Love Came Back (a Pyro-Princess Design and Style novel Book 1) (18 page)

30

To the Nines

..::Siddaleigh::..

New location?

“Konner, what have you done?”

I couldn’t for the life of me, believe he was actually going to build me a boutique! My very own, not in a mall, but an actual boutique. I felt shocked and pissed off and excitedly happy all at once. How can one man be so generous and so surprising?

“Be ready by six, babe,” he looked down at his watch, then back to me,” That gives you about six and a half hours to get yourself ready for me.” He bent down, kissed the hollow of my neck and whispered, “Wear a dress. No hose. I love you,
binneas
.”

He left with Nathan and the promise of later. He was going to run some errands for his uncle and get with his dad about the location for my store. He waited until he was about to leave to put on a shirt too. That scallywag. Made me hot and flustered throughout the whole discussion. Paybacks are a bitch. He’ll get his tonight, when he sees me.

Candace, Koralen, and Cammy left quickly with smiles of reassurance. Now that they knew they didn’t have to look for another job, they felt better knowing they were secured. Konner just told them to think of this as a long vacation with pay. Cammy was going to take Damien to her parents for an extended visit. Koralen said she would be in the area if I needed any help and Candace promised to get with me and Mags later about adding her designs to the store.

That left Callie and Mags with me.

“What?”

“So he’s finally going to take you out on a date?” Mags did not have a filter sometimes.

“Yes, it’s our official first date.” I looked at them in excitement.

“Good, let’s go and get primped! I haven’t had a mani-pedi in a long ass time. This is gonna be fun. We’ll all go, then come back here and help get you ready. I know exactly what you’re thinking of wearing, too.” Callie preened as if I was a teenager getting ready for her prom night.

“Yes, I plan on wearing the purple 50’s style swinger dress I designed a while back. I’m gonna look hot! Yes, I want a mani-pedi, a facial and a wax,” I said as I wiggled my eyebrows at them.

The wax wasn’t going to be where anyone besides Konner would see. I smirked at the naughtiness of my thoughts.

“I don’t know if I have any accessories with it though. So a little shopping for that. I have the perfect heels already. I want to blow him away.”

I never really cared for my self-image. Yeah, go figure right? A fashion designer who doesn’t care about image. I haven’t, though, it just didn’t seem important. Especially since Mikhail. I had realized I was beautiful the way I was. I wasn’t fat, but I wasn’t by no means thin. I’m a solid size fourteen, if I’m lucky, sometimes a twelve but I couldn’t be happier. My sisters were about my size and/or a size bigger. The youngest of three girls, I wanted to design clothes that flattered and flaunted with elegance, not trash. Some bigger women try and pull off wearing cute clothes made for thinner people but with a larger size tag and it only made them look chunkier. My line was meant to present full figured women with a sexy, sleek and just a bit scandalous look.

At good affordable prices. I’ve walked into the big brand-line stores and I some tops were easily over thirty dollars. For women who have a budget or can’t afford to buy better fitting clothes each season of the year but want to, they come to my store. I couldn’t be happier, of course. That was a plus about having a store at the mall. People milling around and window shopping, then finally venturing in. I wanted my customers to enjoy what they were wearing. What made them feel sexy and beautiful without looking slutty and slumpish. A little sluttish is great but not skin tight like leather and all the extra flesh there for all to see. Lord, getting off topic here.

I wanted to knock Konner’s socks off. He’s never seen me at my absolute best. Even last night I was working my tail off so I just looked nice. It was a sexy get up to wow everyone else, not solely for Konner.

Mags, Callie and I left together in my Mustang and I drove the ten miles to one of the best nail salons in Houston. I got the wax first. Hurt like a mother for a good minute, or five. Beauty had a price. Konner was definitely worth it.

I had always liked being clean and bare down there ever since the first time I tried it. I guess after reading all those romance books and the heroines being that way made me try it one day. I was curious. I shaved, never waxed though. It wasn’t like anyone had ever been down there. Mikhail thought it was ‘unhygienic’. Konner did it the first night we were together and he loved it. Loved seeing my arousal coating my flesh and it hadn’t mattered if I shaved. He just dived in there with gusto and lust.

This time, I wanted to be perfectly stripped of any stubble. Smooth and sexy is how it made me feel. When I wore under clothes it would feel so silky soft.

Mags absolutely refused to try it.

Callie on the other hand said “What the hell, only live once, right.” And got herself only a trim bikini wax. The yelp that came from her made not only me laugh, but Mags burst out in hysterics.

“Y’all are idiots for doing that. Callie, you’re crazy for trying. Sids, you don’t need to get all fancy for a man.”

I knew what to expect, so I only winced every time the strip came off.

“Mags, my wonderful bestie. This isn’t really all for Konner. Trust me, I’ll get you to do it one day when a guy goes to your ‘sacred place’ and loves on it. I’ve always used a razor, but a wax makes it so much better sometimes. Besides, I want to feel the sexiest I’ve ever felt for him. He is worth all this silly primping, okay? I promise.”

Mags shook her head once and then nodded in acquiescence. Then I heard a mumbled barely there, “Sure, whatever.” Her voice sounded unsure and not quite steady. I knew she really hadn’t dated much in college. I didn’t think she was a virgin then but come to think about it, I never remember her mentioning dating or kissing or anything that involved a guy.

She never really talked about her internship overseas. She was there for just under nine months. After coming back here for the show, she had told me she was staying. She didn’t want to stay there anymore. She hadn’t made any lasting friends and she was terribly homesick. She figured she learned everything she needed and since her designs were already showcased in my store, she felt she had what she truly wanted.

She didn’t need the money, since she came from it but shoe designing was her great passion. That and she said she wanted to stay closer to home so she could be a better friend. Whatever she meant by that, I didn’t know. I thought she was the perfect bestie. The time when Konner and I were in what I called my “foot in mouth” hiatus, she was with me. There for me and she never mentioned a guy or anything.

When Callie and I finished, the three of us proceeded to get our nails done. I did mine in a deep purple that would match my theme perfectly with a white flower design and a diamond gem in the center on my middle fingers. Callie got black French tips with red diamond gems in the corners and Mags got an emerald color with a white leaf design on her thumbs. Then, we got a full out massage and scrub pedicure and got matching nail polish on our toes. After getting buffed, scrubbed, massaged and polished, we got facials.

Never had a facial before and afterwards, I felt like I was a brand new woman. The girls agreed.

“Maybe we should get together and do this every once in a while. I feel like a shiny new pair of shoes.”

“Geez, Callie. I think that’s a compliment.” Mags laughed and agreed with her. “It really does. I don’t think my face has ever felt so effing clean.”

We walked down the small strip center to an Orange Leaf, a fro-yo joint and talked over some yummy yogurt that didn’t taste like yogurt at all. I hated yogurt with a passion. Never ate it because the few times I did, it left an after taste that I hated. Like Diet Coke. Loved Coke every once in a while but DC? No way. Yogurt? The same way. Callie persuaded me to try some flavors, I tried chocolate. Hmmm…not bad. Cotton Candy? Yummy-nums. Birthday Cake flavor? OMG! Best taste ever! I also indulged in the confetti waffle cone that you could chose to get in the cup. Delicious.

“You so didn’t know what you were missing girlfriend.” Mags said with a mouthful of the stuff and continued to eat until she was finished. After the tasty snack we sat in the little couches and just chatted about life for a bit.

Mags talked about how she was ready to start looking for a place so she wouldn’t be a crutch to me. I didn’t really understand what that meant either, but she wanted to live on her own two feet and start ‘living’. I figured since Konner and I had gotten engaged, she wanted to give us alone time. I told her it didn’t bother me. We could always just go to his place but she was adamant. There was no changing her mind once it’s made up.

Callie was then telling us about how the detectives on her case still couldn’t find any leads on her daughter. I remembered when she first moved here a year ago because her year old daughter, Aurora, was kidnapped. Callie knew she’d find her one day.

She worked, and tried whatever she could to get word out there about Aurora or where she could be. They had lived in NOLA and when the leads led to Houston, Callie packed up everything she owned and moved down here. I was getting everything ready to open the shop and she had nowhere to go so I got her to stay with me. I told her she could manage the store, since Mags was only a private investor and only wanted her designs sold. We came to an agreement and after two months of PPDS opening, she got into a little rinky dink apartment.

When I moved into the loft, I invited her to live with me, but she declined. I understood her need to be independent. So I left it alone.

“So do you know Detective Hindrons?” I asked because the previous night, he couldn’t stop looking back at her any time throughout the ordeal.

“No, I’ve never officially met him. He isn’t on missing kids. But I’ve sometimes caused a scene in the earlier days. I am almost ready to give up hope. It’s been over a year since her disappearance. She just turned two in August.”

“Callie, they’ll find her.” I kept hope for my friend. That little girl was her life. When I lost my boy, I learned to cope because I didn’t know what he looked like, or never held him. I imagined it was ten times worse knowing the life you brought into this world and it was taken away from you.

Callie just smiled solemnly at us and Mags blessedly changed the subject.

“I can’t wait to get you all dolled up. Let’s finish getting some accessories and get back to your place.”

We shopped at the mall and got beautiful pieces of jewelry. We drove back to my place and it was already four in the afternoon. I took my time in the shower, I made myself shine by washing my body and hair twice. Getting out, I massaged lotion deep into my skin and rubbed lavender oil on the folds of my vagina until it was silky smooth. Placing a towel around myself and one wrapped in my hair, I exited the bathroom and made my way to my bedroom where the girls awaited me.

31

A Man with a Plan

..::Konner::..

After running a few errands for my uncle, I went to go visit my parents. It’s been a few days since I visited and it was lunch time. I knew mother would have something on the stove. I didn’t bother knocking, knowing my mother would have a kitten about me thinking I needed to be formal. I heard my Uncle Braedon and Lucan, my cousin, in the dining area along with my dad’s voice.

“Where’s the party?”

“Konner, my boy. Come in and join us for a spell.” Hearing my mother’s voice always brought a quick smile to my face. Whereas my accent faded a bit, theirs, along with my uncle, was thick as it ever was.

I sat down where she immediately put a plate of delicious food in front of me.

“Dad, we need to talk.” I said around a mouth full and my mother clipped me in the back of the head with a swift hand.

“Manners, Konner!”

My da just laughed and pulled her into his lap.

“Love, leave the boy be. Can’t you tell he’s in love?” Chuckling and holding onto my mother was always a happy sight to see. I wanted that in my life and now that I had Siddaleigh, it would happen.

“That strip the company is trying to sell in Houston? I want it. The whole thing.”

The shock on my family’s face was priceless.

“That strip has four or five properties, Konner. What are you wanting with so much?” Da asked.

“I plan on making my girls dream come true. Her bastard of an ex somehow burned down the store she owned. I want it so she could make her own shop. Brianne is almost done with school, so the second shop will be hers and we could add like a nails and massage parlor. One of the girls Sidda employs is going to school for massage therapy. We could demolish a wall and just make Sidda’s place bigger.”

My father stayed quiet and my uncle had a sneer in his expression, my cousin and mother just waited. My mother had a huge smile on her face and my cousin shook his head, and mouthed, ‘pussy whipped’. I just rolled my eye at that. Uncle Braedon just stared at me with speculation and that look of condemnation was adamant in his eyes.

“All that for some girl? That’s mighty extravagant. How old even is this chickie? Twenty-five? Konner, that’s a baby. You’re almost a decade older than she is.” Uncle Bray smirked at the idea of me wanting to give a girl something so massive. The comment of age made my back teeth clench because it was a snide comment. He meant it in a condescending way. I was not the only one who tensed.

The other two males in the room had stiffened as well. The mother of Lucan’s daughter was seven years younger, and my mother was ten years my da’s junior. Although Lucan’s relationship didn’t work out because she didn’t want to be a mother, that hadn’t soured Braedon’s thoughts before.

So when my voice turned hard as granite, not even my mother said anything. “She’s my everything. I was put on this earth to make her dreams come true. She is mine and has given her heart to me willingly. I already talked to da about it. She’s not ‘some girl’. Don’t make the mistake of cutting her. She means more to me than anything this world has to offer. Cut her again and you will not like what the retaliation-”

“Konner, don’t. Dad, please. I believe you’ve just been told.” Lucan got up, settled his Stetson on his head, and moved to kiss my mother’s cheek, “Aunt. Gentlemen.” He stormed out of the house and I heard his Harley roar before hearing it fade.

“Ailey, luv, could you being me a cup o’ coffee,
binneas
?”

My mother nodded and walked away. This was a subject my father and uncle never agreed on. Their marriage. He was five years older than my da and still tried to make subtly rude comments.

“Listen Braedon, ye are my brother and I love ye but don’t put you’re failed bullshit of a marriage on me and mine. Konner is a smart boy and when he knows,
he knows
. Ye weren’t supposed to marry that Mary, Bray. Ye loved that sweet wee girl, Merida. Remember? She followed ye everywhere. Ye ken that but still married Mary anyway because she was your age and had money. She was a social climber. The only bloody thing you got from her is a good son. Lucan is a good man. I ken when I met Ailey she was the one. Just as my boy knows. Everyone in our family married for love except you. You did it for money and connections. Your greed doesn’t become you brother mine. It only makes you bitter.”

My father always knew how to keep his brother’s mouth shut. He turned to me and continued. “We better meet this girl and soon, son. I know the look in your eyes when you’ve spoken about her. She’s you’re heart and soul. Take the property and have the company do whatever needs to be done. It’s yours to do as you please.”

When a gift is presented to you, be grateful. They are few and far between. In this family, you had to earn everything you receive. If you didn’t or couldn’t earn it, it wasn’t meant to be yours.

“Thanks, da. Siddaleigh means the world to me.”

My uncle snickered, got up and stomped away. The dark cloud that hovered over him went away too. Hearing the front door slam, my mother whisked her way back into the dining room.

“Athair, wait until you meet her. She’s fire and passion and is so strong after everything she’s been through. It’s like a burning flame, racing’ through my veins. I dinna ever think I’d see her again. Now that I’ve found her, I won’t lose her again. If that means using every cent I’ve ever made on making her dreams come to life, then so be it. She’s worth giving up the stars for. The part of my soul that was missing is full once again.”

Sitting down next to my da, my mother gave me a sweet smile.

“Konner, I am so happy ye’re planning to settle down. Isn’t this the girl you told us about before? That was such a long time ago. Fate brought the two of ye together not once but twice. I am so happy for ye, luv. I canna wait to meet her. Before yer birthday, we are having that family bar-b-q. That would be a perfect time for her to come meet us and the rest of the crazy family.” With this, my mother and father laughed heartily.

Calling the family crazy was not how I wanted Sidda to think of the family but it is what it is. Now that I had cart blanche on the property, I knew Siddaleigh would like to fix it how she always dreamed.

“Alright, I know she’ll love to. I’m finally able to take her out on a real date, so I need to get going and get ready. Thank you, I know hearing what uncle Bray said isn’t easy and I’m sorry he tried to make a scene. That was not-.” Da cut me off with the front of his palm.

“You let me worry about my brother, son. He just doesn’t ken how to take what happened to him with grace. Mary was conniving and after having Lucan, she hated the sight of him and Bray. Despite the money Bray had. She left right before you were born. Don’t bury trouble. He’ll deal in his own time. Who ken what his future holds? You just remember that that girl is welcome in this home and this family. I donna ken what’s happened in her life and I hope ye don’ forget that it doesna matter to us. She is yers, therefore she is ours.”

“Konner, luv?”

My mother spoke as I was getting up. “Yes, máthair?”

“Always keep yer promises. No matter what. If this girl is yer one true love, then cherish every moment ye have with her.”

I walked over to her, picked her up in my arms and whispered, “Mother, with my life, she’s it.”

That statement was a promise I’d take to the grave. I’d kill for her; I’d die for her. Most of all, I’ll live for her.

“I ken ye well, my son. Be happy. Bring her home.”

With that, I said my goodbyes. I had an hour and a half to kill. While her ex was still on the loose I knew this date could wait until he’s caught, but Siddaleigh deserved to go out and not have to worry about anything. I’m going to show my girl how to have a real good time.