Chris: Hi, Cinnamon.
Of course, it was Chris. I shouldn’t have been surprised that he managed to get my phone number, even though I didn’t list it anywhere.
Cassia: What do you want, Davenport?
Chris: I wanted to talk to you.
Cassia: About?
Chris: Anything.
Cassia: …
Chris: Why are you up so late?
Cassia: Contemplating my future. You?
Chris: My father gave me a forced vacation. Grandpa suggested I help Sof with her investments.
Cassia: A forced vacation?
Chris: You should feel bad for me.
Cassia: How is it a vacation if you’re helping your sister?
Chris: Truthfully?
Cassia: Preferably.
Chris: My grandfather thinks I should win you back.
Cassia: Excuse me?
Chris: He’s always really liked you.
I stared at my phone. Henry Davenport spent a lot of time at the camp and loved to give the camp counselors all kinds of inspiration talks. I’d always really liked listening to him, but I never thought he cared any more for me than any of the other counselors.
Chris: Did I scare you off already?
Cassia: Why me?
Chris: You remind him of my late grandmother.
Cassia: Shouldn’t that gross you out or something?
Chris: My grandmother was awesome. And coincidentally, so are you.
Cassia: Davenport, we went down this road once and you changed your tune pretty quickly after we got together. The morning after, in fact.
Chris: I could explain, but it probably wouldn’t make a difference.
Cassia: Explain?
Chris: Yep.
Cassia: What could you possibly say that would make a difference?
Chris: Nick Mathison videoed our night together and threatened to put it on the internet. He blackmailed me. Turned out that Nick had all sorts of gambling problems and owed someone a lot of money. Someone who would break his legs if he didn’t get them paid.
I stared at the phone, heat crawling up my neck into my cheeks. Molten lava settled in my chest.
Cassia: He did WHAT?!
Chris: He gave me the video. I destroyed it.
Cassia: He didn’t make copies.
Chris: I had Theo make sure everything was destroyed.
Cassia: Theo saw it?!
Chris: No. He just took care of the evidence.
My breathing was heavy and erratic. I didn’t know what to do with this inspiration.
Cassia: Did you see the video?
Chris: Enough to know what he had.
Cassia: This is mortifying. Not only was my first time with a guy who completely discarded me the morning after, but someone fucking filmed it?! This is such bullshit. Who does that?
Chris: I didn’t mean to hurt you, Cin. At the time, my eighteen-year-old brain thought I was protecting you. That I was doing the honorable thing. It was clear to me that someone was always going to use me to get to the people I care about. My siblings deal with the same thing. My friends don’t need to.
Cassia: That wasn’t your call to make.
Chris: Cassia…
Cassia: You don’t seriously want to date me again, do you? You don’t even know me anymore. I’m not that girl.
Chris: Come on, Cin, I know you haven’t changed that much. There was quite the punch in that kiss.
Cassia: Why do you call me that?
Chris: Because you are sinfully gorgeous and sinfully amazing. Plus, your name is a cinnamon.
Cassia: It’s a type of Cinnamon.
Chris: Come on, Cin…can you really never forgive me?
Cassia: Not on the table for discussion tonight.
Chris: What is? Do you want to confess how wet your panties were after I kissed you?
Cassia: Dry as the Sahara Dessert.
Chris: Lies.
Cassia: You’ll never know. And it doesn’t matter because you’re never getting your hands on my panties again.
Chris: We’ll see.
Cassia: I get that Nick needed money, but why did he come after me too?
Chris: I’m pretty sure he had a thing for you, and he was pissed that you were with me. He was jealous and he was a sore loser.
Cassia: He tortured me that summer. If he liked me, he had a shitty way of showing it.
Chris: He’s an asshole.
Cassia: I have to go.
Chris: Cassia…
I turned off my phone and rolled onto my side hoping sleep would come. Everything felt wrong now. How could things have gotten so messed up? I hated that something from seven years ago was affecting me so much, but Christopher and I…our connection was strong, and I hadn’t wanted that summer to end.
Until I couldn’t wait for it to end.
Exhaustion eventually won out and I drifted off. I was left with dreams of a hot guy holding a hot latte with the desire to give it another shot, and not just one of espresso.
* * *
Allison’s office was off the main drag. I stopped by The Daily Grind to get a latte before heading to my meeting, hoping the caffeine would take the edge off my nerves. And maybe erase a little bit of the dark circles under my eyes.
The place was buzzing with patrons and the espresso machine was grinding and steaming milk. Music to my ears, though the music that was playing was Panic! At the Disco’s Hey, Look Ma I Made It.
Warmth pressed against my backside, and hot breath tickled my ear. Just as I was about to turn around and swat the pervert, he murmured in my ear, “If you’re looking for a very large, hot cup of pumpkin spiced latte,” the paper cup appeared in front of my face with my name scribbled on the side of the cup, “it even has your name on it.”
I plucked the cup out of his hand and turned around, stepping out of line. “I shouldn’t be concerned you’re stalking me, right?”
“Concerned? No. You should be flattered.”
“I should be, huh?” Standing there in front of him after our conversation the night before, I wasn’t sure what I should be feeling.
Chris winked at me. “Should I provide references?”
I smiled, blushing a little. “Are you here just to provide me with caffeine or did you have another purpose?”
“I thought we could talk before your appointment.”
“How did you know about my appointment?” I wasn’t ready to face Christopher, but even more than that, I hated how happy I was to see him. Knowing things weren’t as black and white as I thought they were made my heart ache.
“My sister’s not a tough cookie to crack. She told me you were meeting with your lawyer this morning. I thought we could talk a little.”
“And you just assumed I would show up here?”
“I hoped.”
I checked the time. I had a half hour before I had to be at her office, and she was a two-minute walk away.
“Could we sit outside? I love fall mornings.”
He grinned and he gestured for me to take the lead. I found a table away from the morning rush and sat down. He sat across from me. I eyed his coffee. “What does a billionaire drink in the morning?”
He chuckled and handed it to me. I took a sip, surprised that he was drinking a pumpkin spiced latte too.
“You’re not wearing your Uggs.”
“I’m a closet drinker. Most people won’t understand.”
“But you trust me with this information? You probably shouldn’t.” I lifted my phone and snapped a picture. “For my followers later.”
His smile grew. The longer he smiled, the more it changed his face. It was almost like he didn’t smile enough. It warmed inside that I could bring that out in him.
“Tell me, Mr. Davenport, what are you doing with your forced vacation?”
“You see, my grandfather is usually right about pretty much everything. And if he thinks I should try to win you over again, then I feel like I at least have to give a shot.”
“Chris, I think it would be better if we just tried to be friends.”
He leaned back in his chair and surveyed me as if he were searching for the answer he didn’t have yet. “We’ll start with friends. You have a boyfriend, anyway, right?”
There it was. Now I had to confess my angry lie. “I’m single. I’ve been single. I’ve had way too much going on in my life to date anyone.”
His lips parted in a wolfish grin.
“Shut up. I don’t like lying. And I shouldn’t have said it.”
He pulled back his grin to a regular smile. “So friends then?”
I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. “What’s really going on?”
“I swear, right now, all I’m looking for is redemption.”
I leaned in a little. “What you told me last night, is that true?”
“Cinnamon,” he leaned forward making our conversation intimate, “what happened at camp between us, meant a lot to me. And it killed me to do what I did after that night we spent together.”
“Don’t call me that,” I said even as I shivered.
“You used to like it when I called you Cinnamon.”
“We’re not together and I’m not eighteen anymore. I’m trying to be professional here.”
“Friends have nicknames for each other.”
Disappointment seeped into my bones. It was unfair of me to want him to want more, especially after I’d run so hot and cold on him. Why did I want more? I hadn’t thought about dating anyone in a long time. It never seemed to go well. And after Christopher, I wasn’t real interested in getting my heart broken again.
I checked the time needing to think about something else. “I should get going.” I grabbed my coffee and stood.
He stood with me.
“I’ll see you around, Cin.”
I opened my mouth to correct him, but it wasn’t worth it. Plus, I really did like it when he called me that.
“See you around, Davenport.”
* * *
Allison’s office was nothing like I pictured a lawyer’s office. It wasn’t cold and sterile. She had a love seat and two chairs in the waiting area. There were photographs hung on the wall and a couple of pieces of art that looked more personal than professional.
The door opened and Allison came out with Chris’s brother, Theo.
I stood.
Allison stopped. “Oh. You’re here. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.”
I glanced over at Theo, who was eyeing me. I couldn’t read his expression. He had a completely different energy than Chris. Of all the Davenports I’d met, Chris was the least like the rest of them. Or maybe that was just because I knew him better. Or at least I thought I did once upon a time.
“I’ll bring you lunch,” Theo said.
Allison attempted to keep her expression neutral, but I caught the hint of a smile. It was only a few months ago that she was supposed to be married. Her fiancé leaving her had been big deal in the town. Allison was everyone’s sweetheart and Dean had vanished. No one really knew what happened. But I suspected that Theo did. He and Allison were that chummy.
Theo exited and Allison waved me into her actual office. I followed her, feeling a little more apprehensive. There was a lot at stake and this meeting would mean a lot for me and my dreams. But it could also mean the end of them.
“I’m going to cut to the chase. I’m sure that you want to know if it’s all legit.”
I sat down across from her.
“The contract is more than fair. You won’t be out any money if it fails. Sofia’s taking the brunt of the financial risk. Once there’s a profit, she’ll get a cut, but as the designer you’re getting the highest percentage. You’ll also have the most say in the designs.” Allison paused, folding her hands over the papers sitting on the desk. “Sofia is being generous. It seems like she really believes in your designs and she wants you to be successful. There’s also a clause that you’ll be her exclusive designer for concerts, appearances, and red-carpet events. But the contract is for two years. After that you’re free to venture out on your own and you and Sofia can discuss a new contract or not.”
“It can’t seriously be this easy. Country star comes to a small town to find a struggling designer and wants to make her designs go national.”
“International.”
“What?”
“Absolutely. The business plan is set for national first, to expand outward into Europe and beyond.” She flipped through the documents and slid a page across the desk.
I tried to focus on it, but with as fast as my heart was beating, my eyes couldn’t home in on the letters; they all just looked like black and white squiggles.
“As your lawyer, this is an incredible offer. Better than most chances to be a professional designer.” She leaned forward a little, a smile spreading over her face. “And as your friend, this is amazing, Cassia. Really.”
I blinked at her. “How is this even possible?”
Allison chuckled. “Aw, sweetie. You’re in shock.”
“You’re saying I should sign the contract? Quit my jobs? Just be a full-time designer? What if it doesn’t work out?”
“Then you try something else. Life is always a gamble, Cass.”
I sighed and leaned back in the chair. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. It just doesn’t feel real.”
“Let it settle in before you make a decision.” She stood up and came around the desk. “But let me be the first person to say congratulations! You deserve this.” She leaned down and hugged me.
After a few minutes, I gathered up the contract and thanked Allison for her time. I headed back down to the main drag of Jubilee only to find Christopher waiting for me.
Like a big jungle cat, he lifted himself from the bench outside of Allison’s office and moved toward me.
“How’d it go?”
“I’m not sure. Good, I guess.”
“How good?”
I met his gaze and a slow smile curved my mouth. “Really good.”
His mouth curved into a knowing smile. “You’re going to do it.”
7
Cassia
Christopher wanted to take me to lunch to celebrate, but my stomach was still flip-flopping around like I’d swallowed Mexican jumping beans.
Instead, I paced around town square, trying to get up the courage to call Sofia.
After nearly an hour of trying to convince myself this was the right thing to do, and then trying to convince myself it was the worst possible idea imaginable, I settled on a text.
Cassia: I’m going to sign. Let’s meet up this afternoon, so we can finalize details.
Sofia: OMG! That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! Let’s meet at your studio, so I can get a lay of the land, find out what we need to bring in to get this up and running, and make you profitable.
I was sure she meant my studio space, but I texted her the address to my apartment and told her we could meet there in an hour. Not quite the “studio” she was probably expecting, but the only space I had.
After that, it all felt too real.
Fuck, I was going to do it, I was going to take a real stab at my dream.
But I didn’t want to let other people down in the meantime.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I stood outside of These Paws Were Meant for Walking, trying to will myself inside. Maybe if I could’ve just teleported through the door, it wouldn’t have felt so monumental.
I glanced up to find Brayden pushing open the door with a curious expression on her face.
“Cass, what’s going on? You’re not working for a few more hours.”
I pushed myself forward, into the shop. “Brayden, we need to talk.”
She escorted me to her office and sat down. “What’s going on?”
Like an avalanche, it rolled out of me. I told her about Sofia and the fashion show and by the time I was done, I was talking myself out of it all over again.
Brayden
put up her hand. “Are you serious right now?”
“About which part?”
“Any of it? Sofia Davenport wants to support your designs and enter you into a fashion show in New York?”
“That’s the gist. But Brayden, I know you’re shorthanded already since Georgie left.”
Brayden put up her hand again. “Girl, you need to stop talking right now. First of all, congratulations are in order. I’m so glad that someone has recognized how awesome you are and is in a position to do something about it.” She leaned forward. “Second of all, you’re fired.”
“Brayden.”
“No, I’m serious. Look, I met a young woman last night. She’s been going through a really rough patch. She gave up her baby. She’s had a hard time trying to find a job because she has no experience and right now, she doesn’t even have a place to live.”
“Oh my god. How old is she?”
“She just turned sixteen. She needs a job. And I couldn’t let her live out on the street. She’s taking the room upstairs, and she’ll work the overnight shift, keep an eye on the dogs that are boarded. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do or how I was going to afford her, but if I don’t have to pay you anymore, that’ll give her more opportunity. She’s a smart kid. She’s made some mistakes; she shouldn’t have to keep paying for them.”
I grinned. “Bleeding heart.”
“Damn straight. Plus, now they’re you’re deserting me for greener pastures, I don’t have to take out another mortgage to pay my employees. I was never going to fill Georgie’s position.” Brayden got up and walked around the corner of her desk. “Cassia, you’ve worked so hard and you’ve always been an amazing. I’m so happy for you.”
I stood up and she pulled me into her arms. “Thank you for being so understanding. I really hope it works out for you and for…”
“Her name is Elena.”
“I hope it works out for Elena. It sounds like she’s been through a lot.”
“I feel for her. It’s not an easy life out there. It sounds like her family just completely abandoned her, and the baby’s father is acting like he doesn’t even know her. It’s really a shame.”
“That’s awful. I can relate.”
Billionaire Barista: Love Demands a Holiday Page 5