Making My Way to You

Chapter 11

The next morning Delilah was shoving her laptop and folders into her bag when Cole came down the stairs. He nuzzled her neck causing her to laugh. "You smell good."

"Thank you." She leaned her head back and kissed his mouth before stepping from his arms. He went around the counter to pour coffee into a travel mug. "I wish you didn't have to go into the store today and I could stay home...."

"Me too." She swallowed the last of her coffee before putting her cup into the sink. "But just think, today is the last day before we go on vacation."

"I know." He twisted the lid on his cup. "Joel text me a little bit ago.... he wants us all to have dinner tonight... can you escape early?"

"Sure. I think I can manage that. You wanna give them their gifts tonight?"

"Sounds like a plan... I'll met you back here around six?"

"Works for me."

"I'll tell Joel it's a go for dinner." He looked down at his phone. "Shit. I gotta go or I'm gonna be late."

"Me too."  She turned off the coffee pot and dumped the rest down the sink.

Cole followed her out to the driveway. He kissed her mouth. "I love you."

"I love you too. Have a good day."

"Right back at ya."

She was smiling as she walked into the store. "Good morning, ladies."

"Morning." Hannah smiled and followed her into her office. "The new fabric samples came for you to look at. Inventory is correct and everything has been straightened.

"Perfect. I'm leaving early tonight. We're having dinner with the band." Delilah unloaded her laptop and powered on the computer.  "Caroline and Luke are leaving for Georgia tomorrow and Cole and I will be headed out the day after. I'll have  my phone and laptop so I will be reachable. But Cole wants to make a pit stop somewhere before we go down so I might be out of pocket for a few days. Call Caroline if there is something that you can't handle. The store is to close at noon on the the 23rd and be closed all the way until the 27th. We'll be back on the 28th. I'll be in then."

"Got it. Any ideas where he's takin you?" Hannah looked up from writing everything down.

"None. He's being very secretive. He did say somewhere tropical but that could be anywhere."

"So romantic..."

"He is that." Delilah grinned. Her phone vibrated on the desk. "Lugis? Joel booked the private room."

"Perfect."

"Love u."

"Love you too." She texted back.

She turned her attention back to Hannah. "If you want to bring the fabric samples in here we can go through them. "

A couple of hours later she walked out to the floor to check on things when Ryan walked through the door. She froze but quickly remembered what she had told Cole. "Ryan, what are you doing here?"

"Just thought I'd come check out your little boutique...."

"You need to leave. Now."

"Well that's not good customer service...." He sneered.

"I have the right to refuse service to anyone. Now get out." The girls were looking at her confused.

"Now, Lila...."