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  After breakfast he went home and started packing for his trip to Charlotte, still trying to convince himself that he made the right decision. He was almost there, until he turned on the television and caught a glimpse of a tearful Surry on the six o’clock news. The reporter had obviously just asked her a question as he’d turned to this station. The microphone had been shoved in Surry’s face. Maybe no one else noticed, but he took note of the tears on her eyelashes as she declared, “My business means everything to me. I would never jeopardize losing it by stealing from a former colleague.”

  Surry was going to be crucified in the media unless she did something to change the situation fast. She didn’t deserve what was being done to her. And Ian knew firsthand that once the media got hold of something, they wouldn’t let it go until they ruined the lives of everyone associated. He put a pair of pants in the suitcase and sat down on his bed, thinking about the pain he saw in Surry’s eyes as she talked about how much her business meant to her. Where did pain like that come from? Then he wondered if he was wrong about what he thought he saw in her eyes...maybe it had been passion for her business. Pain or passion, he wasn’t sure which, but he desperately wanted to find out.

  Making a quick decision, Ian grabbed his keys and drove to Westheimer Road. He’d received an invitation to the grand opening of Designs from the Motherland from Ryla. Ian had been out of town handling some business in Washington so he hadn’t been able to make the opening. But he’d kept the invitation and therefore had the address.

  Her shop was exactly twenty-seven minutes away from his condo. He parked next to the cute little Mercedes he’d seen her drive off in the other day and stepped out of his Range Rover.

  Walking toward her store, Ian noticed smiling customers walking from one shop to another with their purchases. The area was vibrant and active. This was a good spot for business. Ian was admiring Surry’s business savvy as he watched her ring up a customer. At the front of the store he couldn’t hear what the customer said to her, but he could see Surry lean her head back and give a full-throated laugh. He could spend a lifetime with a woman who laughed like that.

  Surry handed the customer her bag, and as she walked away, Ian stepped over, put his hands on the counter and asked, “Why does it matter to you so much?”

  “Why does what matter to me?”

  He waved a hand around, indicating the building they were standing in. “Your business...I saw you on the news this evening, and I remembered the way you looked in my office the other day. This whole thing has hit you really hard, and I want to know why you’re letting it get to you like this.”

  Averting her eyes, staring at the cash register rather than Ian, she said, “My business means a lot to me. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. And it just bugs me that someone can lie on me, and I can’t even fight back.”

  “Of course you can fight back. Why do you think I’m here?”

  “I don’t know why you’re here, because the last I heard, you have a plane to catch. So, just go away and let me figure out how to deal with John Michael on my own. I never should have bothered you in the first place.”

  “You are infuriating and stubborn, Surry McDaniel.” He walked behind the counter and pulled her close to him. “You need to understand that I don’t want to leave town without you.” She was so close that he was inhaling the vanilla scent of her perfume. He didn’t know why, but that sweet, welcoming fragrance made him want to put his face in the crook of her neck and sniff her like a lovesick pup.

  “You have to leave,” Surry was saying. “You have an important client and I can’t stand in the way of that, no matter how dire my situation has become.”

  “I want you to go with me.”

  Surry stepped around Ian and sat down at the table in the back of her boutique. Ian followed her, and she said, “What are you thinking, Ian? I can’t just pick up and leave town with you.”

  He pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. “Why not? Things aren’t going so good for you here.”

  “I have a business to run, if you hadn’t noticed.” Surry stretched forth her hand, indicating the things that were in her boutique.

  “You won’t have much of a business to run if the media start crucifying you. We have a limited amount of time to turn this situation around. And I can’t repair your image and provide damage control unless I spend some time figuring out who you really are and what makes you tick.”

  “And just like that—” she snapped her fingers “—my problems will be over.”

  “Well, not like that.” He mimicked her finger snapping. “I also plan to find out as much about your rival as possible. If we can dig up enough dirt on him, we’ll be able to change his tune pretty quick.” Ian might not know fashion, but he knew mankind. And in politics, avoiding scandal was the name of the game. So, if this John Michael had skeletons, he planned to find them.

  “Oh, it’s ‘we’ now, is it?”

  “Excuse me?” He was caught off guard by her attitude.

  “When I came to you yesterday, you said you wouldn’t be able to help me. Now you’re sitting here making all these plans, even though you have a very important client to handle. So, I just want to know what gives. What’s in it for you?”

  This woman was so stubborn. Ian almost got up and walked back out the door. He had a life and really didn’t need this right now. But the truth was, he knew that she needed him, whether she wanted to admit it or not. “I want to help you, Surry. But I’m scheduled to get on a plane first thing Monday morning. So, if you want the help, you’ll have to travel with me so I can figure out how we’ll fix this mess you’ve stepped in.”

  She leaned back in her chair and stared at him.

  It felt as if those hazel eyes were seeing into his soul. Ian squirmed in his seat a bit. “What’s with all the staring? Do I have food in my teeth or something?”

  “I can’t date you.”

  Ian looked around the room and then back at Surry. “Who asked you out?”

  “You did—” she pointed at him “—you big goof. And now you’re asking me to go out of town with you. I just don’t want you getting the wrong impression.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I like my women a lot less obstinate than you are. I’m over you.” He lifted his hand like a man standing before a judge and pledging to tell the truth, and then he winked.

  “I’m serious, Ian. Men are always acting as if they understand my reasons for not wanting a relationship, but everything changes after a few dates.”

  He put his elbows on the table and leaned in. “So, men just can’t resist you, huh?”

  “That’s not what I said.” She lifted a finger and then continued. “Men don’t like the word no, and they will chase after any woman who’s not chasing after them.”

  Ian chuckled. “Is that right?”

  “You know I’m right.”

  Ian stood and pulled the keys out of his pocket. “Well, the offer stands. We can even get separate rooms.” He started walking away and then turned back and added, “Let me know by tomorrow and I’ll book you on the flight with me.”

  * * *

  After church, Surry, Danetta and Ryla went to a café for brunch. Surry ordered the fresh fruit platter with low-fat yogurt and a small coffee cake.

  Danetta smiled at the server as she said, “I’ll take the full breakfast.”

  Ryla licked her lips and set her menu down. “That sounds fab. I’ll have what Danetta’s having.”

  Surry gave her friends a curious look. The three of them always got the fruit platter with yogurt for breakfast, unless one of them had a taste for a waffle with strawberries. But on no occasion had any of them decided to inhale eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes and fruit. Danetta used to eat a whole pan of brownies and a gallon of ice cream whenever Marshall started datin
g a new woman. But those days were over. She and Marshall were now married. Surry handed her menu to the server and asked her friends, “What gives? Why are you two ordering enough food to feed a family of five?”

  “I just seem to be extra hungry these days,” Danetta said with a devious grin.

  Ryla lightly punched Danetta’s arm. “Stop playing. Let’s tell her.”

  With an eyebrow lifted, Surry asked, “Are my two best friends...or shall I say, my two only friends, keeping secrets from me?”

  “No, girl. We just found out yesterday.”

  Surry gave them a look that said “spill it.”

  “Well, Ryla went to the doctor yesterday,” Danetta began.

  “And when I told Danetta what the doctor said, she said she just had this weird feeling that something was up with her also. So she purchased a test, and wouldn’t you know, she passed it.”

  “What are you two talking about?” Surry demanded.

  “We’re pregnant,” the two said in unison.

  She should have known this day would come, but honestly, Surry was shocked.

  “Well, say something, girl,” Ryla demanded.

  The waitress brought their drinks to the table and set a glass of orange juice in front of Surry and Danetta and then handed Ryla a glass of apple juice. Surry lifted her orange juice and toasted her friends. “Congratulations to both of you. Noel and Marshall must be over the moon.”

  “They’re excited, all right. Marshall already went out and bought cigars.” Danetta laughed.

  “And having the kids at the same time is going to be wonderful, because they will be able to do play dates together,” Surry said.

  “We just need one more baby for the play date to be complete,” Danetta said with a pointed stare at Surry.

  Shaking her hands vigorously, Surry said, “Don’t look at me. I don’t have time for a man or a baby. But I’ll tell you what Aunty Surry can do. I’ll design them some baby clothes.”

  “Oh, Surry, that’s awesome! I’m picturing a whole new line of sleek and stylish Designs from the Motherland for babies.”

  Surry held up a hand. “Hold on there, Ryla. I was just talking about a few outfits for Danetta’s and your babies. I have way too much on my plate to work on a kids’ line. If this new contract goes through, I will be working night and day finalizing everything.”

  “Why are you even allowing if in your mouth? That is such a negative and faithless word. You need to take back your power on that one,” Danetta said.

  “Everybody can’t walk on water, Danetta. Some of us normal human beings sink when we try that stuff.” In the past year, Danetta had been such a powerhouse of faith that she didn’t doubt God on anything. Surry was having a little more trouble. Her business was all she had, and if she lost it, she had nothing. She’d be just another loser added to the long line of losers in the McDaniel family.

  “Did you call Ian like I suggested?” Ryla asked as she accepted her platter of eggs, bacon and hash browns from the waitress. The waitress then set a smaller plate of pancakes and a bowl of grits in front of Ryla.

  Surry picked up her fork as her platter of fruit and low-fat yogurt was set in front of her. “Yes, I contacted Ian. I even went to his office and spoke with him face-to-face.”

  Danetta received her food.

  “What did he say?” Ryla pressed. “Can he help you?”

  She hesitated and then said, “He would like to help me, but he has to be out of town for the next week or so, and then he’s going to be bogged down with the work he’ll have to do for his new client.”

  Talking between bites, Ryla said, “But he told you he’d make time for you, right?”

  “Yeah, if I decide to go out of town with him. But I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Surry bit into her pineapples and watermelon, loving the refreshing taste of the fruit. She looked over and watched as her friends gorged on carbs and fat. It was almost too much for her to watch. She pointed at their plates. “If you keep eating like this, you’ll be too big to fit in the delivery room.”

  “Hush up, Surry. Just let me enjoy this for a week or two.” Ryla inhaled more of her food and then added, “How many times in life does God bless us with excuses to eat like pigs? And anyway, you’re just trying to change the subject.”

  “Yeah,” Danetta agreed, using her fork to point in Surry’s direction. “You’re attracted to Ian. That’s why you don’t want to go out of town with him.”

  “Oh, please,” Surry scoffed. “Ian is the one with the attraction problem. But I have told him that I have no time in my life for a relationship.”

  “Why don’t you make time, Surry? What is so wrong with sharing your life with a man who makes you happy?” Ryla asked.

  “Marriage and kids is something the two of you wanted. But I’m not wired that way. I would sooner curl up with my pillow and the knowledge that my business is a success than waste time cultivating some relationship that’s doomed to fail from day one anyway.”

  Shaking a finger at her, Danetta admonished, “Oh ye of little faith. How can you just count yourself out like that?”

  “Or—” Ryla squinted as she stared at Surry “—maybe Surry is so attracted to Ian—I mean, who wouldn’t be, the man is gorgeous—that she can’t stand to be alone with him. She’d even risk losing the business she claims to love so much if it means that she has to be in the same room with Ian.”

  “That’s not fair, Ryla. I would do anything to save my business. I’m just not so sure about Ian’s motives is all.”

  “What do you care about his motives? If he makes a move, just tell him that you’re not interested and then accept all the help he can give you. This is about your business.” Ryla knocked on the table and then used her knuckles to place a few light taps on Surry’s head. “You know, the one that’s in trouble at the moment.”

  “Bad press can do irreparable damage to a business, Surry. You don’t want this thing to linger,” Danetta said.

  Ryla was right and so was Danetta. It was time for action. All Surry had ever wanted was her business, and now that it was being threatened, she needed to do whatever was necessary to save it. After all, if her business failed, there would be nothing else for her to fall back on. She wasn’t like her friends. She didn’t have a husband and children to look forward to.

  All Surry had ever planned for was to be a success. She only hoped that in years to come, she wouldn’t look back and wonder if she’d made the right decision.

  Chapter 4

  Surry called one of her staff members the moment she got into the car heading home. She wanted to check and see if her assistant manager would be able to cover her at the boutique for a week. When Brenda Ann answered the phone, she said, “Hey, I just wanted to check in and see how things are going at the boutique.”

  “Things are going really well. The customers are happy with the selections we have on the floor. And Sherry showed up on time for her shift, so I’m good.”

  “I think you’re on the schedule every day this week, right?”

  “Yep, sure am.”

  “I might have to leave town for a few days. Do you think you can handle the boutique on your own?”

  “Child, I’ve been working in retail for thirty years. If I can’t handle a few days on my own, I need to throw in the towel.”

  Surry laughed. “Okay, Brenda Ann. I appreciate your willingness to help out. I’ll see you in a few days.”

  “I’ll call and give you a report every evening.”

  “That will work. Thanks.”

  Once she had someone to stand in for her, she called Ian.

  When he picked up the phone, she said, “I’ll go.”

  “Well, hello, Ms. Surry McDaniel. I’m doing well. How are things going with you?”

  She sm
iled. Ian was crazy. “Okay, sorry about that. I obviously wasn’t raised right.”

  “Don’t blame your parents for your bad manners,” Ian said good-naturedly.

  Surry was in no mood to discuss her parents, so she simply asked, “How are you, Ian?”

  “Doing good. Just finished packing and I was getting ready to fix myself a steak for dinner.”

  “I just finished having brunch with Danetta and Ryla.”

  “Oh, really? Did Ryla tell you the good news?”

  Surry wasn’t sure how she felt about Ian knowing Ryla’s good news before she did. But Noel and Ian were friends, so she could understand that Noel would want to tell someone about the baby. “I got a double dose of good news today. Not only is Ryla pregnant, but our friend Danetta found out that she is pregnant, as well. I couldn’t believe it. But they are very happy.”

  “What does that make you, an auntie or a godmother?”

  Surry thought about her friends for a moment and instantly knew how it would play out. She said, “Ryla will most likely make Danetta her baby’s godmother and I’ll become the godmother to Danetta’s baby.”

  “So does that mean Ryla is out of the godmother business until you settle down and have a baby?”

  “Don’t you start that crazy talk, too. How many times do I have to say that I am happy with my career and don’t need anything else to fulfill me. I’m a woman with a plan that does not include a man and a bunch of babies.”

  “If you say so,” Ian said in a disinterested voice. “Let me get off the phone so I can book your flight and I’ll give you a call back with the details.”

  “No!” Surry yelled.

  “No, what?”

  “I don’t want you paying for my ticket, or my hotel room for that matter. So, just give me the flight number and I’ll book my own flight.”

  Ian chuckled.

  “Why do you keep laughing at me?”