Page 57 of Mine to Keep

Chapter11

It had been a couple of days since Bryn had seen the man in the hoodie hiding in the bushes in her yard, but she still couldn’t go outside after the sun set, and that pissed her off.

She’d never be free of fear.

Her phone buzzed, and she damn near jumped right off the sofa. She clutched her chest as she fumbled for the phone that had fallen between the cushions.

Jamison.

Ever since that kiss on the beach, he’d found his way into her dreams. It was the only thing that got her through the darkness, and she resented that. She hated relying on a man, even if he had no idea about her dependence.

“Hello,” she said as calmly as possible.

“Hey, what are you up to this evening?”

“I just finished working, why?”

“I’m with Chip and his wife, Erica. She’s dying to meet you and see some of your jewelry. Do you think maybe we could stop by?”

Jamison had been talking her up left and right. All her referrals had come from him, mostly, outside of a few random calls, but those had actually either come from friends of his mother’s or people who’d found her website.

But she couldn’t complain. Her jewelry was selling. People were talking about it and recommending her. That’s all she could ask for.

Who was she to turn away business?

“Sure. What time?”

“We’re ten minutes away,” Jamison said.

Shit. “I don’t have any food, really. And no wine or anything.”

“No worries. We’ll stop and pick something up. You just worry about setting up a few stellar pieces for Erica to look at. Chip owes her a birthday gift, and they are both looking for something to get her mom. Something classic. Those are her words, not mine.”

Bryn laughed. “Yeah. Because I don’t ever see you using that descriptor.”

“See you soon.” The line went dead.

She jumped off the couch and raced into her bedroom. Quietly, she checked on Zadie. The precious little thing was sound asleep. Hopefully, she’d stay that way as she had the night before until about nine. Bryn checked her watch. It was seven. That was two hours. Normally, she’d be putting her feet up and dozing because Zadie could be up from nine to midnight or later. Every day was a new schedule and a new adventure.

Next, Bryn went into the spare room and went through all her best pieces.

What in the hell had Chip’s wife meant byclassic? Was that like 1950s classic or something else?

Bryn filled a display case with twenty pieces. If Erica didn’t like them, she had thirty more. But that was it.

She’d sold out of a lot of pieces and even had inventory on backorder. She should see that as a good thing. Lifting the case, she carried it into the family room and set it on the coffee table. She stood back and stared at her work. A sense of pride filled her gut. She’d come a long way since her days of having to hide her jewelry making from her family.

Headlights flashed in the picture window. Butterflies filled her stomach. She’d done private showings twice before. Both times, they’d gone great. Jamison’s mother had even suggested she do parties.

It was an excellent idea.

One she planned on figuring out. Even Willa offered to babysit. As long as it was worth the money, she’d do it.

She pulled open the door before they had a chance to ring the bell. “Hi. Welcome,” she said. “Oh. That’s weird. This is your home.”

“No. It’s yours for as long as you’re renting it from us,” Chip said as he took her into a slightly awkward hug. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Erica.”

“I’ve heard so much about you.” A petite woman with short, red hair stepped into the family room. “It’s nice to finally put a face to the name.”

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