Chapter 2

two

S helby finally landed a job interview—not that she'd been trying very hard to get one. She'd been living at home since graduating two years ago from Texas A&M. Her parents were fed up with her staying out late and sleeping until noon. They kept telling Shelby to grow up but offered no guidance on how to do that.

Flipping through her hanging clothes, Shelby chose her favorite teal swing dress, which Luke said matched the color of her eyes. Twisting her strawberry-blonde hair into a messy knot, she dabbed concealer onto her freckles and stepped back to admire her reflection. Despite her efforts, nothing seemed to hide the freckles completely.

She slipped her feet into her most sensible shoes—cork wedge sandals—and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

Her mother stood by the window, talking quietly on the phone, and her sister sat at the round breakfast table. On her way to get coffee, Shelby glanced at the colorful fabric swatches covering the table. "What's all this?"

Grace's head jerked up. "What does it look like, Shelby? I'm picking out a color for my bridesmaid's dresses."

"Oh. For a moment there, I thought you'd barfed up confetti."

"Ha ha. Aren't you the comedian?"

Shelby removed a K-cup and popped it into the Keurig. "I thought your bridesmaids were wearing black."

"You're just jealous because you're not in the wedding."

"Hardly. I'm busy that weekend anyway." Shelby pressed the Keurig button and watched hot brew stream into her to-go cup. "Who's Mom talking to?"

"Izzy. About her court case tomorrow." Grace left the table and moved over to the island. "I'm surprised to see you awake before noon. Are you going somewhere?"

"I have a job interview. Not that it's any of your business."

Their mother, overhearing mention of her job interview, ended the call with their grandmother. "Shelby? Did you just say you have an interview?"

"Yep," Shelby said, adding three spoonfuls of sugar and a long pour of creamer to her coffee.

Kate placed a hand on Shelby's shoulder. "That's wonderful, sweetheart. Who are you interviewing with?"

Shelby took a sip of coffee. "A bougie boutique hotel downtown. I don't want to jinx my chances by telling you which one."

Grace eyed her dress, her nose turned up in distaste. "Couldn't you find something more appropriate to wear? You don't stand a chance dressed like that." Grace was a sophisticated young professional in a dark gray business suit with a white silk blouse. Her honey-blonde hair complemented her flawless complexion, which was unmarred by freckles.

Kate ran her hand over the sleeve, feeling the pilling fabric from too much wear. "This dress has seen better days. Why don't you wear the gray pantsuit I bought you?"

Shelby brushed her mother's hand away. "This dress is fine. I'm applying for a job in a hotel, not at a bank," she said, slinging her purse over her shoulder and heading for the door.

Tears stung Shelby's eyes as she backed her convertible out of the driveway. Three years that felt like a lifetime separated Shelby and her sister. Although Shelby had sparked the latest argument with her confetti comment, it was usually Grace who initiated their fights with her endless criticism and condescension. Truth be told, Shelby was still reeling from being excluded from the wedding party. As Grace's only sister, she had expected to be the maid of honor. Bare minimum, a bridesmaid. She's the only sister in the history of the universe not included in her own sister's wedding.

Grace had set the bar high. In high school, she was an all-state tennis player and valedictorian of her senior class. In college at UVA, she was president of her sorority, made the dean's list every semester, and graduated magna cum laude from the McIntire School of Commerce. Grace and her fiancé, Wyatt, earned a gazillion dollars a year in high-tech jobs Shelby couldn't begin to understand. They were the quintessential power couple, both gorgeous and social and athletic. Grace's wedding, scheduled for late April of next spring, would be Austin's social event of the year. And everyone in attendance would wonder why Shelby wasn't a bridesmaid.

Unlike her sister, Shelby was a natural-born underachiever—a total loser with a face full of freckles.

Shelby entered the hotel's posh lobby with feigned confidence, chin up and head held high. Approaching the front desk, she gave the clerk her name and asked to see the hotel's manager.

"His office is right over there." The clerk motioned her behind the desk to an office where Darian Gilbert, a cheesy-looking man with slicked-back hair and polyester clothes, greeted her at the door.

Shelby declined his offer of a beverage and sat down opposite him at his desk.

"Well then." Darian opened a file in front of him. "I reviewed your resume, such as it is." He looked up at her. "Have you ever held a job, Miss Kinder?"

"No, sir. I've been in school."

He arched a bushy eyebrow. "Not even a summer internship?"

Shelby's face warmed. "No, sir. But I have a degree in hospitality management from Texas A&M."

He tapped on her resume. "Which you received over two years ago. What have you been doing since graduation?"

"I was taking a gap year," she said with a fake laugh.

He pressed his lips thin. "I see. While you're unqualified for the reservations manager position you applied for, we have an opening for a desk clerk. Is that something you might be interested in?"

Shelby remembered her argument with her parents two nights ago when her father threatened to take away her credit cards and kick her out of the house. "Potentially. Can you tell me more?"

"It's the night shift. You'd be working from eleven until seven."

Shelby's jaw dropped and her eyes grew large. "Including weekends?"

"Of course. It's an entry-level position, and weekends are our busiest time." When he told her the weekly salary, Shelby barked out a laugh. She routinely spent more than that on dinner in five-star restaurants.

He closed the file folder and placed his hands on top. "I'm sorry, Miss Kinder, but you're not the right fit for our staff. We're an upscale boutique hotel, catering to pampered guests like yourself." He rose from his desk, indicating the interview was over. Have a nice day."

"Thank you for your time," Shelby mumbled on her way out.

She made it to her car before bursting into tears. Growing up would have to wait another day. Taking a few minutes to compose herself, she cruised around town aimlessly for over an hour before parking in front of the house next door to Luke's. He also lived at home with his parents, only he was making a fortune managing other people's money. Shelby often staked out his house during his lunch breaks. She didn't care if he saw her. She'd been unabashedly stalking him for over a year.

Her phone buzzed in her lap with a text from her best friend.

Where are you? The pool opened today, but no one is here. Get over here fast. We have the place all to ourselves.

Nobody's there because they are all at work. Shelby texted Emily back.

Sorry. Not today. Maybe tomorrow.

When she looked up from her phone, Luke was standing beside her car. She rolled down her window. "Hey," she said, flashing him her most brilliant smile.

"Shelby, you have to stop coming over here like this. Our relationship is over. You need to accept that I'm with Alexis now."

Her throat thickened. "I know that, Luke. But I can't help it. I miss our friendship."

Luke hung his head. "I do too, Shelby. But Alexis isn't comfortable with me being friends with you."

"Wow. She really has her claws in you. You're making a terrible mistake, Luke. Don't count on me being around when you realize it." Rolling up her window, she turned on her engine and peeled away from the curb.

Shelby made idle threats like that all the time. But of course, she would still be around when he grew tired of Alexis. She'd been with Luke since middle school. He was the first boy she kissed and the only one she'd ever slept with. They were inseparable throughout high school and college. She couldn't remember her life pre-Luke. He'd promised her the country club lifestyle with a big house and lots of kids. He was driven and determined to be the next Warren Buffet, whoever that was. Shelby had never intended to work. She'd majored in hospitality management because she thought it would make her a better wife, equipping her with skills to manage a home efficiently. And now he was planning that happily ever after with someone else.