Free Tangled Love on Pelican Point (Island County Series Book 3) by Karice Bolton Page B

“I thought that was coming up soon.”
    And I still hadn’t made my decision about staging his house. I looked up at Natalie and mulled over if I should tell her or not. Why was I so afraid to talk with her about what I wanted to do? She’d always been nothing but supportive and certainly knew a lot about how to run a small business. She was the perfect resource, and yet I never once told her what I’d been up to.
    “I feel like you’re hiding something from me.” She set her magazine on the table in front of us.
    “I kind of have been.” I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone.
    She glanced around the sitting room. It was empty.
    “Did you sleep with Anthony?” she whispered.
    “No way.” I shook my head. Not that I would necessarily tell her if I had. I clicked on my Etsy store on my phone and leaned over, handing her the phone.
    “What’s this?”
    “My Etsy store.”
    “You have an Etsy store? For how long?”
    “I’ve had it for a few months, but it was called something different than what it is today.”
    “Wow, Sophie. These are beautiful. Where are you sourcing these wooden signs?”
    “I make them.”
    Natalie’s eyes darted to mine. “You make these?”
    I nodded. “I do custom orders too.”
    “You have twenty-five reviews, and very few people leave reviews, so that tells me you’ve sold a lot more than twenty-five items, and it hasn’t been just a few months.”
    I took in a deep breath and puckered my lips, debating what all to tell her.
    “I’ve had the shop for almost a year. The reason I have so many reviews is because when I first opened my store, I sold a lot of four-inch signs with cutesy sayings. They sold well, but between the shipping and time it took me to make them, it wasn’t worth it.”
    “I can’t believe you haven’t told me about this.” She kept sliding images, browsing through my store, and my heart beat wildly. “I love the name, Sophie Bristol Designs. It just sounds so upscale.”
    “You should have seen my original shop name. It wasn’t until I told Anthony my shop name that I realized it could have sexual connotations, which explained the creepy emails I kept getting. Anyway, Anthony came up with the new one.”
    Natalie narrowed her eyes as she studied me, handing back the phone. “You’ve fallen for him.”
    “No way. I’m smarter than that. He lives in LA and I live on Fireweed. He’s a rock star, and I’m a housekeeper- server- floral assistant—.”
    “Shop owner,” Natalie supplied. “I’m so proud of you. And I have got to place an order. I would love to offer these in my flower shop. I’m always looking for special handmade items, and I bet brides would love to order the custom signs you have.”
    My palms turned sweaty at the thought.
    “Really? You’re not just saying that because you’re my friend?”
    “That’s not how I run a business.” She winked. “I wouldn’t offer customers something I didn’t think would sell or they wouldn’t like.”
    “Wow. Are you serious?”
    “Deadly. In fact, I have a newly engaged couple coming in for a wedding consultation on Saturday. I’d love to have an example to show them.”
    My mind flashed to the lack of cash I had on hand to make any samples for her. I still hadn’t recovered from buying groceries for my dad and covering my stepmom’s bar tab. Not really, but close enough.
    I let out a sigh and shook my head.
    “I’m a little strapped with my dad’s latest bills, but I’d love to provide samples. I just won’t be able to make this deadline.”
    “It is short notice.” Natalie sat back in the chair and tucked a leg under. “But I know they’d love what you have to offer. They’re going for that rustic charm. You know what I bet they’d love?”
    I shook my head.
    “This couple is sparing no expense. They’ve been trying to come up with a favor for their guests that’s unique, and I think what you have to offer would be perfect. Do you think you could do