Page 100 of Renegade Roomie

Add to that the way my cosmetics line has been taking off, and I couldn’t be happier.

Well, almost.

I check my phone again, nervous.

“Any word yet?” Dash asks.

I shake my head. “They said they’d get back to me soon. It’s been three whole days since my pitch! I’m going crazy here.”

“I’m sure they loved you.” He says. “How could they not?”

“That’s sweet,” I tell him with a smile. “But this is Trick Beauty, they’re one of the biggest retailers around. If they place even a small order for the new lipstick line… It’ll super-charge everything. But you know that,” I catch myself. “Sorry.”

I’ve been talking his ear off about this ever since we set the meeting. Dash has heard every word of my pitch—three times over—and even helped me tighten it up and cut through the noise.

“Hey, you can talk about it as much as you want,” he reassures me. “But even without their order, you’re blowing way past all the revenue projections.”

“I am, aren’t I?” I beam, proud. I decided to do a soft launch of my first collection, selling directly from my shiny new website, to feel out the market and get some customer feedback before I took things to the big stores. But the sample gift packs I sent to influencers were a big hit, word spread like wildfire online, and soon, we had way more business than I was expecting. I’ve already doubled my employees to fulfill orders, and I can barely keep up with demand.

But seeing my lipsticks on the shelves of a real beauty store like Trick…? It would be a dream come true.

“You’re too nervous,” Dash says, pulling me into his arms. “I know a way to relax you.”

“A massage at Austin’s spa?” I suggest innocently.

He growls. “Try again.”

“A relaxing bath… Alone.”

“Getting warmer…” Dash kisses me, and I exhale, sinking against him. He’s right, it gets me every time. Just the feel of his body, and the delicious taste of him—

My phone buzzes.

I jolt back. “It’s them!”

“Answer it!” he grins, looking just as excited as I am, and for a moment, I give thanks again that I’ve finally found a guy who treats my successes as his own, who supports me every step of the way.

Like this one.

I grab Dash’s hand and hold on tightly as I answer the phone with my other. “Hello?” I start, swallowing back my nerves. “Oh, Portia, great to hear from you.”

I listen as she speaks. “Uh uh,” I murmur. “Yup. Sure. I understand.”

Finally, I hang up.

“Well?” Dash asks, and I realize, everyone else is watching too, waiting for my answer.

“They’re going to stock me!” I cry.

Dash whoops, picking me up and spinning me around. The others all crowd around, congratulating me.

“I’m so happy for you!” Piper hugs me.

“Gregory will be green with jealousy!” Lorelei crows.

“It’s just a small order, to start,” I add. “To test in different regions.”

“But that’s what you want,” Seb says immediately. “Better to be a cult hit than go too hard, too fast.”

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