The Personal Shopper

Parker laughs. “Becca he’s like a couple months old. I don’t think he knows what curse words are.’

Becca just stares back at him, and he raises his hands up in defeat. “Okay geez. Sorry.”

Becca smiles back at him. “You’re going to be a good dad Parker. When are you two going to start having kids?”

I stare back at her. “Goodness Becca. We just got engaged!” She gives me a suspicious smile.

I roll my eyes at her. “Oh my gosh. You’re already picking out baby names aren’t you?”

She doesn’t answer, but I can tell by the smile on her face that she is.

Parker popped the question last week when I was getting ready for the gala. Even though he now works at corporate as one of the leads on the finance team, he still sometimes assists me on projects for old times sake.

I know my dad is grooming him for the CFO position once Hank retires in the next few years. I think it’s good to have top management work on different projects here and there though. It helps keep them in touch with what’s going on within the company, and it doesn't hurt to get to work along side my sexy fiance every now and then.

Parker told me he had someone contact us about a special jewelry piece they wanted to have worn at our event for publicity. I can never pass up on a free jewelry piece, so of course I agreed to go look with him.

When we got to the jeweler, there was a small jewelry box waiting to be looked at. I figured it was earrings by the size of the box, but when I opened the box, there sat the most beautiful diamond ring. Seriously gorgeous. I turned to look at Parker. “Wow. This is breathtaking” I picked it up and showed Parker. “A little strange for a publicity piece though. What am I supposed to do? Pretend we got engaged?” I laughed.

Parker leaned close behind me and whispered in my ear. “Or don’t pretend.”

I was confused at first, but when I turned around, there Parker was down on one knee. And you know what they say, the rest was history.

I glance down to the custom diamond ring on my finger and smile. Parker worked with some of my favorite jewelry designers from past projects to make the one of a kind piece. I told him he should expense the ring to the company since it will definitely be a conversation piece. Of course, he said no.

Doug walks in with my dad, and he and Becca come over and we all sit on the ground playing with George. My dad is just standing nearby watching us all. I look over to him, and he just has the biggest smile on his face. “You coming over dad?”

He smiles at me. “I was just thinking how much your mother would have loved to see this. All of us here together for Sunday dinner. All the new families starting but still always here together on Sundays. She would have loved it.”

He looks teary eyed, so, of course, I start crying and Becca follows. The boys try to get us to stop, but you know that doesn’t work.

After a couple minutes, we are all back to laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Parker hugs me to his chest and whispers in my ear. “I’ll never let you lose that beautiful Ava smile.” I look back at him and give him my best smile yet.

The End

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Chapter 1

I yawn again as I take another sip of my coffee. It really is hard coming back to work on a Monday after a three week tropical vacation. That was the longest vacation I’ve taken probably since I was fifteen years old during summer break if you count that as a vacation. I’ve been working for my dad’s construction company since the day I turned sixteen, but really my dad has been showing me how to build and fix things for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a little girl.

I started out at the company just answering phones and helping him file paperwork, but after a while, I started taking on more important tasks like managing the contractors and purchasing materials. I’d help out with office duties as well such as scheduling the guys and making sure payroll goes smoothly.

My dad trusts me now to manage job sites, and I am put in charge whenever he is away on another job. I am his number two man. Have been for the past five years.

I’ve never taken a vacation longer than five days before, and it was amazing. Except now that I am back, I have so much work to catch up on, I am almost regretting it. Almost.

My best friend Angela actually won a radio contest, which is how we ended up spending the last three weeks sipping mimosas by the pool getting a tan while overlooking the ocean. The all inclusive resort was so beautiful. Our room overlooked the ocean, and it opened up right to a walk out pool. Not to mention all the hot local islanders. I swear me and Angela danced with at least 10 different guys every night.

I sigh as I look at all my unread emails I have to get through yet. I take another sip of my coffee and get started. After I’ve contacted our contractors about unpaid bills, ordered more material and supplies, and sorted out all the payroll issues since I’ve been gone, I finally close my email and open up my monthly meeting agenda. Once a month, I sit down with each employee to discuss any concerns or suggestions they have. I have a feeling this month there will be more concerns than usual with all the problems I’ve been emailed about already this morning.

I figure I might as well get started, so I open up the schedule to see who is first. I smile when I read the first name. Let me preface this with saying that I love working at my dad’s company. I have always been interested in construction ever since I was a little girl and my dad first helped me build my very own birdhouse from scratch, but I love it even more recently because Tyler works here. He started about 6 months ago, and we have been doing some heavy flirting ever since.

I try to always stay professional with all my dad’s guys, but with Tyler I may have bent my rules on that just a little. In my defense, I think any girl would. I mean when he gives you that sexy boy next door smile and his dimples peek out. Swoon.

I may or may not have made up excuses to be near him on the job site in the past. It’s too addicting to watch the way his tool belt hangs low on his hips while he hammers and drills away while he works. His t-shirt will cling to his sculpted chest with the sweat from a hard day’s work. Most of the guys that work for my dad are older with beer bellies, but Tyler is probably only about 2 or 3 years older than me.

I could tell Tyler was about to ask me out a couple of times, but I changed the subject before he got the chance. I want to talk to my dad first about whether he’s okay with me dating one of his guys. Not that I need my dad’s permission about who I can or cannot date. I am not a little girl anymore, but my dad is the only family I’ve got, and I respect his opinion. I wouldn’t want to make things weird at work if he wasn’t okay with it.