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“I do want more than that,” he said firmly, hope rising within him. Damn, Sheridan was pretty good with the inspirational speech. He wondered if Jared gave her pointers.
“Good. I figured you did. Trust me, I understand her
. She needs a man as strong as she is. All those wimpy guys she dated in the past, they weren’t worthy of her,” Sheridan said.
He couldn’t stand the thought of Willow with any dude, wimpy or not. “You’re damn right they weren’t.”
Sheridan actually giggled. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. And know that I’m in your corner, cheering you on.”
“Hey Sheridan?”
“Yeah?”
“Tell your man he’s a lucky bastard.” Sheridan burst into laughter and Nick joined in with her. “And thank you.”
“Any time.”
Chapter Six
“It looks fabulous, Willow. I can’t believe how much you’ve done in such a short amount of time.” Sheridan glanced around the big room, surprise written all over her face. “I bet you’re so excited to start actually packaging everything in here. I know it’s been a pain, trying to manage your business in your house. Now you have so much space.”
Willow nodded enthusiastically, running her hand along one of the giant supply tables she’d recently had delivered. “I’m beyond excited. Tomorrow we start production. This weekend has been insane. Did I tell you? I worked a bachelorette party last night that was held in a suite at the Plaza, and I made what felt like a bazillion cotton candy cocktails. I have never seen so many crazed drunk women in one small room in all my life.”
It had been fun. So many women had asked for her business card, she’d almost run out. Her father had just asked her when she talked to him on the phone earlier this morning why she was the one who made the drinks. Couldn’t any old bartender do the same thing she was doing?
His words had felt like a personal insult. No. Not any old bartender could do what she did. She not only made the cotton candy from scratch, she made the drinks too. The business was hers. All hers. Besides, she didn’t have the money to hire out a huge staff to help her.
Yet.
Sheridan laughed. “Sounds like fun. What else did you do?”
“Did set-up in here all weekend.” True. Brought a little TV with her too so she could watch the Hawks game. They won. Nick scored one touchdown and almost made a second when someone from the opposing team shoved him, and he stepped out of bounds. He’d been angry. She saw it written all over his gorgeous face.
She’d watched him play in awe, forgetting all about the job she needed to do.
Like, you know, set up her business. Organize her entire future.
“It’s going to be so amazing. Have you thought of opening up the storefront as a venue on the weekends or maybe after hours? You can make it a small space for people to reserve for parties featuring your specialty cocktails. Maybe you can work with another catering company and have them bring horse d’oeuvres and stuff.” Sheridan clapped her hands together. “We need to schedule another girls night out at my studio! You can provide the cocktails, pass out business cards with the new address. Oh, that would be a great way for you to get new people over here.”
Sheridan ran classes and parties in her art studio, teaching people of all ages how to paint. Her class schedules had turned into an anticipated event when she announced them every month. She tried to hold a monthly girls night out, and Willow always provided her cotton candy signature cocktail.
Willow had thought about offering to work another girls night, but never felt right in out and out asking her friend. She knew Sheridan had a lot on her plate, especially lately, what with being newly married to a high profile football star.
She could almost relate, though her relationship with Nick was a little tricky. As in, they really didn’t have a relationship beyond seven more dates, the potential for a lot of arguing, and the delicious possibility of orgasms.
“I’d love to know what’s running through your mind at this very moment. You have a dreamy sort of look on your face,” Sheridan said, knocking Willow from her thoughts.
“Please.” Willow waved her hand, dismissing her friend’s statement. “Nothing special.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Looked like something special to me. Or someone.” Sheridan went to the big window that faced the parking lot of the shopping center, her back to Willow. “Have you seen Nick lately?”
Yes, I had him pinned against my door, kissing him before I kicked him, out and he left me a shaky, out-of-breath mess. Why do you ask?
“Beyond our first date, no,” Willow said carefully. “He’s been sort of busy, what with that game he just played earlier today.” It was late Sunday afternoon and they were playing out of town. How in the world could she have seen Nick lately?
“You never did tell me how that went. Did he take you to Jared’s favorite pizza place?”
“Um, he did.” She’d wondered if that had been a crock of shit but looked like Nick had been telling the truth.
