Page 148 of Cheap Shot

She did a few things on her phone before passing it over. He scrolled through the photos, impressed by her eye for design.

“These aregorgeous,” he said.

They were brighter and less monochromatic than most of his designs, but he’d also noticed that brighter colors sold better in Boston than in New York. He was starting to really see the differences in the market and was trying to adapt his offerings accordingly.

Krista sighed. “Ugh, I was just getting things to a good spot when we left. I always knew it was a possibility we’d have to move—thatisthe life of a SAP after all—but I had just started to really get my business established. I’d connected with reception locations and caterers and florists …”

Sebastian winced. “Yeah, that’s really tough having to start from scratch. I have two locations in New York and foot traffic hereis finally starting to pick up but I don’t feel like I’ve made the connections I need to as far as events.”

“It’s tough,” she said sympathetically.

“Online orders are picking up nicely lately too, but I should have at least three times the number of summer weddings on the books already,” he explained with a sigh. “I finally have a little more help in the shop, so I’m able to spend more time reaching out to other vendors about partnerships but I managed to miss a huge wedding expo in Boston this winter, so I’m probably not going to be as booked for this wedding season as I’d like to be.”

“Yeah, owning your own business always feels like having at least three or four jobs at once, doesn’t it?”

“At least,” he said with a small laugh, glad she understood. “I could really use a dedicated person to handle all that, but finding knowledgeable, reliable people is always the challenge …”

He trailed off, narrowing his eyes at Krista as an idea formed in his head. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked.

She gave him a curious look. “I don’t know, what are you thinking?”

“I understand you might not be interested in working for someone else when you’ve been a business owner,” he said slowly. “I won’t be offended if you say no. But would you ever consider working as an in-house event planner?”

Surprise crossed her face. “In-house as in working for Twig & Bloom?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Oh.” She tilted her head. “I’d never thought about something like that.”

“It’s just an idea,” Sebastian said hastily. “It literally just popped in my head now so I’d be lying if I said it was a fully fleshed out plan. But would you consider it? If we sat down and discussed terms and put together a proposal and?—”

“It would have to be part-time,” she said, her tone a little cautious, but there was a brightness in her eyes that told him she was starting to get as excited about the idea as he was. “At least until my youngest is in school in the fall …”

“Yeah, that would beperfect,” Sebastian said, growing more and more enthusiastic about the idea. “I have no idea how much work there would be at first anyway.”

“I’d have to discuss it with Tom, of course,” she said. “Neither of us make big, life-altering decisions about things like this without making sure we’re both on the same page.”

“Of course,” Sebastian said. “I understand. I would do the same.”

“Are you in a relationship?” she asked, her tone politely curious.

“Uhh, well,” he said, trying to figure out how to word this. “I started seeing someone recently and we’re—yeah, we’re giving it a go.”

He was tempted to blurt out that she knew the man he was involved with, but Sebastian wasn’t about to out Luke that way. Sure, he’d said he’d tell his team eventually, but how and when he came out was his call.

Sebastian laughed when he realized his relationship with Luke would make him a SAP too. He and Krista had more in common than she realized.

She tilted her head, giving him a puzzled look and he waved it off. “Just … really feeling enthusiastic about this idea,” he admitted. “And if you’re up for it, I have an idea of where we could start if we decide to go forward with this.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, you already know Catherine O’Shea. She’s been trying to get me to do the florals for the Harriers Foundation events …”

“So, uh, why did you want to meet?” Luke asked a few days later, when they were seated in Gavin’s office with takeout from a nice seafood restaurant in Back Bay.

Luke had ordered a spicy seafood linguine that smelled delicious as he cracked open the lid. They’d just finished practice and he wasstarving.

“I wanted to discuss your contract,” Gavin said, opening his own container of grilled swordfish, with broccoli and brown rice. He gave Luke’s pasta a longing look.