Page 12 of You Had Me at Merlot

Leighton was prone to agree. Still, she had a dose of sadness about the loss of Bordeauxnuts as it currently existed. It was an uncomfortable pill she was trying to swallow and so unlike her. Why was this one business standing out in her mind over all the other businesses they’d have to displace to make this store a reality? “I think this one might be a tough sell. The owner seems to love her job and the bar.”

“Then let’s make sure we take care of her generously on the lease buyout. I trust your gut. Add it to your report. I’ll make sure Bryce signs off on it. We’re not heartless. I don’t ever want to be that.”

“On it.” She sighed and tried to shake herself out of the melancholy. “Hey, get to the city sometime soon so we can have fake birthday cake.” A throwback to when they were preteens and would save up their allowance to buy an entire birthday cake from the grocery store, lie on the floor, and eat it with two plastic forks while watching a movie marathon full of teen heartthrobs. Dammit. Those were the daysshe cherished. Life was simple, and everything felt possible. Now, she couldn’t even count on her date to spare a sliver of butter.

“I’m in! It’s on my schedule for next month. And God, I miss having fake birthday cake with you.” Courtney laughed.

“And don’t forget chocolate milkshakes for breakfast when the adults slept in.”

“We’re lucky we still have teeth,” Courtney said.

“I stand by the gamble. Grandma let us buy those cakes, knowing full well we’d attack them.”

Her cousin laughed again. “That’s why she was the greatest ever. Oh, damn. I’d love to chat longer, but I have a reporter calling in five.”

“A reporter? What’s that about, Ms. Sophistication?”

“It’s kinda cool, actually.The New York Timesis doing a piece on corporate succession within families and using me as the centerpiece example.”

Courtney had ascended the ranks of the Carrington corporate ladder over the years once her father had passed. She’d made impressive changes to the stores as well as the structure of the company. She’d spent time learning from the company’s top executives and eventually took the reins fully. Leighton continued to be in awe of Courtney’s instinct and prowess. “I can’t wait to read it. But yes, get outta here. We can catch up later.”

“Okay. Just understand that I’m smooching all over your face, and Maggie can’t wait to show you the new pool this summer. She’s in heaven imagining us in the warmer weather in chaise lounges. Love you tons. Please don’t work too hard.”

“A challenging request, but I’m holding her to that pool time. I love you back.”

Leighton ended the call, finished her day of work, and emerged from her office just after the afternoon fully faded into the evening rush hour. As congested as the city became, and despite how long it would take to get anywhere, it was her favorite time of day. Final deals were being made, last minute theatre tickets were being scored, and people from all walks of life made the mad dash to their evening destinations.

For Leighton, she’d head home to her apartment on the Upper East Side with the killer view and the really impressive ceilings. She’d paid a pretty penny for those. In addition to her salary at Carrington’s, she’d also inherited some family money on her mother’s side plus hermother’s Carrington shares. Money would likely never be an issue, but loneliness was, on occasion. She had friends, but no family nearby. Colleagues, but no significant other. Not even a dog to cuddle with because her work schedule would make it unfair. So for now, it was just Leighton, her apartment, and the career goals she’d set for herself. Life was a little less colorful than she’d imagined for herself at thirty-six, but she hoped there was still time to shade in the lines.

Was her person out there somewhere in this great big city? She hugged herself and looked to the stars, partially visible through the wisps of dark clouds.

She laughed off the thought and savored the view from her too-big apartment that seemed lost on just her, no one to share it with. She had standards, though, which was why her relationships never ended in a forever romance. Simple things mattered. For example, she valued true connection and thoughtful behavior. She grinned and sipped her freshly poured glass of merlot. Priorities mattered. So did butter sharing.

Chapter Three

“Gorgeous,” Jamie murmured to herself, clutch held nervously at her side. Her high heels were already chafing the backs of her feet, but she could ignore all that for the beauty of the space in front of her. The private room on the rooftop level of the Driskill Hotel was clearly designed to impress and did. With its floor-to-ceiling windows and opulent crystal chandelier, Jamie felt like she’d been dropped into a fairy tale as she arrived at the cocktail party in celebration of her friend Elise’s engagement. Sometime in the next year, Elise would become Mrs. Jeremy Turner and join all the other married people in the happily ever after club. She had seen much less of Elise since Jeremy had appeared on the scene, but that was okay. Her friend was happy, and that was the main goal. Tonight, they’d raise a glass in honor of the newly engaged couple in a setting that had turned out to be much fancier than she’d expected. Jamie’s eyes went wide as jumbo shrimp, lobster crostini, and brisket poppers were whisked around the room by astute servers along with trays of wine, every shade one could imagine. Oh, and what were those little cocktail glasses with sprigs of rosemary propped against the side of the glass? She’d have to investigate further. The foodie in her celebrated.

After taking in the scene, Jamie scanned the room for Clarissa, realizing quickly that she’d arrived first. That was okay. She chatted happily with the mutual friends she recognized, enjoying herself until the inevitable record scratch.

Jamie didn’t actively cringe when she crossed paths with too many people, but her ex-girlfriend Laurel Kippling made the top ofthe list. Unfortunately, they still ran into each other every so often, despite the size of the city. Symptom of sharing friends prior to the big, bad breakup. In their case, the relationship had ended over three years ago. Yet it was becoming clear that Laurel was likely going to be a permanent fixture in Jamie’s life simply due to social proximity.

As a plan of action, Jamie forced herself to forget about the ugly breakup, after which Laurel had immediately taken up with their good friend Lara and bought a damn Goldendoodle, the same breed Laurel knew Jamie had always adored. She’d gone on to flaunt the new relationship in Jamie’s face until it had thankfully ended, too. Laurel, with her overly highlighted blond hair and big green eyes, was an attention seeker who was often rewarded with throngs of it. She was likely on her fifth or sixth girlfriend since Jamie. But who could keep count? If anything, that circumstance should make Jamie feel better about the bullet she’d dodged. Nothing personal, right? Just another ex-girlfriend to Laurel, a number. Except Jamie walked away from every Laurel interaction feeling like a very small and undesirable insect. Laurel’s gift.

“Look! Jamie is here!” Laurel said, scurrying over and leaning in for an air-kiss. “Sweetheart, this is Jamie, um”—a pause—“Tolliver. Yes. Where is my mind these days?” She added a flippant laugh.

“Hi.” Jamie smiled at Laurel and her sweetheart du jour, refusing to wince at the name stumble that was in all likelihood an intentional mistake made to belittle. They’d lived together for a year and a half, and now Laurel couldn’t come up with her last name? Par for the Laurel course. “Nice to see you both.”

When she’d received the invitation to the engagement party, she’d known there was a likely chance of a Laurel sighting. She’d strategically selected her royal-blue fit-and-flare cocktail dress that showed off her shoulders, which Jamie was convinced were her one truly stellar feature outside of her smile, which she was proud of as well. “This is cute,” Laurel said, thumbing the fabric near her thigh.

“Thank you. Just something I picked up.”

“Jamie’s great with a sales rack,” Laurel told the sweetheart. Only the dress hadn’t come from one. Jamie had saved up for it. Another jab landed by Laurel.

Luckily, she had Clarissa arriving shortly for backup.Please hurry.She scanned the busy room for any sign of her best friend, who had a similar distaste for Laurel Kippling. Clarissa would quickly rescue her or go to battle in her honor. No sign of her yet.

“How do you know Laurel?” the stunning brunette sweetheart asked. She was about five inches taller and Jamie felt every damn one of them.

“Oh, we lived together a very long time ago.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com