into government agencies?” Zane asked, clearly fascinated.
She shrugged. “I haven’t done it since I was a kid, but I assume I still could. I’ve learned a great deal since the last time I—”
“No,” Aria said firmly.
Siobhan choked on her wine. “Aria’s right. Let’s try not to test that theory.”
“Elle, all of this looks amazing.” Griffin scrolled through the website while the others looked over his broad shoulders. “It also seems like a lot of work.”
“I won’t be doing it alone. Heath Harper will be working with me, and we’ll hire more people as we go.”
“He’s leaving his family’s restaurant?” Zane tilted his head to the side as he considered it. “Actually, that makes sense. He’s never been interested in becoming a chef like Nia or their parents. And I remember he did a couple of years with the Peace Corps after we graduated high school.”
“He still does a lot of volunteer work, and I know he’s perfect for this job.”
Humor lit up Griffin’s eyes. “Have you told Nia you’re stealing him away from the restaurant?”
“I’m not stealing him. He’s choosing to leave. And she’ll be happy that her brother is doing something that he loves.”
“Uh huh. Can I be there when you tell her?”
Vivienne smacked Griffin’s arm lightly. “Behave.”
“Never.”
Brennan lightly tapped his fist against Elle’s knee. “I like it. What do you need from us?”
Kade watched as she glanced around the room, and he smiled encouragingly when she looked at him. Though she had been hesitant to tell her family about her new charity until it was ready to launch, he’d known about her plans for months. She was passionate about helping people, and he was proud of what she was doing. While she could run the foundation on her own, it was important to her to give her family and friends the opportunity to participate.
“Well, before we officially launch the foundation, I need to know if all of you are interested in being involved in—”
“Of course, we are,” Brennan announced, cutting her off.
“I definitely want to be included,” Zane agreed.
Griffin glanced at Vivienne before saying. “Count us in, too.”
Smiling, she nodded. “We’d love to help however we can.”
“I’m not sure how long we’ll be in Ever After, but I’d like to get involved in what you are doing,” Aria said. “Even from New York, I can still figure out a way to contribute.”
“If you’re starting a collective fund, I’d like to contribute money. I also might enjoy working on some of the projects you have planned.” Jolie paused, then added, “I’m not interested in sitting on a board, though. That sounds boring, and I don’t like meetings.”
“Got it.” Elle’s smile faded when she glanced over at her mother. “Mom?”
“I’m so proud of you, Giselle,” Siobhan said as tears streamed down her face. “So very proud. Your father would be, too. Of course, we all want to be involved. Now, tell me what I can do to help, because I don’t just want to sit on the board. I want a real job.”
Elle grinned. “I was hoping you would say that.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Feminine voices and laughter filled the private dining room at The Bower Tavern and Grill, rising over the music playing in the background. Elle lifted her champagne flute and took a sip as she watched Vivienne open her gifts. The eclectic group of women in the room had given the bride-to-be items that ranged from sweet and sexy to funny and outrageous.
Since all of those in attendance knew that the wedding was only a few days away, the night was a combination of a bridal shower and bachelorette party. In fact, the
entire day had been a fun-filled, ladies only bridal celebration. They’d started that morning with brunch hosted at Siobhan’s house, followed by the dress fitting.
Bliss Fortuna had arrived in Ever After the night before with a trunk full of dresses she’d created for her last runway show along with the gown she’d designed for Vivienne. Although there were several gorgeous options to choose from, Vivienne only had eyes for her dress. When she’d put it on, she had looked so beautiful in the lace and chiffon creation. It had fit her perfectly with barely a need for any alterations, and they had immediately agreed that it was the one.
Based on the designer’s reputation, Elle thought Bliss would have been an eccentric diva. Eccentric still applied, though she turned out to be a sweet, free spirit with a kind and generous heart. She was a petite woman, with long palatinum blonde hair and big, bright blue eyes. Her ethereal features made her look like a delicate elf, sans the pointy ears. Some people might have said her head was in the clouds, but her creativity seemed to be a product of her whimsical personality.
Elle had been prepared to admire the dresses Bliss had brought with her, but she’d never expected to fall in love with one of them. The chiffon and tulle gown was deceptively simple with thin straps and few embellishments, yet the plunging neckline also made it look incredibly sexy. With a little encouragement from the others, she’d tried it on, but only after Aria and Jolie had agreed to do the same.
That had been a mistake since she desperately wanted it now.
Elle had to push aside thoughts of a wedding gown she didn’t need. When she’d gone home to get ready for the evening, she had showered and changed into a tea-length dress the color of iced violets. She’d even put on a little makeup and curled her usually straight black hair. It wasn’t exactly a competition, but there was some truth to the saying that women dressed up for other women. And with the stunning group of women she was surrounded by, she felt the need to step up her game.
Joining Elle, Vivienne, Aria, Jolie, and Bliss for dinner were Kali Redford, Evie Beaumont, and Titania Harper. Vivienne had adopted Jarvis from Evie’s rescue center when she’d arrived in Texas, and Kali was in charge of making the wedding cake while keeping it a secret from the rest of her staff at her bakery in Breakers.
When they’d arrived at the restaurant, they’d been served a variety of delicious appetizers prepared for them by Titania Harper, the owner of The Bower. She and Elle had become friends on their first day of kindergarten, and they’d been as close as sisters ever since. Food had always been Nia’s passion, and the restaurant was her baby.
Located on the water in the heart of downtown Ever After, The Bower was a shining jewel in the community. With vision, hard work, and the culinary talents she had inherited from her mother and father, Nia had taken her family’s old crab shack and turned it into the most popular fine dining establishment in the area.
While the exterior of the restaurant was made of concrete, steel, and darkened windows, the inside of the building was a magical fairy wonderland. The private dining room looked like a fairy glade, complete with a wall waterfall and columns that looked like trees wrapped in strings of tiny lights. Vines, branches, and flowers hung from the ceiling along with a gorgeous chandelier made of purple crystal.
“I love this place,” Bliss announced once all of the gifts had been opened. She lifted her champagne glass and leaned back in the dark leather chair. “I wonder if I could do something like this at home. I bet I could design some amazing things in my very own fairy garden.”
“You don’t have room at home. You should see her condo. The entire place is filled with fabric,” Aria told them.
“And mannequins that look like decapitated dead people,” Jolie added. “It’s creepy.”
Kali winced. “That really does sound creepy.”
“Thanks for that. Now, I’m going to have nightmares tonight,” Evie swore.
Nia poured more champagne into her glass. “Drink more. It will help.”
Aria held out her glass for a refill. “What you need is an actual design studio.”
“I just haven’t found a space that speaks to me yet. And even if I did have a magical room back in New York, I wouldn’t have this fabulous food to go with it.”
“Thanks, we’re proud of this place. Since my parents named me Titania, this design idea for the restaurant just seemed fitting. You’re welcome to come here and sketch anytime,” Nia offered as she pulled her bright red hair back into a high ponytail.
“I may have to take you up on that.”
“I’ve done a couple of paintings in here, and I plan on doing a few more when I get back from Fiji.” Vivienne sighed happily. “Griffin didn’t even complain when I said I might want to paint on our honeymoon.”
“He wouldn’t complain about anything you do.” Aria winked at her. “And I gave you the edible body paint kit to make sure you do a little artwork on your honeymoon.”
Vivienne’s cheeks flushed with heat. “I’ll definitely bring it with us.”
“Body paint sounds like fun.” Bliss let out a wistful sigh. “It’s been so long since I’ve had any fun with a man, I think I’ve forgotten how. The closest I’ve gotten was dressing my male models for my last runway show, though they were more interested in each other than with me. Not that I have time for a relationship.”
“Well, after you finish Vivienne’s dress, you’ll officially be on vacation,” Elle pointed out. “We’ve got a lot of good-looking men in Ever After. You should find one to have a little fun with while you’re here.”
“And you haven’t been to Breakers yet,” Kali pointed out. Since she was pregnant, she lifted a glass of juice instead of the champagne everyone else was drinking. “I might be bias, but we’ve got more than our share of attractive guys there, too.”
“You should know since you’re going to marry the Hammer in a few months. What? I follow the CFL,” Jolie explained, mentioning the Cage Fighting League, which was the top mixed martial arts promotional company in the world. Jared “Hammer” Caufield had been one of their best fighters until he had retired. “Who doesn’t like watching hot, sweaty men fighting in a cage?”
“I certainly do.” Kali held out her fist, and Jolie tapped hers against it. “A lot of really cute fighters have been coming to Jared’s gym to train lately.”
“Don’t let Hammer hear you say that,” Evie teased. “It wouldn’t be good for business if he starts beating up all the new members.”
Kali chuckled. “I didn’t mean for me. Jared is all the man I want or need. But for all of you unattached ladies, a lot of the fighters are single, as are a few of the professional athletes doing rehab for injuries right now.”
“We also have several veterans staying at the boarding house,” Evie added. “I think a few of them are single.”
Bliss laughed. “How is it that there are more available guys here than in all of Manhattan? This doesn’t seem fair to the rest of the world.”
“And yet, I’m still single,” Nia said dryly.
“Because you never make time to date,” Elle pointed out.
“Ha! You’re one to talk.”
“I’ve read studies that estimate a range between fifteen and twenty-five percent of guests have sex after a wedding,” Jolie announced. “So, that means a few of us have a decent shot at having some fun next weekend.”
Bliss laughed. “That definitely gives me something to look forward to.”
“I still can’t believe the wedding is next weekend,” Kali said. “It’s amazing you and Griffin managed to pull everything together in only a few weeks. Even with everyone helping, I still feel like Jared and I don’t have enough time to plan ours.”
Elle finished the champagne in her glass before asking, “Is he still trying to get you to fly off to Vegas?”
“He gave up trying to convince me to elope, but he still complains about having to wait to get married.”
“Dare and I are taking our time planning our wedding,”
Evie told them, mentioning her fiancé. “Now that he’s back to doing surgeries and working part-time at the hospital, and with all the work we have at the rescue center, we’ve been so busy.”
Elle picked up the closest bottle and saw that it was empty. Standing up, she said, “I’m going to go grab us a couple more bottles of champagne.”
“And I should check on dinner,” Nia announced before following her out of the room.
The restaurant was always busy on Saturday nights, and Elle knew the staff had to be even more stressed because both Nia and her mom weren’t working that evening. Actually, both of their moms were having dinner with Dana tonight since her surgery was scheduled in a few days. Nia’s dad could easily run the restaurant by himself, but they had recently hired two new chefs who were still learning the menu. Elle figured that Nia was dying to go check on them.
“How are Rafael and Polly working out?”
“They’re great. We were lucky to find them so quickly. But now, I have to hire more people.” Nia shot her a dark look as they walked down the hallway illuminated with purple light. By silent agreement, they bypassed the elevator and her office, taking the stairs that led down to the main level of the restaurant. “I have no choice since you stole my brother away.”
“You knew Heath was going to leave as soon as we were ready to launch the Foundation. You said it yourself. It’s his dream job.”
“I know it wasn’t fair for him to keep working here when this is our dream, not his. I thought our parents would freak out, but they’re super excited for him. And I guess I can’t complain too much since he already trained his replacement. Hillary has taken over as the dining room manager, and Trevor has been promoted to assistant manager.”
“They’re the perfect choices. They really love this place.”
“They do,” Nia agreed. “Hillary has worked here for years so she knows the good, bad, and ugly details of running this place, and Trevor is energetic and soaks up information like a sponge. But this means I now have to hire a couple more servers to take over for them, and that’s on top of needing another bartender. Damn it, you know I hate interviewing people.”