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Chapter One

Laine’s eyes narrowed into thin slits and fixed on the temp

His eyes ide as plates The clock ticked A tumbleweed may have passed by

He set his notepad down on Laine’s desk and picked up the phone “Brandt Interiors,” he half-sang, “This is Jacob speaking How may I direct your call?”

Laine smiled victoriously and looked back to her computer screen She had a lot of work to coht Convincing the Madisons that they needed to redo their den as well as all of their bathrooms—and that she was the only decorator in the state (and especially the only one at Brandt Interiors) they should even consider—had put her schedule back a few days, but it would be worth it The co to be astrono her work or handing her assignments over to more senior (and morea bathroom remodel into a whole home project, he would have to notice her A raise and preferential leads couldn’t be far behind

Jacob tried to hand her the phone, but she cut hier

“It’s your sister”

She met his eye, sucked in her cheeks, and then went back to work

“She’ll have to get back to you,” Jacob said He rolled his eyes after taking ato his business

If Laine had a second to breathe, sheoff her baby sister E career had taken off in the past year, and she rarely made time for Laine and their father No doubt Emma was between takes or photoshoots or fabulous lunches with beautiful people She could wait a few hours for Laine to take a break

Laine had been hired at Brandt Interiors directly after her graduation froo Ever since, her life had been patterns, swatches, and haggling with suppliers It was just how she liked it, aside fro less-talented associates It didn’t leave much time for those rare creatures known as weekends and vacations, though Laine only took tio visit her father, who lived alone upstate Laine called hi social ties as Laine was Eh school years, but it had co McConnell had always been a one-woman man

“Hiii-eee!” E her knuckles up and down the frame

Laine very nearly spit out her coffee “E here? Shouldn’t you be on a set somewhere in Hollywood?”

“If you’d answerhere in NYC!” Emma bounded behind Laine’s swivel chair and ed hair “Take a break! How often do you get to see your baby sister?”