Free Hardline by Meredith Wild Page A

time.”
       I looked down, my fingers twisting around the beautiful ring. I couldn’t imagine anything, any doubt or reservation, threatening to come between me and keeping this ring on my finger.  
       “I’m not sure if marriage is something anyone is ever ready for, right? Plus I already said yes, so I’m a little committed already.” I laughed nervously.
       She brought her hand up, brushing my cheek softly. “Listen to your heart, Erica. There’s nothing but noise in this world, and that’s got to be the one steady voice in our lives. If your heart says yes, nothing else matters.”
       I reached for her, holding her in a hug for a long time. I thought about all the times she’d comforted me, given me advice and solace.  
       “Thank you, Marie, for everything. Also, you’re not an old maid.”
       She laughed softly and released me, blinking away the wetness in her eyes.  
       “All right, enough of that. I’m going to wreck my makeup. Let’s get back to our men.”
       The rest of the evening went well. We chatted, and Marie shared stories of our summers together when I was back in school. Any embarrassment that came with her honesty was quickly replaced with gratitude that she was the one person who could represent my otherwise absent family. Blake squeezed my hand under the table, occasionally shooting me a knowing look, as if he too appreciated her little insights into my past. It was the closest to embarrassing baby pictures he was likely to experience in my world.
       We finished a decadent dessert, and Richard picked up the check just as my phone rang. I fished it out of my purse and recognized the number.  
       “Excuse me, I have to take this.”  
       Blake’s brow wrinkled, but I slipped away from the table before he could question me.  
       “Hello?”
       “Erica, it’s Alex Hannon.”  
       “Alex, hi. Thanks for getting back to me. Um, I’m not sure if you remember me.”
       “Of course. Landon introduced us at the Vegas event. Took a minute to jog my memory, but you’ve got the fashion site, right?”
       “Right. Clozpin.”
       “So how’s it been going?”  
       “Overall really well. I’m actually brainstorming options for expanding the site, possibly incorporating some e-commerce. You came to mind, of course, which is why I’m calling. I’m not sure if there are any partnership opportunities, but if nothing else, I’d love to just get your advice. I know you must be busy.”
        “No worries. It’d be easier to talk in person though, I think. Any chance you’re coming out for the Tech Awards this weekend?”
       “Uh, no,” I said, not wanting to admit that the event wasn’t on my radar at all.  
       “I could scrounge up a couple tickets if you can make the trip. We could discuss any opportunities for working together while you’re out. And you could write it off as a business expense, of course.”  
       I laughed. “I think I could probably work something out. Let me check my schedule and shoot you an email to confirm, but I’d love to come.”  
       “Great, let me know. If you can’t make it for some reason, I’m planning to be out your way in a couple weeks to see some family, so we could always meet up then.”
       “Sounds good. Thanks again, Alex.”
       We hung up, and I couldn’t hide the smile on my face when Blake approached me in the entryway.  
       “Who’s got you smiling like that?”
       “That was Alex Hannon.”  
        “Why are you talking to him?”
       The furrow in his brow deepened and quickly released when Marie and Richard joined us. We hugged our goodbyes, and Marie made me promise to call her for dress shopping.  
       My mind spun as Blake led me outside.   The valet drove the Tesla up to the curb and Blake opened the door for me to get in. Settled behind the wheel, Blake pulled into the steady flow of evening traffic. After a few minutes of