Too Distracting

1

Dillon

Looking out my office window at my hometown of Cherry Springs, I felt a sense of peace overcome me.

It was good to be back.

Usually, I took a week every summer to go down to Camp Gabriel Lewis, my cousins football camp, to help get it ready for the incoming campers, but this year, business had kept me away.

Instead of having fun in the sun with my family, my twin sister, Jasmine, and I had split up to look at expanding our company. Jasmine had gone to Seattle, while I had gone to San Francisco. And, while she’d finished up her trip in time to head to camp, I’d been delayed in San Francisco.

Luckily, things had turned out well on my trip, and it looked like an expansion to San Francisco would be a good move. I needed to gather my notes and put together a proposal for the board, but I was feeling confident.

Lewis Sporting Goods had been in our family for generations, and the board consisted of my parents and Reardon’s dad. When our grandparents had passed, they’d left the company to all four of their sons, but Gabe’s parents ran the local bar and grill, and Serena’s parents had moved away years ago. They still owned shares of the company, but were now silent partners, and didn’t sit on the board.

It was the same with my cousins, who were more like brothers and sisters, since we’d all been raised together. When it came to the business, they’d chosen to do other things and leave Lewis Sporting Goods to Jazzy and me.

Gabe, our oldest cousin, had been an NFL player, but was now retired and focused on his family. Reardon, the person I was closest to, other than Jazzy of course, was the lawyer in our small town and had just started a family of his own. Serena, our youngest cousin, moved away during middle school, but had come back for vacations and holidays, and was a very talented artist.

While our cousins had followed their passions, Jasmine and I had been happy to take over the family business. It wasn’t always easy, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Picking up the phone, I pressed the button to my executive secretary.

Carol, do I have anything pressing this afternoon? I haven’t been to my house yet and wanted to drop off my bags and freshen up. I’ll be back later to play catch up, but if there’s something I need to be here for, I can stay.

You have a four o’clock with Laurel Turner, but I assumed you’d come here first, rather than go home, and kept your afternoon clear.

I grinned and said, You’re the best.

Carol had been with our company since I was a little boy, and she probably knew me just as well as my own mother.

Don’t I know it, she quipped, then disconnected.

I chuckled as I hung up, then frowned when the name of the appointment penetrated.

Laurel Turner.

That name brought up plenty of memories, none of them good.

I’m going to kill you, I yelled as I chased my jerk of a sister and her annoying friend, Laurel, through the kitchen and out the back door.

Dillon Lewis, my mother’s scolding voice called from somewhere in the house. You be nice to the girls.

I scowled as I watched Jazzy’s bright-red hair and Laurel’s sunny blonde get further away as they ran toward the fields, their peals of laughter floating back toward me in the wind. We’d just had our ninth birthday, and I’d cherished the bike my parents had given me. When I’d gone outside that morning to ride over to Reardon’s to meet him and Gabe to head to the springs, I’d found my perfect, red bike had been spray-painted purple with flowers painted on it.

Not in a good way either, so I knew Rena hadn’t been involved; her flowers would actually look like flowers. No, I’d known immediately that it had been Jazzy and Laurel, and I vowed right there on my back porch that I’d make them pay.

I sighed.

Now, logically, I knew that we were all grownups, and neither Jazzy nor I were the same people. In fact, Jasmine and I were very close now, even though she still liked to press my buttons. I was sure that Laurel had grown up as well. But, I didn’t know that for sure. Laurel had left town after high school and moved to Houston after college, so I hadn’t seen her in years.

The last time I had seen her, however, had been at high school graduation, when she and Jazzy had painted Honk, Cause I’m Horny, on the back window of my cherished Jeep and I hadn’t been able to get it off.

I’d had honks following me all the way from Cherry Springs to my college dorm, and although it had been a prank that actually ended in me getting laid my first week at school, that didn’t change the fact that whenever I thought of Laurel, I wanted to run away.

Fast and far.

Although a small part of me wanted to tell Carol to cancel the appointment, because I wanted to be in the same room with Laurel about as much as I wanted to get a rectal exam, I’d promised Jasmine that I’d hear Laurel out and possibly help her with her business plan.

Just the thought put a scowl on my face.

Maybe this would be the perfect opportunity to start getting some of that revenge you always promised, I thought, and my scowl was quickly replaced by a grin as I gathered my things and told Carol I’d be back.

2

Laurel

I don’t think I can do this, I said, wringing my hands together as I paced the floor in my flower shop.

You can, my friend and new employee, Chloe, assured me as she took my hands and held them between us. "Dillon is a great guy, Laurel, and yes, you guys have known each other forever and you were a bit of a wild child, but you’re an adult now. You’ve both changed. Plus, he’s agreed to help you. He wouldn’t do that if he hated you, right?"

I guess so, I muttered, but my stomach was still in knots, and I’d started sweating all over the place. I mean, really sweating. If I didn’t calm down I’d have to go home and shower before my appointment with Dillon.

Well, I know so, Chloe said firmly, and I let out a deep breath.

I haven’t really talked to him since I’ve been back, I began. I’d moved back to Cherry Springs from Houston after being away for most of my adult life. I thought he’d been avoiding me, but maybe the fact that we haven’t spoken is just a coincidence. I mean, he was busy at Gabe and Zoey’s wedding, and he’s running a company, so … maybe I shouldn’t take things personally?

It was more of a question than a statement, because I’d always taken things personally where Dillon was concerned.

I’d been in love with him since I was nine years old.

I’m so excited your mom said you could come over, my new best friend, Jasmine, said as we walked from my car to her house. It’s going to be the best weekend ever.

My parents had been thrilled when I asked if I could spend the night at Jazzy’s house, since I’d never been invited to a sleepover before. It was almost weird how excited they were, but I knew they’d made plans to go out on a date while I was gone, so maybe that’s why they’d been smiling so big as I packed my favorite backpack.

What do you want to do? I asked, trying not to stare at the biggest, most amazing house I’d ever seen.

It was beautiful, with pillars on the porch and stairs that started out wide, then shortened as you moved up them. It was painted bright white, with a porch that wrapped around the house.

I’d never seen anything like it.

That was when it happened… A lanky boy with red hair and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen, outside of Jazzy’s, stepped out onto the porch with a glass of lemonade in his hand. His hair was a little long, with curls on the end, and he had freckles dancing across his nose. And when he smiled in response to something his mother, who I hadn’t even noticed was next to him, said, I fell head over heels in love.

Who’s that? I asked in a whisper, suddenly cold and clammy at the thought of getting too close.

Ugh, my twin brother, Dillon, Jasmine said with a sneer. He’s been sick, and you would have thought he was dying with all of the moaning and groaning he’s been doing over the last week.

No, you shouldn’t, Chloe said, pulling me out of my memory and causing me to backtrack to try and remember what she was talking about.

Oh, right, not taking the cold shoulder Dillon had been giving me personally.

I took a deep breath and let it out. I’d vowed to be stronger, kinder, more patient, and to always stick up for myself. After four years of being my ex-boyfriend Travis’s verbal whipping post, I was putting myself first and surrounding myself with positive people.

So what if Dillon thought I was still the same mouthy brat with crooked pigtails and a penchant for mischief. If he couldn’t see that I’d changed and let bygones go so that we could at least be friends now, then that was his loss.

I’d been back in Cherry Springs for almost a year now, and I was happy. It was my home, and soon, it would be the place where I ran my business. I had great friends, and although things weren’t great right now with my parents, I knew we’d get through it.

If Dillon wanted to help me with the business plan, then go back to pretending I didn’t exist, then I’d just have to live with that.

You both just need to get to know who you are now, and maybe he’ll forget the pink underwear and the other pranks. He and Jasmine are really close now, so…

I nodded, hoping she was right. Even if I knew Dillon would never fall in love with me, marry me and have babies with me, like I’d always dreamed, I’d still like to have him in my life in a positive way.

Okay, I can do this, I assured her, causing her to smile. Then, needing to change the subject, I asked, How are things with you and Reardon?

Amazing, Chloe gushed, her hand automatically going to rest on her baby bump. We’ve decided it’s time to move in together.

Yay, really? Where to? Yours, his, or a bigger place?

A bigger place. We’re staying in Copper Woods, since Chris has friends there, but getting a place with office space for both of us and rooms for the kids. It’ll be ready next week.

That’s so great, I said, meaning it, as I appreciated the gleam of the engagement ring on her finger. Does that mean you’ve set a date?

Not yet, Chloe said, this time the one who was sighing. I promised Reardon we would do it before the baby comes, but now that we’re moving, I kind of want to get that finished before we worry about a wedding. Although, I don’t want anything big. Just a simple ceremony with our friends and family in attendance.

Sounds perfect.

And, I was kind of hoping to be your first client.

Really? I cried, not bothering to contain my excitement. She was my friend and employee, after all; I’d save my professional, not jumping up and down, face for clients who were strangers.

Yes, really, of course it has to be you.

Then I guess I’d better pull up my big girl pants and head to my meeting with Dillon. We’ve got a wedding to plan.

3

Dillon

Ifelt marginally better now that I showered and unpacked my things, but was still feeling a little weary from traveling. Vowing to not stay in the office past eight, so I could finally get a good night’s sleep in my own bed, I lifted my chin to Carol in greeting, and headed into my office.

With my mind intent on firing up my computer and getting through some emails before my appointment, I didn’t register the leggy blonde sitting in the chair at my desk until she stood up quickly, and had to hold onto the edge of the desk to keep from falling over.

Sorry, I’m a little early, but Carol said it was okay if I waited in here…

I tried to hold back my scowl, but figured I’d failed when I saw Laurel’s hopeful expression turn apprehensive as she watched me move behind my desk and sit down.

I didn’t like the idea of Laurel being in my office without me; for all I knew she’d planted booby traps for me to fall into at inopportune times.

After a few seconds of her wary eyes on me, I began to grow frustrated, not just because she’d showed up early and ruined my plans for catching up, but because she was looking at me like I was going to bite her.

Have a seat, I said, the words coming out a little harsher than I’d intended.

Laurel fell into the chair and shifted back, fidgeting and wringing her hands like a frightened rabbit, and I let out a sigh.

Let’s try this again … Hello, Laurel, how are you this evening? I managed in an even tone, even though I half expected to see a snake in my wastebasket.

Laurel cleared her throat, her blue eyes wide on me.