Why Not Tonight (Happily Inc. #3)(63)

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but your office skills, while excellent, are not unique, and in that respect, you can be replaced. Atsuko is smart. She knows what’s going to happen. My guess is she’s more interested in you as an artist than you as her part-time office manager. Don’t forget she gets half. You’re worth a lot more to her out here than back in your office.”

“You think?”

“I know.” He kissed her, then turned her toward her work space. “You probably want to get back to what you were doing.”

“I do. I want to finish the wedding flowers and then start planning the piece for Atsuko. Yay me!”

She hugged Ronan, then gave herself exactly one minute to consider all the beautiful possibilities. Then she made herself focus on the job at hand. One thing at a time, she told herself. One magical thing at a time.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CAROL HOSTED THE next girlfriend lunch, which meant it was held out on the faux savanna. Natalie loved when they could sit on the ground and picnic while enjoying the light and heat of the sun. The animals grazed in the distance, and she appreciated that she had friends she could hang out with on a regular basis.

She’d had friends in school, of course, but after her mom had died, things had changed. She’d given up her art and had gotten a “real” job in an office. From there, she’d met Quentin and the rest was history. After settling in Happily Inc and making new friends, she’d realized that between her mom’s passing and getting engaged to Quentin, she’d let all her other friendships drift away. Maybe it had been because she was so sad or maybe it had been a symptom of losing herself. She wasn’t sure which but she vowed it would never happen again.

“How’s the new giraffe guy settling in?” Bethany asked as she passed out the sandwiches Carol had provided.

“He’s good. Already mingling with the girls. We’re going to wait until next year to take one of the girls off her birth control.”

“Millie should be first,” Silver said. “She has seniority.”

“That’s what I think, too,” Wynn added.

“I’ll take that into account.” Carol smiled at them. “So what’s new with everyone?”

“I saw Wynn and Jasper making out the other night,” Bethany said with a laugh. “Let’s talk about what a hot couple they make.”

“We’re not a couple,” Wynn said. “We’re just...”

“Having a lot of sex?” Pallas asked.

“Yes, but that’s all it is.” Wynn tucked her curly hair behind her ear. “Seriously. When Jasper and I first got together, I said Hunter was my priority. I wanted to keep things light and keep my son out of it.”

That sounded kind of off-putting to Natalie.

“Was he okay with that?” Bethany asked, sounding doubtful.

“He said he was fine with the rules,” Wynn told them. “I don’t want to worry about Hunter getting too attached before I know where things are going. So if Jasper is willing to keep things on the down low, I’m all in.”

The concept made sense, Natalie thought. In a way it was what she and Ronan were doing. Just hanging out with no expectation about the future. Only when she heard someone else describe the situation, it didn’t seem quite as appealing.

“You’re being sensible,” Pallas told her. “I admire that.”

Bethany leaned close to Natalie. “I so want to be her when I grow up.”

“Me, too.”

“Next subject,” Wynn said, eyeing them. “So, Silver, how’s it going with your trailers?”

Silver sipped her soda, then laughed. “That was subtle, but sure. Let’s talk about me. I’m still drooling over the two Airstreams I found. I’ve filled out two bank loan applications and now I wait to see what they say.” She looked at Bethany. “How’s life back in El Bahar?”

Bethany looked oddly guilty for a second before throwing herself back on the blanket and staring at the sky. “My parents are making me crazy,” she said dramatically. “It’s the marriage thing.”

“Which frequently comes after an engagement,” Natalie pointed out.

“I know, I know. I get it. There is the complication that my dad is who he is.”

“The king of El Bahar?” Silver asked. “Is that the problem?”

“Yes.” Bethany sat up. “Where do we have the wedding? How many millions of diplomats and the like get invited? How formal does it have to be before my mother starts worrying that we’re doing it wrong? It’s not just that I’m his only daughter, but my brothers are so much younger. It’s going to be years before we have another royal wedding. I keep thinking that eloping would be so much easier.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Pallas said lightly. “Even my brother has accepted the reality of who you are. Maybe it’s time for you to do the same.”

“Is Cade going to get a title when you’re married?” Natalie asked. “Will he be a prince or a duke or something?”

“A prince. At least, that’s the plan. It’s quite the delicate negotiation.”

Pallas sighed. “I’m so glad Nick and I ran away to Italy to get married. It was beautiful and perfect and I will treasure those memories always.”