Page 77 of Charm

“So excited.” She backs that up with a slight twirl to show off the lacy pink dress she’s wearing.

I’m decked out in the outfit I typically wear when I take on the role of candy buffet hostess. One of my dark green Sweet Indulgence T-shirts is beneath a black blazer. I opted for black jeans and heels today to give off a semi-professional look.

“It’s going to be a fun afternoon.” I smile because it will be fun and profitable for my company.

The candy buffets started as a side hustle, but they currently make up a good percentage of our yearly revenue.

“Let’s get upstairs.” Minka dashes toward a bank of elevators. “The bride-to-be has no idea that all of her favorite candies will be waiting for her.”

I take pride in knowing that.

As we board one of the available elevator cars, Minka turns toward me. “I gave your number to two friends already today. One needs you for a fifth birthday party next month. The other is a corporate job. It’s some sort of retirement party in a few weeks.”

“Thanks, Minka,” I say, grateful for the business she’s sending my way.

“There will be a lot more.” She winks. “We’re expecting more than fifty guests, Greer. Get ready to have a very full calendar for the next few months.”

That’s all the extra assurance I need to know I’m making the right choice by holding onto my half of Sweet Indulgence. All I have to do now is find the right partner.

Three hours later,I exit the elevator with a smile on my face and a nice cash tip in my wallet.

I told Minka that it wasn’t necessary to tip me more than she had when she paid the invoice for her event. We’ve always had a policy of payment upfront, since we realized pretty early on that people change their minds, and when that did happen, we were stuck with an overabundance of candy that we had to sell at a discount rate.

My smile widens even more when I see who is waiting for me on one of the leather benches set up against the wall to the left.

“Greer!” Holden calls out my name as he gets to his feet. “It’s good to see you.”

I feel exactly the same way about him.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” I apologize as he walks toward me.

“You’re not late.”

He’s wrong. I’m definitely late for our planned meeting in this lobby.

When he texted me shortly after I arrived, I told him I’d be free two hours later. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I texted him again and added an extra thirty minutes on.

I gave him the address of the building, so we could meet out front before going for a drink. The drink was my idea, and he was on board without question.

“I’m guessing you were here for an event?” he asks, taking in my outfit as he rakes me from head to toe.

Surprised that he jumped to that conclusion based on my clothes, I tug on the lapels of my jacket to straighten them. “You can tell that based on what I’m wearing?”

His chin lifts. “By what you’re wearing on your head.”

My hand leaps up to find one of the fake metal tiaras that Minka was putting on everyone’s head as they arrived. She snuck one on mine when I was busy explaining the ingredients in one of our most popular hard candies to a party guest. I must have forgotten about the tiara that is adorned with three pink stones.

I snag it off my head with a swipe. As soon as it’s in my hands, I carefully try to bend it. It gives without any resistance, which means it’ll be the perfect surprise for Olive.

“You’re going to give that to your daughter, aren’t you?”

My gaze pops up to meet Holden’s. “How do you know that?”

“You’re already adjusting it to fit her head.” He reaches for it. “May I?”

I hand it off to him. He delicately moves the ends in, being mindful of the sharp metal on the edges. Once he thinks it’s the perfect size for my little girl, he bends the edges over so they’re dull to the touch.

He holds it up to look at his handiwork. “How’s that?”

---