“To see my fiancée,” he muttered, hoping like hell she wouldn’t tell him to get lost. Hoping even more that she’d agree to a second date.
Ten
Lexi stared at the screen of her laptop, which sat on the counter next to the cash register at Dress Hut on Monday morning, trying to think of what else she could sell on Marketplace to come up with cash. Fortunately, and predictably, the store was quiet. Uploading a picture of some of her dad’s tools she’d held on to, she posted a price and details. She had about ten tabs open at the moment while she jumped back and forth among course reading, updating the store website, practicing graphics on Canva (homework), and searching Marketplace. She’d purposely kept her phone under the counter, tucked into her purse. Will was more charming than she’d expected. Not that she’d expected anything. She wasn’t opposed to dating even though her schedule was stuffed like an overweight suitcase, but she wasn’t looking to get attached. Add his kissing skills to his humor and charm and that made him a dangerous distraction she didn’t need.
She was wondering about a third job when her bestie, Maisie, strolled in like a welcome breeze. Her adorable jet-black hair, cropped just a bit shorter than a bob, peeked out under the blue knit cap she wore. With soft features, big brown eyes, and love of makeup, she had agirl next door with an edgevibe. Like a Disney princess gone rogue. In herhands was the very thing that was going to get Lexi through the rest of her shift: two large take-out drinks from her favorite coffee shop.
“Hey there, bestie,” Maisie said as she strode over to where Lexi stood behind the counter. Her black wool jacket reminded Lexi that autumn in the Pacific Northwest could be unpredictable.
Lexi took the drink Maisie passed her with both hands, letting it warm her fingers. Bitsy, her boss, kept the temperature in the store low because she was always overheated. She popped in and out when she felt like it or when she wanted to use the back room to host card games for her gal pals, whom Maisie referred to as the Crazy Eights.
“You’re a wonderful human being,” Lexi said after her first sip of the vanilla chai latte with just a hint of cinnamon.
“As are you. Anything you want to share?” Maisie set her own drink down, removed her coat, picked the cup up again, took a sip, and eyed Lexi with a strange sparkle in her gaze.
Lexi frowned. Could her friend read her that well? She’d told her about the world-rocking kiss in detail. Even if she did feel a little perkier than usual today, Lexi didn’t think Maisie was referring to her mood.
She shrugged. “Nothing good, honestly. Bitsy wants to close the store on Mondays because—” She stopped, glanced around at the empty store. “Obviously. So I called Brett to tell him I could now work any and every Monday, only Reese—that’s the waitress he always gets to shadow my section—answered and said that she’d tell him and that was good news because get this: They’re running a special now. Bring in a friend on Mondays for lunch and get half off your meal.”
Maisie let out a sharp gasp. “That was your idea.”
“Yup.”
Setting her cup down, Maisie reached out, squeezed Lexi’s arm, then leaned on the counter. “I’m sorry. That sucks but that job isn’t forever. What else? Anything toreport?”
Lexi’s brows furrowed. She took a sip and shared the rest. “I justposted my dad’s tools on Marketplace. If I can sell them all, I’ll have enough to pay for the rest of this marketing class. Speaking of, I need to interview someone who works in the field for my final project. You know anyone?”
Other people were doing internships and making connections while attending classes but with Lexi doing her course online and part-time, she didn’t have the same opportunity or advantage.
“We’ll get back to that. What I’d really like to know is how one date to a party you didn’t want to attend and one kiss—even if it was amazing—ends with you engaged to one of Seattle’s finest bachelors. Especially since you, my lovable best friend who is supposed to spill every ounce of tea the second it’s poured, are averse to such things as marriage and forever after.”
Lexi set her cup down a bit more abruptly than she intended, grateful she hadn’t been drinking when Maisie spoke. “What are you talking about?”
Shaking her head, Maisie pulled her phone out of her back pocket, tapping the screen. “I’m not sure if I want to be maid of honor or photographer. Maybe both. I’m a hell of a multitasker.”
Maisie passed her phone for Lexi to read. If she were a cartoon, her eyes would have doubled in size and bounced out of their sockets.
When she looked up at Maisie, her friend was smiling so wide it looked unnatural. “What the hell happened at that party?”
Engaged… eligible bachelor… Seattle royalty… who is this nobody?
Lexi shook her head, words stuck in her throat as she clicked one of the links. It brought up Becca’s Instagram, but since Lexi didn’t have Instagram, she couldn’t see the full post. Just the picture and part of the caption.
Going back to the previous article, she read aloud, “An anonymous source says that Alexandria Danby was introduced as William Grand’s fiancée. For those of you not following Seattle’s local gossip, the Grand family is well known in Washington not only for theirstrong family values and commitment to quality but for their generous work within multiple charity organizations. There has been a lot of speculation lately about William Grand and whom he’s choosing to spend his time with. He’s been spotted with Nolan Banner, the son of major chain store owner Fredrick Banner. This unlikely friendship—see Banner’s history of trouble with the law here—may be one of many surprising connections William has formed lately. Who is Alexandria Danby and how did she hook one of Seattle’s hottest men in business? (SeePeoplemagazine, June 20, 2022.)”
The store felt like it was about a hundred degrees. Lexi continued to struggle to find words as she set the phone down, stripped off her cardigan, and picked up the phone again.
“You failed to mention a few things,” Maisie said, a happy hum underlying her words.
“I don’t.” Lexi shook her head, the phone shaking in her grasp. “I can’t. Holy shit. What’s Grand Babies? Who is this guy?”
Like she’d summoned him or as if he had decided to answer her questions for himself, Will came striding through the door of the dress shop, looking very hot and very much out of place.
Maisie squealed with excitement, clapping her hands. “Yay. I get to meet the groom-to-be. Mm. The papers didn’t lie. Excellent cheekbones, great eyes. I look forward to photographing you both for your engagement pictures.”
“Knock it off, Maisie.”
Will’s gaze was locked on Lexi. “Lexi.”
