Bride 2 Be

Chapter 15--Surprises

Chapter Fifteen
Surprises



SOMETHING WAS GOING ON. Lisa could feel it in her gut as she drove the ten-minute trek to town, and her mind whirled with questions about why he would need to meet with Nolan. She wondered how much information Anna had obtained from her husband the previous night and how soon the designer would show up at the Boutique to give her the details. Knowing Anna, she probably started hounding Nolan the second they left last night. That thought made her smile, as did thoughts of making love to Calvin again. She would never have believed if someone had told her that she would meet her ideal match in Calvin Grayburg.

Their relationship was moving at breakneck speeds. They skipped the whole dating thing and moved straight to being a couple. Though Lisa had some reservations, she realized she didn't want to be separated from him. He brought so much excitement and wonder into her life, a welcomed diversion from the mundane work tasks. He made her feel important, safe, wanted and needed. In a word, Calvin Grayburg made her feel as if she genuinely mattered,, and she'd never had that from anyone before in her life.

Calvin remained quiet as he focused on his breakfast—enough food for two people. He never ceased to amaze her with his enormous appetite, and she had no idea where he put it all with his lean physique. She ordered a fruit plate and a bran muffin, which she cut into four pieces, but she'd only plucked a piece of melon off of her plate in the ten minutes they'd been in the diner.

"This is a quaint little place," Calvin said, wiping his lips with the napkin. "Great food." He eyed her barely-touched breakfast. "You really need to eat more, love."

Lisa blushed three shades of pink from the endearment. "I eat plenty."

Calvin scooped hash browns onto his fork and held it out for her. "Take a bite," he coaxed, swirling the fork in circles, inching closer to her mouth, a playful smile on his handsome face.

Lisa shook her head, but Calvin waited, and the food was mere centimeters from her mouth. She leaned forward and opened her mouth as he slid the potatoes inside. He sat back, watching, waiting as if her reaction was significant. She chewed and swallowed, admitting they weren't as bad as she thought.

"Good, right?"

She nodded. "Not bad. Not even greasy." Lisa slid her plate aside, rested her arms on the table, and leaned forward. "Why don't you tell me what's happening and why you're meeting Nolan?"

Calvin chuckled and gazed at his watch. "Thirty minutes."

Lisa squinted before she scoffed, realizing he was teasing her. She grabbed her fork and stabbed at a strawberry. "I'm waiting."

He sighed. "I'm working on something that will benefit all three companies and push us to be a household name in the fashion industry."

"And this involves Endurance?"

"Yes," Calvin said.

Her eyebrow rose as she pondered his words. Cal's meeting with Nolan could only mean expansion and property unless Nolan had a side business she knew very little about. "Explain." She popped the ripe berry into her mouth.

He smiled, reached out, and clasped her hand. "I know how much you need to know the details, and I am working up a proposal, but I can't say more just yet."

His thumb brushed up and down her hand repeatedly as every nerve in her body stood at attention. He was quickly becoming a distraction, as well as an addiction. He made her feel so good she wanted to get out of that diner and get him back to her bed. Lisa sighed. He touched her, and she melted; he had to know it. She wanted answers and had to forget what the feel of his fingers on her skin made her want to do. Lisa pulled her hand away from his, wondering how long she would wait to see what Calvin was working on.

"You're pouting," Calvin observed.

Lisa looked at him. "Am I?" she narrowed her gaze. "I don't pout."

Calvin sat back and laughed, his shoulders bouncing. "Oh yes, you do. Quite extraordinary."

Lisa had to bite into her untouched bran muffin to stop the smile from forming. The man intrigued her on many levels, though he didn't need to know that yet. Lisa focused on her food, needing to get to work as a shipment was due to arrive before noon. When she finished the fruit plate, she reached for her cup and took one last sip of coffee. Before she could grab the bill to go pay, Cal snatched it and smiled.

"My treat."

"You're my guest, Cal." Lisa held out her hand.

Cal stood. "Exactly, it's the least I could do for your generous hospitality."

Before she could speak, he turned and headed to the cashier. Lisa grabbed her purse and stood. Today would be exciting, especially if she figured out what he was doing. Calvin waited for her by the door, and as she approached, he opened and held the door for her. He casually put his arm around her waist, his hand resting on her hip as they crossed the street heading to the Boutique.

"What else do you have planned today?" Lisa asked.

"Research and I have a proposal to work on. If everything goes smoothly, I'd like to present it to the board in the next few days."

She wondered where he would be going to do that. For all she knew, he would meet up with Nolan and then fly back to New York. Just the thought clutched her heart with sadness. She could admit that she didn't want him to go; the trouble was how to tell him. The last thing she wanted was to appear too clingy and send him running from her. It boggled her mind how delighted she was to spend time with him. Either way, he would have to leave her for work, and that thought made her heart ache.

"You have a few hours before your meeting."

"I do. If you don't mind, I thought I'd stay at the Boutique."

"Not at all," Lisa said when they reached the storefront. She dug into her purse for the key and unlocked the door, smiling as the bell above the door announced their arrival. She loved the shop's quiet first thing in the morning and the feeling of success she had every time she was there. She hit the light switch as the store came alive.

Lisa headed to the breakroom to store her belongings with Calvin behind her. After she put her bag in the locker, she turned to find him standing in the doorway and smiled.

"Feel free to hang out in here. If it's privacy you're looking for, this is it, I'm afraid. I'll give you the wifi password so you can do your research."

Calvin reached out, grabbed her hips, and pulled her closer. "Hmm, I've got something I'd like to research here."

His lips covered hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth, sending warmth right through her. Lisa was helpless to pull away, especially when he made her feel this good. She raised her arms, wrapping them around his neck, pressing her eager body into him. She could live on these tender kisses and the exquisite feelings of being alive and present in the moment he stirred inside her. A consuming fire rushed through her as he plundered every part of her mouth. Her heartbeat picked up, and the only sound she heard was her rapid intake of breath. His fingers slipped up her spine, holding her close, and at that moment, she wished they were naked and back in her bed, enjoying every delectable inch of one another. Her hands toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer, kissing him deeper, sending her thoughts adrift.

The little bell above the door rang, causing Lisa to pull out of his arms and groan. She hated the intrusion. For one long moment, they stared at one another, the sexual excitement sizzling the air around them. She looked over Calvin's shoulder to see Anna, Megan, and Jill entering the store. Anna had a huge smile, while Jill and Megan seemed amused to catch their boss making out with one of their backers.

Cal cleared his throat. "We will pick this up later," he whispered, kissing her cheek softly. He turned toward the front of the store. "Good morning, ladies."

Anna made a beeline for them. "Morning, Calvin. Nice to see you again."
He nodded and stepped out of the doorway, pulling Lisa along.

"I had a feeling you'd be in today," Lisa said.

Anna laughed. "I couldn't resist."

Lisa shook her head. "I'll bet." She moved around Cal and headed to the counter as the girls filed into the breakroom. Lisa was happy to see Anna but needed a little space from Cal to obtain the information she knew the designer had. Unfortunately, Cal followed right behind her. The three stood around the counter in silence. Lisa busied herself to unlock the floor safe and pull out the cash for the register.

Calvin cleared his throat. "I'm going to step out and grab my laptop from the car," he said.

"Okay," Lisa said. She took the money and set it aside, thankful he gave them a minute alone.

The bell jingled again, and Lisa turned to Anna. "Tell me you found out what that meeting is about."

Anna nodded another big smile on her pretty face. Pregnancy really did make Anna glow. "I did, but I promised Nolan I wouldn't say anything."

Lisa planted her hands flat on the glass countertop. "You can't be serious?" She wanted that information so badly that she needed to know what was happening because it could affect what happened next with the Boutique.

"Unfortunately, though, I did manage to get us an invite if you can tear yourself away for an hour or so."

That was better than nothing. "Will I be intrigued?" Lisa had no problems tagging along, especially since her curiosity was piqued.

"Definitely." Anna nodded. "I think you'll be just as excited as I am." She tilted her head from side to side. "Though it would mean seeing Calvin regularly. Are you up for that?"

Lisa blushed. She couldn't think of anything she'd like more. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to be in a long-distance relationship with so many miles separating them, though technically, that's what they were doing now. She doubted the distance would help any relationship, especially one this new.

Anna gasped. "So things are really heating up between you two. Please tell me you told him how you feel."

"I told him that I missed him."

Anna laughed as the bell rang again, and Calvin came through the door. "Well, it's a start."

Calvin placed his laptop bag on the counter. "I hear you'll join us on my little excursion."

Anna crossed her arms in front of her and rolled her eyes. "I told Nolan I'd let you know that. He just had to steal my thunder."

Calvin laughed, "He did remind me last night that keeping this a secret would be next to impossible. Guess he figured I should be forewarned. Plus, he called to let me know that Taylor Allen was available and would also meet us there."

Lisa stared at him, waiting, hoping he would fill her in already. Picking up little tidbits of information was driving her crazy. She hated being outside of this conversation, and the fact that it involved her and she hadn't a clue of what was going on started to make her see red.

"Well? Do I have to beg?" she asked, annoyance thick in her voice.

Calvin smiled, his eyes lighting up. "That could be fun."

Lisa slapped his arm playfully. "Only you would think that."

He moved to the laptop bag, unzipped it, and pulled his computer out. He opened the device, typed in his password, and waited for it to boot up.
"Wifi password?"

Lisa blushed. "Original one Grayburg, capital on the O and G, and use the number one."

Calvin glanced at her, amused, before typing it in. "Clever," he said.

Anna chuckled.

Calvin pulled up his browser as Megan and Jill exited the breakroom and joined them around the PC.

"Business is picking up. AO is growing. If we are going to launch on the web, the demand would be greater," Calvin said. He glanced at each of them. "As it stands, we wouldn't be able to meet that demand. No one else knows what I'm looking into, so please keep this quiet."

"No worries," Anna said.

"We lease space at two warehouses in New York. If my calculations are right, we will outgrow that space within months of opening the web store." He opened an email from Nolan and clicked on the link. "Recognize this?" he asked.

"The old GM warehouse," Megan said. "My father worked there once upon a time."

Calvin nodded and continued. "Nolan tells me it's been vacant for at least two decades. If the price is right, I'd like to buy it for shipping, manufacturing, and purchase this." He showed them another vacant building.

"For?" Lisa asked, leaning over his shoulder.

He turned and smiled at her. "Office space. If we can make the clothing and ship out of the same space, we will need a base here to oversee things."

"That's a big undertaking," Jill said.

He nodded. "Yes, but well worth it. New York is expensive. Do you have any idea what the unemployment rate is in this area?"

"One of the highest in the country," Anna chimed in. "It's sad really. So many companies have moved away, and families with them."

"Exactly. It's not just about growing your brand," he said, directing himself to Anna. "Or the Boutique or the corporation. We could help this community out, bringing back good paying jobs in the process."

"This is so exciting," Megan squealed.

Lisa rested her hand on his forearm. "Wouldn't that mean moving half of your operation here? I mean, someone from the family would need to be here?"

Cal smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Lisa was floored. She found it hard to breathe. Her head began to spin with all of these new revelations. She loved the idea of expansion but couldn't see him leaving New York behind for life here. And then another thought hit her. What if Calvin wasn't the one who would relocate? That thought terrified her. Edward and Penny might be running back here to run things. She liked the thought of seeing her sister regularly, notably because she would soon become an aunt. She thought about Edward and how different he was from Calvin. Calvin seemed to enjoy his visits over the years to Endurance, whereas Edward always seemed ready to fly back to New York the second the plane landed.

How was this all going to play out? Lisa shook her head; she was getting ahead of herself. They had an entire board that would have to vote on something this big, and just because it sounded like a good deal on paper didn't mean the board would think so. She needed to resign that this was all just speculation and deal with what came afterward. Either way, this could definitely mean good things for the community, her store, and her relationship with Calvin.

Even without the expansion, the Boutique would see more traffic and get into pulling stock to have it ready to ship out to customers. She would need to hire more staff soon. She wondered, too, if that meant that the girls already familiar with the day-to-day operations would be moving up and into the office spaces if they were to open. That would totally change things for her, yet the idea of having her own office and being more involved in the AO line seemed appealing.

Could she hand over the Boutique to someone else to run? The thought of possibly working side-by-side with Calvin here in her hometown thrilled her. Having him close by would mean they could spend more time together. She was getting so far ahead of herself. She had to reign that in. It wasn't like he'd even suggested it to her, though they worked well together. Her mind swam with possible scenarios, and it didn't look like it would cease soon.

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