Page 24 of Follow Your Bliss

I nodded. “Let’s do it.”

We took our places on either side of my sewing table. My fingers itched to pull off the canvas cloth draped over it. Despite my begging and pestering, he hadn’t let me see it for the past three days.

Jason shifted into his social media personality. “We’ve been hard at work,” he said, “and now it’s time for the big reveal.” He looked at me, nodded his head, and together, we both took off our Deck Daddy shirts. He revealed his godlike physique, and I revealed a Deck Daddy tank top.

He turned to me, acting confused as he delivered his lines. “Wait, Rose. I thought we’d…” He motioned between his bare chest and me. “I thought we’d agreed to go topless.”

“Nope.” I set my gaze back on one of the cameras and shook my head. “That’s your shtick, Deck Daddy.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He turned toward me and laid his hands on the table between us. “Are you ready to see it?”

I echoed his position on the opposite side of the long table, raising my eyebrows suggestively. “Just what are you about to show me, Deck Daddy?” I ad-libbed.

He turned away laughing.

“Come on! I can’t wait to see it,” I whined. “You haven’t let me see it since we finished building it.”

“Okay, okay. Here she is.” He pulled the drop cloth away.

Both of my hands went over my mouth, and actual tears sprang to my eyes. The last time I saw it, it was bare wood, my standing height and with a bottom shelf for supplies and bolts of fabric. But now, the whole thing was painted white, and the tabletop was a smooth, marble-look surface. There in the middle was a decal of my logo, the stylized gown made of rose petals with “Sweet Roses Bridal” beneath.

“I wanted to get you a custom cutting mat as a tabletop, but not only was it cost-prohibitive, they wouldn’t be able to handle the decal, and it wouldn’t come in for forever. And I know you need this, like yesterday. So, I did some research, learned that melamine was the next best surface for a cutting table.” He ran his hand along the surface. “And, well, I knew a guy who knew a guy, and—Rose, are you crying?”

I nodded, wiping my face. “It’s beautiful. It’s…Jason, I can’t believe you made this for me. It’s such a step-up from Strawberry Jello, it’s not even in the same food group. Thank you so much.”

I went around to his side of the table and hugged him right around his middle, my cheek against that mulberry silk skin.

“Aww, you’re welcome.” He squeezed me back but stepped away quickly and glanced at the camera. “I guess it’s safe to say you’re another satisfied customer?”

I ran my hands along the tabletop. “Yes, so very satisfied.”

Jason winked at the camera. “Deck Daddy aims to satisfy. Thanks for hanging out with us while we made this sewing table for Rose of Sweet Roses Bridal. Remember to follow her, at SweetRosesBridal and follow me, DeckDaddy, while you’re at it. And remember folks, it’s all fun and games to go shirtless when the saws are off, but always wear protection when you use your tools.”

He crossed to the cameras and turned them off. “Perfect. I think this is gonna be something my followers haven’t seen before. Thanks for letting me make it for you.”

I couldn’t stop crying and running my hands over my table. “Are you kidding? It’s perfect and amazing, and how could I ever truly thankyoufor this?”

He grinned. “Thank me by helping me take down my cameras and bring this bad boy to your sewing room. I have a church meeting to get to in about an hour.”

“Whatever you say, Deck Daddy.”

I set down my straightening iron and popped on a red lipstick. As hot as I looked right now, Isaac would never know I’d spent all day bent over a sewing machine, running around playing Nerf guns, and filming in the hot setting sun. Why didn’t I straighten my hair more often, besides it being a pain in the ass? He liked it better, and I had to admit, it was a good look for me.

I curled up on my bed in my sexy halter top and short shorts, waiting for Isaac to call. Playing and filming with Jason had gotten me all heated up, and I was hoping to expend that sexual energy on a phone sex date. Because maybe I’d been too pessimistic about this thing with Isaac. And maybe if I looked hot enough, he’d come down to visit me.

FaceTime was ringing, still “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Bad vibe, but that was all my fault. I sat up, cleared my throat, adjusted my cleavage, and slid my finger across the screen.

“Hey handsome, how are you?”

He was walking on a city sidewalk, and the connection was spotty.

“Isaac?”

“Hey Rose, I hear you now. What’s going on?”

“A lot! I’m all moved into my new apartment, and I made so much progress on Becca’s dress today. I think it’s going to be one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever made. You made it back from tour? How are things in the city?”

“Good, good. We’re going back out next week. Got a gig tonight, too. I’m on my way there now. I woke up with a sore throat, and I’ve been trying to save my voice all day, so I can’t talk long.”

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