Forever in Cape May (The Sunshine Sisters #3) - Jennifer Probst Page 0,8
her energy and enthusiasm more potent than a double espresso. She headed to the conference table with her usual coffee and chocolate croissant, but Taylor noticed this time that it was cut in half. She smirked. Guess those five pounds were more serious than she’d thought, if she was sacrificing half her favorite pastry. Not that her sister needed to worry about her weight. She’d always been a bit envious of Avery’s curvy body and wildly curly hair. Her own body reminded her a bit of a boy’s—small breasts, straight hips, thin frame, and long limbs.
Taylor shook her head. “Aren’t you tired of being chipper all the time?” she grumbled, picking at her scarlet-painted thumbnail. She dragged over the other chair and stretched out her black combat boot–clad feet. She may be forced to wear a boring work uniform for weddings, but for conferences or appointments, she preferred her own wardrobe—namely, loose, cool clothing with a bit of a personality. Today, she sported a black T-shirt with #unimpressed on the front and had paired it with olive-green cargo pants. When she dressed like a bit of a badass, it gave her some extra pep.
Avery grinned and sat down. “Nope. I find if I’m focused and positive in the beginning of the day, it sets up the rest for success. Don’t you agree, Bella?”
“I agree,” a male voice boomed out. Gabe, the fourth member of the Sunshine Bridal crew, entered the conference room. He set down his espresso and walked directly to Bella. Handing her a coffee, he then pressed a kiss to her lips, his dark eyes lit with a male possessiveness that could have made Taylor swoon if she’d been the romantic type. “Hi, sweetheart,” he murmured.
Bella smiled with a sweetness that tagged her as completely smitten with her new love. “Hi, baby.”
Avery sighed. “You two are just the cutest thing ever. I’m so glad I made you work Adele’s wedding together.”
Taylor arched a brow. “Excuse me? That did not get them together. It was my wise counsel that made Bella finally see the light.”
“You wish,” Avery sang, clicking on the keyboard.
Gabe laughed and took his normal seat next to Avery. “You were all responsible for us getting together,” he said. “We couldn’t have fought our own demons without your support.”
Gabe had started as Avery’s full-time assistant, then had moved to take on his own client list. He’d been in love with Bella since the moment he’d laid eyes on her, but it had taken three years for Bella to finally realize he was her soul mate. It had been a rocky journey, but seeing her sister and Gabe so happy and settled now made her feel even more confident about leaving in a few months. With Avery’s wedding to Carter coming up in October, nothing was holding Taylor back from leaving. Both her sisters would have men who loved them to walk by their sides. She couldn’t ask for anything else.
God knew, that’d never be her path. She didn’t believe in marriage or declared love or any type of thing in life that imprisoned with good intentions. The idea of being tied to someone who got a say in your life filled her with distaste. She imagined her future filled with travel, adventure, art, and big experiences.
“Well, I’m just glad you did,” Avery said. “Now, let’s go over our schedule. July is pure insanity, and we need to make sure everyone’s tasks are tight as a drum.”
“Like you?” Taylor teased.
Avery surprised her with a wink. “That’s what my fiancé says.”
Taylor let out a hoot. She loved how Carter got Avery to relax and let go a bit. Before she’d met him, she ate, slept, and breathed Sunshine Bridal, but she’d been getting a bit obsessive. Taylor gave her thumbs-up approval while Bella and Gabe laughed.
“Where’s Nora?” Taylor asked. They’d recently hired a new assistant for Avery to help with the boom of business. Everyone hoped she’d move into Taylor’s position at the end of the year.
“She worked back-to-back events with me this past weekend, so I let her have the morning off. Don’t want to burn her out too soon,” Avery said.
“Is she working out well?” Gabe asked.
“Definitely. She’s extremely organized, color-codes her files, and seems to be one hundred percent focused on work.”
“In other words, she’s a mini you,” Taylor said with a smirk.
“Exactly! Isn’t it perfect? Kind of like having a piece of Gabe back. You guys like her, right?”