Page 47 of Do It With Me

I wanted to help her. Genuinely. I also genuinely believed that she had what it took to be successful. She might just not have found exactly the right tools for her trade just yet.

“The world is changing,” I added. “It’s a lot smaller, but the opportunities are a lot bigger. You just have to find the best way to reach your target audience directly and make it as easy for them as possible to support your store. So start with that. Who is your target audience and what’s the best way to reach them? How do you bring them in?”

“Well, now that you’ve said it like that.” She propped herself up on one elbow, the light in her eyes suddenly brighter again. “I actually have this idea that I’ve just never gotten around to making happen.”

“Let’s hear it,” I said, genuinely curious. “What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”

“There are so many people in my neighborhood who make stuff.” She toyed absently with the sheet at my chest. “Candles. Soaps. Crafts. Jewelry. Everyone’s got a side hustle these days. I thought maybe I could feature their things in my shop. Give them a space to sell while I take a small cut. Kind of like a community marketplace vibe.”

I grinned. “That’s brilliant.”

Her eyes narrowed on mine. “Do you really think so?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “Everybody wins. They have the opportunity to get some money for the stuff they’re already making, and you get more foot traffic with friends, family, and neighbors coming in to see what’s new. They’re your target market, right? The people in your own neighborhood? And the best part of it is that it doesn’t cost you anything except a bit of time to organize it.”

Her smile widened in a way that was captivating to watch, starting at her mouth and slowly spreading all the way up to her eyes. “So you honestly think it could work?”

“People are big on buying local these days,” I said slowly. “If they can afford it, that is. I think it’s safe to say that most people would prefer to support local, but it needs to be as easy as possible for them, and costs need to be kept as low as possible. You could become a one-stop, go-to place for local finds without having to spend a lot of money you’d have to recoup somehow, so yes. I honestly think it could work.”

She blinked rapidly a few times, but I could practically see excitement suddenly brimming in her eyes. “Okay. Wow. I didn’t think about it like that, but you’re right. People do love that kind of vibe nowadays and I’ve already got the space. Word of mouth should take care of most of the marketing if I can connect with enough locals about selling their products.”

“See?” I smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “You don’t need saving. You just needed a spark.”

She leaned forward and kissed me, soft, grateful, and warm enough to make me forget every sensible thing I’d ever known. When she finally pulled back, she was smiling again. “I should go. I want to write some of this down before I forget it and maybe start making some phone calls.”

“Are you really running off right now?” I teased. “That’s not much motivation to encourage your ideas next time. You really are becoming a ruthless businesswoman.”

She laughed. “Careful. I might just like the sound of that enough to consider actually becoming one.”

After another chaste kiss, she slipped out of bed, gathering her things, and I watched her move through the room like she belonged there. She disappeared into my adjoining bathroom and I rolled out of bed, grabbing a pair of sweats from my dresser and pulling them on.

Part of me wished she would stay, but I knew exactly how she was feeling right now. That urgency and excitement of a great new idea that made you feel like you were going to spontaneously combust if you didn’t get working on it immediately.

I’d felt it a few times myself and I knew better than to get in the way of that, especially when it came with as much passion as she and I had. When she emerged from the bathroom, I walked her to the door, laid another long, lingering kiss on her lips, and then forced myself to say goodbye.

“Good luck,” I murmured after I’d pulled away. “Call me if you need help or if you’d like to brainstorm. I’ll just be here, drinking alone while you plan neighborhood domination.”

She chuckled. “I like the sound of that, too. Not you drinking alone, but neighborhood domination. I’ll see you in class. Don’t drink too much.”

I pumped my eyebrows at her. “I won’t make any promises I can’t keep. Good night, Ella.”

“Good night, Professor.” She winked at me and then took off down the hall with her hips swaying and a definite pep in her step.

After she left, I went back inside but the penthouse felt too quiet. Her perfume lingered faintly in the air, warm and sweet, and I just stood there, smiling like an idiot and staring at the closed door. I probably should’ve felt frustrated she’d left so soon, but instead, all I felt was happy.

Genuinely, stupidly happy.

She lit me up in a way I hadn’t realized I needed, and hell, if giving her a few bits of business advice had helped her even a little, that felt better than any win in the boardroom. Even better than the go-ahead on the Renewal Initiative from the board.

The truth was that I would’ve given her the money outright if she’d wanted it. It wouldn’t have even registered as a blip in my accounts, but that wasn’t who Ellora was. She didn’t want charity or shortcuts.

If I had come to learn anything about her, it was that she wanted to make her own way. On her own terms. And to me, that was the sexiest damn thing about her.

I ran a hand through my hair, still smiling like a fool. I’d do anything to keep that fire of hers burning bright, but the thought of how much she was starting to mean to me and how fast it was happening sent a chill straight through that warmth.

The feelings I was developing for Ellora Kinney scared the living hell out of me, and yet, I already knew I was going to keep coming back for more.