Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House)

“Next weekend we have a birthday party on Saturday night, so midweek works perfectly for me.”

“Excellent. I’ll have Mitchell set everything up and let you know what time on Wednesday.”

“That’s great. Thank you again for a fun morning.”

“Thank you for indulging me.” We exit the car, and Jackson retrieves my box of teacups and walks me to the door. “Please extend my apologies to your sisters for keeping you so long. I’d wish you good luck for tonight, but I don’t think you need it. I’ll see you next week, Fun London.”

10

SNEAKY SNEAKY

LONDON

“Are you sure you’re okay with me going to this dinner meeting and coming in a little on the later side tomorrow?” I ask for what must be the hundredth time. The question is directed at Avery. I already know Harley is more than fine with it.

“We’re sure,” Harley replies.

I stop leafing through the stack of papers on my desk and glance at my sisters, focusing on Avery.

“I’m sorry I freaked out last weekend. It won’t happen again, and I’m one hundred percent sure that I’m okay with this whole thing.” Avery has the decency to look chagrined. “Including you not being here first thing tomorrow morning.”

We had a bit of a blowout when I got back to Spark House after my morning with Jackson at the estate sale. Avery was angry that I’d gone at all, and I reminded her that she’s been taking off plenty of time for emergency wedding stuff. My meeting with Jackson was meant to help our event hotel and make things easier for us, not more of a challenge. I once again suggested that we need more help on the admin side of things, which, as expected, did not go over well.

We had to put a pin in the argument because of the event that was starting, and I got the cold shoulder for the rest of the night. We haven’t come back to it since then, but we’ll have to eventually. Part of me hopes that while I’m at this dinner, something happens to make her see what Harley and I already know—we’re getting too big for just the three of us to manage.

“I’ve left a list of the things that need to be tackled this afternoon, but you can message or call if you need anything or if anyone has questions.” I slide a folder to the edge of my desk with all the files on our weekend event.

“We’ve got it handled,” Avery replies. She’s determined to prove we don’t need extra help.

“Yup. We’re good to go here.” Harley gives me the thumbs-up while grinning at Avery.

“What’s this about?” I motion to their faces. They’ve been acting strangely all morning. “Why are you being all weird about this?”

Harley drops her arms to her sides. “We’re being supportive, not weird. You’ve pretty much taken care of everything, so Avery and I are going to look at bridesmaid dresses that aren’t in team colors.”

Avery rolls her eyes. “Blue and maroon aren’t a bad combination.”

“On a jersey,” Harley and I say at the same time.

“The flowers could be in team colors,” I suggest. “And the centerpieces. I can mock something up for you tonight when I’m back from the meeting,” I offer.

“You probably won’t have time for that tonight,” Avery says.

She has a point. I’ll be at a dinner meeting this evening, and I’ll be missing this afternoon to prepare for the meeting and go over some paperwork, so there will be emails to tackle later. “Tomorrow night, then.” I slide the folder into my bag, along with my laptop and tablet, then I glance at the time. I should be leaving for Denver shortly.

“How do I look?” I smooth my hands over my hips. I’m wearing a simple, classic black dress paired with rose-gold heels. I have one of my versatile and functional oversize purses, also in rose gold, which holds all the things I’ll need for this meeting.

“Fantastic,” my sisters say in unison.

My phone pings, and I pick it up off my desk and check the message. It’s Jackson, letting me know there’s been a slight change of plans and that he’ll be at Spark House momentarily.

“Why in the world is he coming here?” I mutter.

“What’s going on?” Harley asks.

“I have no idea. Jackson is apparently coming to pick me up, which doesn’t make a lot of sense if the meeting is in Denver.” I sling my bag over my shoulder and blow out an anxious breath.

“Maybe he wanted the time to brief you?” Avery suggests.

“Maybe.” It still doesn’t quite add up. “I guess now I’ll have time to get information out of him about the company we’re meeting with.” Jackson has been vague about who exactly we’re having dinner with. He mentioned that they’re in the hospitality business and that it would be informal, more of a preliminary introduction, but that they’re interested in learning more about Spark House.