Page 8 of The Frock Up

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"What? I'm only telling the truth."

"Twenty-five isn't young." I felt ancient inside, dried up.

Kat pursed her lips together, dropping the subject. "Why burger babe?"

I hesitated, looking down at the drawing that lay between us. "I don't know."

Liar.

I knew exactly why I wanted her—she hadn't known who I was. And in a world where I couldn't go five steps without someone wanting something from me, it felt good to be ordinary.

Kat sighed. "Fine. Publish the post."

I raised my eyebrow. "Really?"

She nodded; her expression resigned. "Who knows. Maybe it will actually work."

I grinned. "Oh, it's gonna work."

It had to.

Chapter Four

Millie

"Millie?"

I looked up from where I was pouring over our accounts, desperate to find enough money in the budget to keep our little business ticking along for the next quarter.

It's not looking good.

"Yeah?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. "What's up, Keiko?"

My friend and art director held up her phone. "Have you seen this email?"

I shook my head, gesturing at the papers spread across my desk. "This is my life right now."

"Babe, look at your email. Now."

Her tone had my eyebrows raising. "Is it a job?"

"Millie—email. Now."

I twisted, turning to my computer, quickly navigating to my virtually empty inbox. My stomach pinched at the lack of interest from prospective clients.

You knew going in this would be a struggle.

After all, who started a design business in a small town like Capricorn Cove? No one. And for good reason.

The email in question came from Dogg Wood Industries.

"Dogg Wood Industries?" I asked, clicking on it. "Do we know them?"

"Read it."

My eyebrows rose as I read the request, something like hope beginning to unfurl in my belly.

"Holy shit."

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