Here With You (A Laurel Heights Novel) - By Kate Perry Page 0,52

her nerves, she waved at the counter. "Look at it and tell me what you think."

"At what? This sketchbook?"

She nodded grimly, averting her eyes because she didn't think she could deal seeing her friend's expression as she went through the designs. Valentine had started off as a matchmaker because of a family obligation, but it turned out she really had a brilliant business mind. She'd helped her husband launch a line of protective gear for fighters, and she herself designed apps for the iPhone.

Turning her back, Nicole fiddled with one of the displays, trying not to listen to the crinkle of pages as Valentine turned them. But it went on and on, and she knew there weren't that many designs, so finally she whirled around. "You're killing me!"

Valentine looked up, her large eyes blinking in surprise. She pointed at the pad. "These are great."

Nicole wilted. "You aren't just saying that?"

"Of course not."

"Do you think"—swallowing her fear, she asked the question quickly—"Icouldstartmyownlingerieline?"

"What?" Valentine asked, her brow furrowing.

"Start my own lingerie line." She put a hand to her heart, afraid it was going to beat out of her chest. "Is it worth it to try?"

Valentine's expression softened. "It's always worth it to try, Nicole."

"Not if you're going to fail."

"How do you know if you'll fail if you don't try?" Valentine shook her head. "Or just decide you're going to make it happen. Why do you have to fail?"

She frowned. "Good point."

"I don't know what it takes to get a lingerie line started, but let me do a little research." Valentine took out her ever-present phone and began tapping at it. "In the meantime, I need you to put together a business plan."

"A business plan." She nodded, even though she had no idea how to do it or what it encompassed. "Okay."

Valentine grinned. "Look up samples online. Basically, you just want to declare that you're going to conquer the world, and how you plan to do it one panty at a time."

"I can do that." She nodded. Then she threw her arms around her friend. "I love you."

"You'll love me more when I turn you into a lace mogul." Valentine's expression became somber. "I think this lingerie idea is perfect for you, but I'm not sure how it's going to get you Griffin Chase."

She cleared her throat. "I was going to mention that I need to run my business from wherever I am in the world."

Valentine smiled slowly. "So you're free to travel with him all over. I like it. Make that one of the stipulations."

The front door chimed, and they both looked up to find Eve in the doorway.

Nicole knew Eve mostly from Olivia, because they were such good friends, but she'd always liked the café owner, even though Eve was a shoe girl rather than a fellow lingerie aficionado.

"You've got a stalker," Eve said. She smiled. "I think it's innocuous, but I thought I should let you know."

Grif? Nicole frowned. It couldn't be. She knew from her mom, who'd heard from Grif's mom, that Grif was in L.A. recording the rest of his album. "Who is it?"

"A teenager named Rachel."

"Rachel?" She blinked in surprise. "Small girl, dark hair, sad eyes?"

"You know her?"

"Yes, but she doesn't seem like a stalker." Nicole looked at Valentine.

Who hugged her. "Go. I'll get started on my research. Let's meet tomorrow after you get off work."

A lightning bolt of fear shot through her, but it was laced with excitement. She nodded even though she kind of felt like throwing up. "Tomorrow after work."

"Good girl." Valentine beamed at her. "I have a good feeling about this, Nicole. Prepare to become a mogul."

"I'd settle for making a living doing something I love." She walked them out of the store and locked it up. "Thanks, Valentine."

But her friend was already walking back to her apartment, in a daze, fiddling with her phone.

She shrugged and turned to Eve. "Rachel's in Grounds for Thought?"

"She was when I left." The blonde sighed. "I think she's cutting school. She's been in there every day this week, from early until about three. And she looks like she lost her best friend."

Nicole's heart bled for the girl. She understood what that was like.

They walked into the café. Eve nodded to the front window, where Rachel sat alone, staring at a notebook open in front of her. Giving Nicole's arm a squeeze, she retreated to the counter.

Taking a deep breath, Nicole strode to the teenager's table, pulled out the chair across from her, and sat down.

Looking up,