Hitched (Hitched #1)(26)

"She said Grandma Gladys isn't doing well. She's back in the hospital. She wants us to come visit."

I make a very unladylike sound. "I'm not going back to Ohio just so that old nag can berate me for my life choices. Remember how she threatened to remove us from her will if we didn't move back to the country and do the whole family and kids thing?"

Tate nods. "Yeah, I remember. She was always a mean bitch. I can still feel the snap of the belt from her spankings when we were kids, and mom and dad forced us to spend a week of each summer with her."

"Where's social services when you need them?" I ask as we jog into our house, and I collapse into a sweaty mess on the couch. "So what did you tell mom?"

"That we are booked all summer, and we'll try to get out there, but no promises."

I nod in approval. "That should keep her off our backs for a while."

Tate presses the button on our answering machine to play the messages and then ambles into the kitchen and grabs two beers, tossing me one. I can't stand beer usually, but after a run, it's possibly the best thing in the world.

The first message is a telemarketer. I'd delete it, but I don't want to move that far, so we both just listen to the woman blabber on about the price of car insurance. The next message has me sitting up, hands clutching the couch anxiously.

"Ms. Michaels, this is David Melton's assistant. I'm calling to let you know that we received your gift basket and considered your ideas carefully. Mr. Melton was impressed and has asked that Hitched be put on the short list of companies we're considering for his bachelor party. We'll be in touch either way to let you know, but Mr. Melton was very excited by your proposal."

I'm clutching a throw pillow so hard it's about to burst, and once the message ends, I scream into it then jump up and start dancing around the house like a maniac. "I told you!" I tell Tate. "I told you my idea would work. We're a shoe-in!"

Tate smiles at me. "It's good news, but it's not a done deal. Don't count the chickens before they hatch."

"Okay, Mom. Look, he wouldn't have called us like that if it wasn't basically decided. Who else in town can provide what we're suggesting? I just know it's going to be us. Hitched is about to be famous!"

I'm still dancing around with my throw pillow, unwilling to let Tate's negative attitude pull me down, when the doorbell rings. Tate rolls his eyes and gets up to get the door, since I'm clearly not going to.

"Hey sis, I think it's for you." He comes back into the living room carrying a white box with a red ribbon.

I grin like the fool I am as he hands it to me, my energy climbing even higher. I eagerly open it, knowing it's from Sebastian.

Inside are some very sexy lingerie and a card.



A car will arrive to pick you up at 9 p.m.

Wear this under your clothes.

Bring an overnight bag.

Looking forward to “getting to know you better” tonight, Ms. Michaels.



Forever Yours,

Sebastian





Chapter 18


A Leap of Faith


I won't lie. Keeping my mind on work today has been hard. But I'm at least trying. Give me some credit, will ya?

Right now I'm with Vi, walking into the main office of Class A Skydiving, a local business that will hopefully be just what I need for my client, Joey. Because renting a tank didn't work out, at least not in Las Vegas. He took the news well and is now excited to jump out of airplanes. Men are easy.

I introduce myself to the receptionist, who buzzes the boss. When Carl Danton comes out, Vi raises an appreciative eyebrow at him, and I smile warmly. "I'm Kacie Michaels from Hitched. We spoke on the phone about doing a group skydiving for a party I'm planning. This is my associate, Vi Reynolds."

He shakes my hand and gives me a once over that I recognize. In the past his appraisal might have pulled some flirting out of me, but it seems my mind and body are Team Sebastian. I sigh mentally and get down to business.

"Let me give you ladies a tour of our place. We offer more than just skydiving. We have hot air balloons, exotic cars and helicopters. And we're more than happy to work with you on group events and rates."

I take in everything as he shows us their selection of cars, from Porsches to Lamborghinis to anything else you can imagine. A few helicopters are parked under the hanger, and everywhere people are bustling about, doing their job.

Mr. Danton is telling us about his safety measures when my phone buzzes. I pull it out and check my text, blushing as I read it.



Please tell me you're missing my cock as much as I'm missing your *.



What timing Dr. Donovan has. I glance at Vi, who, I can tell, knows exactly what's going on, then I bow my head and reply quickly.



You're interrupting a business meeting with all this naughtiness. And now my panties are wet, and my nipples are about to pop out of my blouse. I want you inside me. See you soon. And thank you for the gift.



It's hard to focus the rest of the tour, but I take notes, negotiate a price for their party and leave happy in the knowledge that we'll be able to provide our clients with what they want. I also realize that this company has just solved my problem of how to live up to my promises for the Melton party. I'm feeling giddy as everything starts to line up perfectly.