“Okay, I hear you.”

Even though she really didn’t agree, there was some truth and something to consider in Rachel’s words. She had been there from the beginning and knew that this wasn’t an easy feat. She had worked hard for Lacey’s Lace, and she would do the same for the next one but this time with the help of Karson. But maybe she should wait. Lacey hated the doubt that Rachel caused. She should just ignore her, but she couldn’t shake the idea that maybe she was right.

She loved her store, treated it like it was a piece of her, and she didn’t want to leave pieces of her all over the damn United States. Maybe one store was enough. The online sales were awesome, but even with that, she wanted to expand. It was always a dream of hers to be all over the place, helping women because not everyone wanted to shop online. They wanted to try stuff on, and she wanted to give that to people. She did, but was it smart to do that now?

“Ugh, I think I’m gonna be sick. We can talk more Friday. Talk to you later.”

“Yeah, feel better, or take a test or something. Bye,” Lacey said, hanging up the phone and letting out a breath.

She had no clue what to do.

“What’s wrong?”

Looking up, she found Karson leaning against the doorjamb, his shorts hanging low on his hips, barefoot and bare-chested. His hair was all in a frenzy, and the stubble on his chin was dark and sexy. In other words, he was fucking hot.

“Hey, good afternoon,” she teased with a grin as he came over and leaned into her, kissing the top of her head.

“Good afternoon,” he said pulling her out of the chair and into his arms. He was all warm and homey and she never wanted to go anywhere. She could live in his arms. “What’s wrong?”

Running her fingers along the lyrics on his chest, she let out another breath. “Just thinking about expanding.”

“That shouldn’t make you huff. It should make you happy.”

“It does, but it also makes me nervous,” she admitted, meeting his caramel gaze. “Rachel thinks it’s a bad idea.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I bet she does.”

Rolling her eyes, she complained, “Karson.”

Leaving his arms, she turned to go to the coffeepot to pour him some as he said, “What? Seriously? Of course, she doesn’t want you to do that. More roots here and putting you farther from them. I bet your dad will be calling in no time.”

Huffing, she poured milk and sugar in his cup before bringing it to him and saying, “It’s not only that. What happens when you move?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, taking the cup. “Thank you, by the way.”

“You’re welcome, but how do you know that? Hockey players trade to teams all the time.”

“This is true, but with the deal they are working right now, I’ll be here for seven years. And if I do move, which I doubt, I’ll probably retire so I can raise our kids. But if I don’t, it will be fine because we will hire a team to run this store. We will be okay.”

There was a whole lot of stuff in his answer that made Lacey’s stomach twist, but still, she wasn’t sure it was the best idea. “I just remember how hard it was opening Lacey’s Lace, and I don’t know. It makes me nervous.”

“So you are letting fear keep you from this? Just because of the doubt that Rachel caused? That’s crazy, Lacey. You have a good thing in this company. Something you can capitalize on. Everyone believes in you. Believe in yourself and leave the naysayers in your dust.”

Running her fingers through her hair, she took in a deep breath. “I don’t know. She was there from the beginning, Karson.”

“What are her reasons for not doing it? Because I’m a hockey player?”

“Yeah, and that our relationship is so young. We could divorce or something.”

“Do you believe that?” he asked and she shook her head. “Okay, then what’s the problem? I eased the first worry, you smashed the second, so what other reason is there not to do this? Not to take the chance. Plus, we are looking, baby, not signing paperwork.”

There wasn’t another problem, and he was right, but still, she wasn’t one hundred percent committed.

“I don’t know. Maybe we should wait a bit.”

“For what?” he asked, his expression telling her he was not happy at all. “What are we waiting for?”

“I have no clue,” she answered, shaking her head. “But I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“You were ready before you talked to Rachel.”

“I know, but now I’m not sure,” she said as he stood, draining his coffee.

He shook his head as he exhaled a long breath. “I’m going to go take a shower. When I come out, let me know if you are going to believe in yourself and take a chance or keep doing what your family thinks is right. They continue to try to keep you under their thumb, and you allow them. Do what makes you happy, baby. That’s all I want, for you to be happy.”

Taking the hem of his shorts, she pulled him to her. “I’m happy with you.”

His lips curved in a sinful grin as he cupped her face. “Same here, but I get so frustrated when you do what they want. Follow your heart; do what you want.”

She nodded and was about to say that she would when her phone started to ring. They both looked over to see that it was her father.

“Oh look, your dad is calling to talk you out of it too. Are you going to let him ruin more of your dreams of helping women all over the world? Or are you going to do what you want to do?”