“Come on. Let’s take this wall down!”
It’s a few weeks after Seth and I reunited, and we’re gathered in my shop with, well, pretty much everyone in my life. Remy, Poppy and Natalie, and their boyfriends. Even Katie is here to help out.
Because today is demolition day!
“You should still make the first ceremonial smash,” Seth says. “This is your business, Buttercup.”
I grin at him. “Alright.” I pull the safety goggles down off my head and arrange them over my eyes. “Sexy, huh?”
Seth gives me a kiss. “You have no idea.”
He hands me the sledgehammer . . . which weighs about seven hundred pounds. It nearly pulls my arm out of the socket. “Ugh!” I grunt, nearly dropping. “Maybe you should be the foreman. I’ll do the detail work.” I reach for a regular-sized hammer, making everyone laugh.
“Here we go!” I take a huge swing and hit the wall with my hammer, making a less than impressive hole.
It still counts, though. I may as well have knocked the whole wall down the way everyone whoops. Someone even yells out, “Mazel tov!” And just like that, we can see the first bit of light filtering through from next door.
Aka the future site of my newly expanded store.
In the weeks since I got on the Bridal List, Bloom Florals has taken off. More than I ever hoped for or even could have dreamed it would. Some days, there’s a line of people outside trying to cram their way into my tiny space. Which means I need way bigger premises. But after my realtor took me on a disappointing tour of available stores, I decided to expand into the vacant shoe-repair store next door. So here we are, taking down the adjoining wall to start making the two shops into one big, beautiful, flower-tastic space. I’m terrified and excited all at once.
“That’s it?” Seth teases, when I put down my sledgehammer after just the one swing. “You’re done?”
“I’m leaving it to the skilled professionals!” I protest.
“And I’m very grateful about that,” Remy speaks up. “Since I don’t want cinderblock falling on my head.”He hands out celebratory glasses of sparkling wine, and I grab one and raise it in a toast.
“Thank you, everyone,” I say loudly, looking out at the people I care about most in the world. I know I’m lucky to have found them all. “It’s only because of all of you that this is even happening. I love you all!” I look over at Seth. “Especially you,” I add in a stage-whisper.
He laughs. “Ditto.”
My heart glows. Before I met him, I had all these ideas about soulmates and true love, but in the end, I realized that’s not the only way love works. I may not have been destined to meet Seth, but we have something even better than fate: a love that we both choose, every single day.
“Now, let’s get out of the way so the contractors can do their thing!”
We step back and let the guys who know their load-bearing walls from their ornamental beams get to work. They waste no time, attacking the wall as we all move a safe distance away.
It doesn’t take long for the wall to come down and even with all the broken-up drywall and construction debris, I’m amazed at how big the shop looks already. It’s going to be amazing.
“Admiring your handiwork?” Seth asks, teasing. “They couldn’t have done it without that first magnificent swing.”
I laugh. “Are you mocking my puny muscles?”
“Me? Never. I love your puny muscles,” Seth says, pulling me close. He kisses me, hot and deep, and I melt against him, happier than I could ever imagine.
He looks around. “Think you can sneak away for five minutes?”
“Five?” I arch an eyebrow. “You are feeling confident.”
Seth snorts. “Come on.”
He leads me over the piles of rubble and through the shoe-repair shop. I follow him up the stairs that lead to the office on the second floor. When we get to the door, I see that there’s a piece of material hanging over the door.
“You’re not the only one with a big unveiling . . .” Seth says. “The sign for my door came today.”
“Your door,” I repeat, smiling.
“That’s right. I have a door. And an office too,” Seth jokes. “Are you impressed?”
“Hell yes.”
I kiss him, because this is the other big new development happening now. Seth—after much nudging, ahem, encouragement—is launching his own event-planning business. Which is basically the perfect use of his skills.
And bonus, everyone involved knows he’s the one staging the scene.
“Voila!”
Seth tugs the fabric down, revealing a classy-looking plaque by the door.
Seth Harding, Setting the Scene.
I clap my hands together. “I love it!”
“You don’t think we’re making a mistake,” Seth checks again, “working so close to each other?”
“Are you kidding?” I grab his shirt and pull him close again. “You’re just starting out. You’re going to need business advice from a pro,” I tease.
“You’re right. It’ll be great having you right downstairs.”
He tugs me closer still and gives me a kiss. “And there are other perks.”
“Like . . . uhhhhh . . . shared office supplies?” I ask innocently.
“That too,” he says with a chuckle against my lips.
“Oh, I know,” I tease. “Lunch dates.”
“Obviously,” he drawls, pressing his hips into mine, the hard length of him reminding me of how we were almost late to my own demo party. How I am suddenly in no rush to get back to that demo party.
“Hot dog lunch dates,” I say as I reach for his belt.
His laugh turns into a groan.
“You know,” I say as I lead him into his inner office and lock the door. “I think before you officially open your doors to the public, it’s tradition to christen the place for good luck.”
“Is that so?” He grins back at me.
Nodding, I hop up on the desk and pull him in close so he’s standing between my thighs.
I glide my hands up the hard planes of his chest. “In fact, I’m sure of it.”
“Well in that case . . .” He bends down to kiss me. “As you wish.”
THE END
(Almost!)
Thank you for reading! If you’ve enjoyed April’s exploits, then I have great news: the next book in the series is available now - featuring some familiar faces ;)
Keep scrolling to read a sneak peek of Katie’s book. The Break-Up Artist is available now. CLICK HERE to purchase and scroll to read Chapter One!
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