Page 70 of Sweet Dreams

Chapter one

Avery

The sun is beating down on Northern California today, and the heat is making me sweat uncontrollably.

“If this old-ass truck dies, I’m freaking leaving you, the sewing machines, and all that shit you hauled with us on the side of the road,” Kennedy whines, practically leaning out of the passenger window of my stepdad’s Chevy. He’s frantically waving a cardboard rainbow fan I got at a Pride event at himself. “I’m too pretty to die of heatstroke in a random rice field, Avery. I have an aesthetic to maintain.”

“Jim’s Chevy isn’t going to die,” I say, as I secretly pray to the universe I didn’t just jinx us. Jim, my overly sweet, yet estranged stepdad, decided to gift me his beloved old truck as a moving gift. I pat the steering wheel. “She’s a trooper. Besides, look! We’re actually almost there.”

As we exit the freeway and cruise past the sprawling orchards and emerald fields outside of Foggy Basin, we head towards a place where the dusty country road gives way to a hidden, rustic little pocket of a town surrounded by endless farmland. It’s a town that barely registers on my map app, yet holds a freaking gem of a shop no one would expect to see out in the middle of nowhere.

Beauty and the Boutique.

Tomorrow morning, I officially start as the design assistant and intern to Ezra Strum. The Ezra Strum. The man whose career exploded two years ago after winning a major fashion showcase, transitioning overnight from a small-town dreamer to a celebrity designer. Despite dressing some of the biggest names in the industry, including Olly Black, his rock star fiancé, he chose to stay rooted here in tiny Foggy Basin, running his exclusive boutique while maintaining tight ties with Dee Rama Magazine—the elite fashion publication I literally just quit to work for him.

My heart does a joyful, happy little dance. But as I guide the rumbling truck down the main stretch, a memory flashes behind my eyes.

Five months ago.

My boss, Ella Gray, asked me to visit the boutique and interview Ezra for this year’s fall exclusive. I came up here to meet my idol and as a desperate attempt to see the boutique in person before returning home. I’d expected a simple job. I hadn’t expected the local Pride event, a new career opportunity, or the massive, brooding Filipino man who captured my attention.

Gideon. He was so stoic. Serious, yet a little bashful. A handsome snack of a man with wavy black hair, broad shoulders, and thick thighs. He looked at me as if I were a fascinating puzzle he couldn’t solve. But after a romantic evening picnic and a night filled with endless conversation, he brought me back to his place.

One simple meeting turned into an electric, breathless night until neither of us could deny the pull. From there, that simmering heat between us exploded into a night of mind-melting passion where he dominated me in that perfect way that still makes my skin tingle every time I think about it.

I panicked the next morning. The overwhelming intensity of how fast I’ve fallen for a total stranger scared me. I don’t catch feelings. Ever. I party hard and work even harder. Plus, I had an article to write, a portfolio to finish, and a dream to chase. There’s no way in hell everything I was feeling could be real. So, I did what any rational, deeply smitten twenty-something designer would do: I scribbled a sweet, terribly flirty thank-you note on a piece of rainbow stationery and sped out of town.

“Earth to Avery,” Kennedy says, snapping his fingers in front of my face. “You have that look. The ridiculous, gooey one. Are you thinking about your honey god again?”

“He has a name,” I flush, quickly turning onto Main Street. As soon as I spot that signature yellow sign, I park in front of the boutique. “It’s Gideon. And he’s more of a honey bear, not a god.”

“Right. Gideon.” His bright eyes sparkle. “The man who looked like he could snap a tractor in half. Instead…he spent hours wooing you in the most romantic way possible before giving you the best damn orgasm of your life.”

Kennedy rolls his eyes as he unbuckles his seat belt. “You’re living in a fucking romance novel, babe. But unless he’s hiding in one of these adorable shops and waiting to help us move all your stuff, he’s just a fantasy. A sexy fantasy, but nothing helpful at this moment.”

I laugh, hopping out of the truck and breathing in the crisp, dry air.

“Come on, introduce me to Ezra Strum and his famous fiancé. Then we can get you moved in and settled.”

When Ezra offered me the job, he said I could rent his apartment above the boutique at a discounted price. The amount was so cheap, I couldn’t say no. I point toward Pints ‘n Pool. “And that right there is where you’re staying.”

Kennedy grins. “How badass is it that I’m going to live above a bar?”

“Temporarily,” I reply.

“Yeah, yeah. Still badass.”

I grab a box of my favorite fabric bolts from the trunk, balancing it against my hip. I glance down the quiet street, my eyes lingering toward the farm roads that lead out into the orchards.

Does he still live just outside of town in that cute little cabin, or did he get pulled back into the life of a celebrity bodyguard?

I push open the door of the boutique and take another deep breath. The air faintly smells of clean beeswax and something sugary, and I wonder if it has anything to do with Gideon’s apiary. Kennedy lets out a low whistle next to me as we take in the modern, bright space. The entire shop is stylish, filled with unique jewelry displays and trendy, high-end clothing.

Off in the back corner is my absolute favorite section: a private lingerie corner that caters to both men and women. The men’s line constantly sells out on the website, but Ezra makes an exclusive collection available right here in the shop. I stare at the display for a second, making a mental note to visit that corner the exact moment I get my first paycheck.

“Avery, honey. You’re back!” Tessy says when I enter the shop. Tessy is a sweet, beautiful woman in her fifties that I met back in April. She also happens to be Olly’s aunt. Tessy wraps me in a huge hug, her wild curls covering my face with the scent of strawberries and vanilla. “Ezra and Olly are having lunch over at Blue Star Diner. He left you a key to the apartment upstairs. He also said to feel free to drop off any of your sewing equipment, materials, or supplies in the back room. That way you don’t have to crowd your living space with it.” She smiles. “Unless you want to, of course.”

“That’s so nice of him. Thank you,” I say, reaching for the key. I’ve never felt so welcome before. As if reading my thoughts, Kennedy nudges me and grins. I make quick introductions before Kennedy helps me settle into my new place.