Eligible Receiver (Men of Fall #3)- S.R. Grey Page 0,38

you’re right,” I replied glumly.

I caught her looking away then, and that told me all I needed to know—there really is a chance Lars may be traded away.

Ugh!

My distressing reverie is cut short when my client blurts out, “By the way, I’d like for all of my guests to have not only favors but also a fresh floral arrangement of their own to take home.”

“I advise against it,” I reply. “You do realize it’s going to cost quite a lot, right? Flowers can get real expensive, real fast.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She sniffs haughtily. “My father is paying for everything.”

“Still,” I go on, “I’d rethink floral arrangements for every guest. Even favors are often left behind. There’s a good chance flowers will be discarded on the tables. Then there’s also the issue of fresh flowers not lasting very long.”

I stop short of telling her it’s a blatant waste of money, seeing as she is the client. I’m simply the consultant.

But it doesn’t matter; Skye’s mind is made up.

That much is clear when she insists on all the flowers. “I told you, money is no object,” she states.

Sighing, I make a note to order two hundred and fifty small floral arrangements. I add another notation to be sure to notify the event facility to donate any leftover flowers to the nursing home down the street from them.

It makes me feel better knowing no flowers will be thrown away.

Grrr, I hate waste.

Skye continues to keep me busy from that point on. Our consultation lasts for almost three freaking hours.

The only good thing that comes out of it is I forget about Lars being away.

I’m quickly reminded, though, once I’m home.

My house is far too quiet.

That would be fine if I were preparing to go over to his place, or if he were coming to mine. I’d be making us dinner, or he’d arrive early and help.

But none of those things are happening tonight.

I check the time, noting how many hours I have to get through till I can go to sleep. Then I’ll be one day closer to my man coming home.

Hmm, it’s a few minutes after eight.

I have a while.

Lars said he’d be out with the guys, but he also mentioned for me to call anyway.

So I do.

Unfortunately, after several rings, I’m sent to voice mail.

Crap.

I think about leaving a short message for him to call back when he can.

But I decide not to.

I’ll just try him again in a little while.

I should probably eat, as I’m starving. Skye the unruly client kept me from dinner.

I head to the kitchen and pull out a frozen dinner from the freezer. It’s some sort of low-cal lasagna, but it’ll do. I also—score!—find some leftover mixed green salad in the fridge.

“I’m all set,” I murmur to myself as I poke holes in the plastic overlay to vent the lasagna before I place it in the microwave.

A short while later, while I’m seated at my small kitchen table, blowing on a bite of piping hot lasagna to cool it down, I hit Call again on my cell in the hopes of reaching Lars.

But once more, I’m sent to voice mail.

“Huh, that’s weird.”

I check the time.

It’s nearing nine.

Didn’t Lars say he was going out with the guys at seven?

Guess they’re having a really good time, so good that he must not be checking his phone.

The ringer is probably turned off.

Ah, well.

I finish my lasagna and salad and decide not to dwell on it. Lars will call me once he’s back in his hotel room.

I try to relax by washing the dishes by hand, and then hunkering down on the sofa in the living room.

I turn on the TV.

Only problem is I can’t concentrate.

It’s nine thirty, and I’ve still not heard a word from Lars.

I don’t want to be a pest, but I go ahead and try him again.

I get his voice mail once more.

This time I leave a short message.

I also text to Call me when you can.

But he never does.

By eleven o’clock, as I’m heading to bed, there’s still no communication from Lars.

I’m actually kind of worried.

This is not like him.

I sure hope nothing bad has happened.

Bad Decisions

Holy hell!

When Mike mentioned a cool bar and grill where the guys like to hang, I envisioned a quiet, low-key establishment.

This place is anything but.

It’s packed with people, and the music is blaring. For a Sunday night, this is wild.

The guys and I luck out and find a large round table in the bar area when a group of