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“Why did I agree to this?” complained Delaney, hating how whiney she sounded.
“Look at it this way—you’ll be able to line up new contracts and then you can split your time between sitting at and drawing on your beloved antique drafting board and hiking the Cascades. Come on, let me fix your hair and makeup, and we’ll get you into the dress…”
“I don’t have shoes…”
“I bought shoes to go with…” Lucy was eyeing her speculatively with what Delaney referred to as her ‘don’t make me put you in a headlock’ look.
Knowing when she was beaten, Delaney plopped down in front of the vintage vanity and allowed her sister to work her magic. Delaney had to admit when she looked up into the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Lucy was a magician.
Lucy tossed pantyhose her way, which Delaney obligingly put on. Next came shoes and a half slip, and then Lucy helped her into the dress, making Delaney face away from the mirror until she had her in the dress and everything put in place. Grasping her by her upper arms, Lucy spun Delaney around so she could see herself in the mirror.
“Lucy, oh my god, I actually look kind of okay,” Delaney finished lamely.
Lucy responded by slapping her sister’s arm. “You don’t look ‘kind of okay.’ You look like the sexy, gorgeous woman who has been dying to get out.”
Delaney couldn’t suppress the slow grin that began to spread across her face as she reached up to gently tug a tendril of hair that had come loose. “You’re right. I look amazing, and it makes me feel like I could do anything. Maybe we need to take that shopping trip to create my wardrobe.”
“It’s a date,” Lucy said with a smile. “Now, come on. I arranged for a small limo to take you to and from…”
“You didn’t!”
“I most certainly did. You are not going to look this gorgeous and get out of your ratty Land Rover.”
“Don’t you talk bad about Dinty Moore—you’ll hurt his feelings.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Only you could name your vehicle ‘Dinty Moore.’ Regardless, the car and driver are waiting.” She led Delaney out the door. “Have fun. I’ll be here when you get back.”
Delaney kissed her sister. “Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Good thing you don’t have to worry about it.”
Delaney trotted down the outdoor steps of the craftsman four square home they shared, feeling a bit like Cinderella going to the ball.
Cascade Ballroom, Salish Coast Hotel
Edmonds, Washington
The night was actually going much better than she’d thought it would. A fancy reception still wasn’t her preferred cup of tea so to speak, but the award itself would look nice on a shelf in her office. She’d even managed not to trip going up or down the stairs to the dais when it was presented to her, and she hadn’t made a fool of herself with her acceptance speech. The mayor had been effusive in singing her praises, not only for the innovative design and systems, but her ability to bring the project in on time and on budget, for which she’d received a loud round of applause.
Lucy was so right. Delaney needed to revamp her office, legally sever the last of her ties to Mike, and embrace her future as a successful architect with a wardrobe that fit. Maybe she’d even buy a new vehicle. Oh, she’d keep Dinty to take camping and kayaking, but she needed something a little more presentable to show clients.
She felt as if she was poised on the edge of the abyss of something great. She knew there was a chance she might take a misstep and falter or fall, but there was an even greater chance she would be wildly successful. For years, she and Lucy had imagined becoming property developers. They’d proven, at least to themselves, what they could do by buying their craftsman four square and turning it from dump to dream. Lucy was taking the brokerage exam in two weeks. Delaney was beginning to believe the time was now.
She glanced around the room. It was filled with movers and shakers from all over the Pacific Northwest. People who could be the key to her and her sister being able to make all their wildest dreams a reality. Her speech had hinted at her plans and her willingness to take on new, larger, and more expensive projects.
She’d known when Mike had landed the deal that it would be an enormous job, but she hadn’t expected him to leave, resulting in Delaney being thrust into the limelight and left holding the proverbial bag. The biggest problem was she was no marketer and the idea of having to take all the meetings for her architectural firm was enough to make her want to run for the hills.
It was fine to expect Lucy to do most of the marketing for their property development projects, but Lucy had her own job to do. Even though Lucy, as the oldest, had always taken care of Delaney, acting more of a mother to her than their actual mother, Delaney knew she needed to stand on her own and quit hiding her insecurities behind others.
She needed some air. She stepped out onto the balcony and enjoyed the cool night air coming in from the seashore. She loved the ocean and the mountains, splitting her time between them. Delaney spent as much time as she could outdoors, either on the beach or in the wilderness. She slipped off her shoes and leaned along the rail with her back to the sea, looking into the room and watching as people milled around. In the far corner of the room stood a man who was literally the embodiment of the phrase ‘tall, dark, and handsome.’ He had broad shoulders and a gorgeous symmetrical face. Delaney tended to notice things like that as she was an architect. She often evaluated people’s looks in the same way she would a building. Some were aesthetically pleasing, while others just seemed off.
The man appeared to be alone and seemed to be watching the room—no one in particular as far as she could tell—glancing from one person to the next in no predetermined way. No, that wasn’t right. He kept eyeing one man in particular, although she couldn’t tell who as the man’s back was turned. The handsome stranger stared at the man, his eyes darting to others, but always coming back to rest on the one man. Delaney began to watch the man, as well.
When he turned, the face was immediately recognizable, Elron Whistler. Whistler was the head of Whistler Industries, a major tech company whose headquarters were in Bellevue, east of Seattle. There had been some widespread rumors circulating that the man wanted to build a new manufacturing site but was not looking to build anywhere in or near the ‘tech hub’ of King County.
Delaney glanced back at the brooding stranger who was now looking between her and Whistler—first at one and then at the other. She gave him a brief smile, which caused him to raise one eyebrow in sardonic acknowledgement that she was watching him. It couldn’t come as a surprise that a woman would stare. In addition to his good looks, the well-tailored tuxedo did more than just suggest there was a rugged, muscular physicality to the man.
Her attention had been drawn away from Whistler. Only when the stranger gave a brief nod in the tech giant’s direction did Delaney realize her mistake and her inability to do anything about it. Elron Whistler was heading in her direction. Scratch that; he was making a beeline for her. He reached the door from the ballroom to the balcony before Delaney could get away.
