Up to Date (Better Date than Never Book 8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

gift, Ginger.”
    “Maybe you could decorate part-time and fatten up your portfolio before you take the leap completely.” Kristen leaned toward me. “We support you no matter what your decision is, but we believe in your talent and want you to be happy in your career.”
    “Totally up to you.” Jill nodded in agreement. “Not to put too much pressure on you, but Jenna needs to know by tomorrow if you’re interested in the spread. It’ll be six pages in their next issue, which means you’ll have to start on the winner’s place immediately so you can finish in two weeks.”
    Ideas swarmed my head in a massive rush. Curtains. Area rugs. Sofas and loveseats. Vases filled with brilliant flowers. . . .
    I squealed, reached past Kristen, and gripped Jill’s hand. “Please tell Jenna that absolutely and positively the answer is yes . I’d be thrilled to have her photograph the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of the home I bring up to date. Thank you for this opportunity. You have no idea what all of this exposure means to me.”
    Jill scooted closer to Kristen, squeezing my hand. “When I asked you to donate your decorating services, I had the feeling this could be a life-changing event for you.”
    Misty-eyed, I stared at my friend. “This is unbelievable. For the first time, I could really live the life I want with nothing to hold me back.”
    Kristen joined her hand with ours. “We believe in you, sweetie.”
    “Thanks so much, you guys.” I tilted my head, wondering if anyone had upped the thousand bucks my financial advisor, er, I mean, my date had offered on my donation. “So, whose home am I decorating? Who had the highest bid?”
    Jill lifted her glass. “That’s another part of the good news. You already know him.”
    “Trenton?” Energy coursed through me. Maybe if I called him now, he’d let me start work tonight.
    “Nope.” She shook her head. “Not Trenton. Greg Shaffer.”
    My mouth fell open and my face went numb. “G-Greg?”
    “Yes.” She reached into her briefcase, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to me. “He tripled the highest bid. Look here. Isn’t that amazing?”
    Not exactly the word I would’ve chosen.
    I stared down at the scribbled numbers, unable to comprehend all of the zeroes before my eyes. Greg had pretty much guaranteed he’d win with that number. I could hardly believe this. In order to achieve my life’s dream, I’d have to spend the next two weeks working closely with the one man who had the power to break my heart.
    Conflicting emotions stormed through me. With my insane attraction to Greg, I needed to steer clear of him so my crazy feelings would die out. But I’d always wanted to use art in my daily work and should never have caved to my parents back in college when I’d switched to the major they’d deemed more appropriate. I could correct that mistake now.
    This was my perfect chance to change my career. I had to take it.
    ****
    When I got home from drinks with the girls, I must’ve picked up my phone and practiced what I’d say a dozen times. “Hello, this is Ginger. . . Hi, I’m the girl downstairs. . . Hey, you’re a winner.” Ugh.
    Finally, I punched in his number and let the words fall where they would, starting by thanking him for his generous donation and congratulating him on his win. When I let him know about Jenna McCoy’s offer to write the article on Founding Friendships , he agreed to let her photograph his place and told me he could meet for the initial consultation tonight. Yay!
    Fifteen minutes later, I trotted upstairs to his condo with my sketchpad in hand. I knocked on the door, reminding myself that I was a professional and would keep a professional distance from my client. When the front door opened, Greg’s eyes latched onto mine and his mouth curved upward.
    My breath caught in my throat. Hands down he could be Sacramento’s number one most desirable bachelor. Wow . He’d dressed simply in a short-sleeved