And with that, including Chloe launching a new marketing scheme where she styled actual clients, promoting that on social media, she’d formed an alliance with big-time stylist to the stars, Wyn Gastineau, who was also stationed in Phoenix.
Specifically, she was working with Wyn for clients who were beyond the celebrity sizes of -0 to 4. And this came with she and Wyn talking about curating an offshoot of Wyn’s popular subscription boxes for people over size 14.
Judge was experiencing much the same with Kids and Trails, because the Elsa Cohen mention was followed up with the social media rollout of Duncan and Tom’s outreach and fundraising appeal. The success of that campaign far exceeded their expectations. It was massively popular. And this included several other tennis stars, golfers, football and basketball players who got in touch and wanted to get involved.
Shit was real for his small staff that included him doing everything but volunteer coordination.
Which meant it was time for them to grow, one way or another, and Judge knew exactly which way he wanted to take that. It was just finding the time in all the extra work to write a proposal and present it to Duncan.
“And it’s time to expand,” she continued, speaking his thoughts out loud, but on another subject. “My market research would not scream that there needs to be a Velvet in Prescott, but there’s a lot of money up there. There are art dealerships and jewelry stores on the square that sell pieces of quality at a certain price point. So I think a small shop with perhaps a slightly more casual bent to the stock would fly and it doesn’t have to be another Velvet. It can be something all new. But as I ponder that, and look for space, I need to concentrate on how to expand Triple F. I have so many stores and brands offering in-kind gifts, makeup artists and hair stylists wanting to sign up, I need to buckle down and organize that, or I’ll lose the momentum. And I can do all of that from your living room.”
When Judge remained speechless, he was so damned happy this was where her mind was going, she kept talking.
“And I rent, you own. My lease isn’t up for another couple of months, so we have time to plan the move. Obviously, it’ll be difficult to leave Dad, but he seems to be handling things okay, and he won’t be too far away. He’s up there a lot, anyway. And, well, we talked about this, and it’s unusual that it seems his new best friend is Bowie, but that’s just how it’s shaking out. I mean, it’s really no surprise they like each other. They’re both exceptionally likeable. I still want to talk about maybe discussing things with Rhys—”
“Baby, you do not have to talk me into you moving in with me. I’d go down there tonight with a Mack truck to load up all your clothes and shoes. But let’s take a few weeks to discuss furniture and logistics and let the new member of our family get used to us, make a plan and then get you up here.”
“Really?” she whispered.
Shit.
“All right, I need to throw this out there,” he began. “But even if things are off the hook with Trails, I was going to offer to move down there. I don’t have to do this work here. I don’t need to be at corporate. I can do it anywhere. So we have to have that discussion too. I love you’d consider coming up here, but it makes far more sense for me to come down there.”
Now, Chloe was speechless.
But he’d been thinking about it. He was ready. He was prepared. His program could now afford to rent a small space and add additional staff. And it made sense. When the hikes were on, they traveled a lot, and the airport was in Phoenix.
He just wouldn’t like it.
That said, it wasn’t an urban jungle. Phoenix sprawled, but there was Papago, Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak—
“I can’t allow that.”
“Sorry?”
“I love that you’d offer, I love you, but Judge, you’d hate it here.”
“I’d cope. It’s not like—”
“Judge, no. I won’t have it.”
Judge bent and rested his weight in his hand on his desk, such was the emotion burning through him.
He’d forgotten.
Forgotten who he was talking to.
Forgotten how she was with the people she loved.
He wasn’t used to it.
Not yet.
Maybe he never would be.
Maybe that was why Chloe was thrown in his path.
To give him an overabundance of all that he’d lacked all his life.
To give him someone he could give his love to.
Someone who gave that in return.
“Do you think I can abide it if you’re just coping?” she asked.
“It makes more sense, baby.”
“It makes no sense at all, darling.”
“You’re a city girl, Chloe.”