Unwrap Me: A Sapphic Valentine Novella

Unwrap Me A Sapphic Valentine Novella Special Occasions Series Book 2 Abigail Taylor Copyright © 2023 by Abigail Taylor All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Contents Author’s Note 1. Ash 2. Willow 3. Ash 4. Willow 5. Ash 6. Willow 7. Ash 8. Willow 9. Ash 10. Willow 11. Ash 12. Willow 13. Ash 14. Willow 15. Ash Also by Abigail Taylor Acknowledgments About the Author Author’s Note Would you like a free copy of the prequel to No One Compares to Her? Click here for your copy of A New Direction! Chapter 1 Ash “Knock knock,” Deb called out as she entered the front door unannounced. “Mom! You can’t say ‘knock knock’ after you’re inside. Why don’t you actually wait for us to answer?” To say Willow was on edge would have been an understatement. We had spent the last seven months growing Willow’s homemade soaps and candles business into something bigger than either of us could have expected. Willow was used to making products for people around Miami, but when we found an investor who loved our brand, he wanted to turn the company into an empire. He started with a new name—Magic Scent. Then he revamped our line by adding bath bombs and subscription boxes, which were incredibly successful. However, that success had come at a price. We didn’t get to have our wedding like we’d wanted because we were so busy filling orders that Willow didn’t think she could feasibly take off—even for a day. Deb was devastated because she had everything already planned. But Willow was my love, and if she couldn’t enjoy our special day, then we would wait. The only problem was we’d waited so long that I wasn’t exactly sure it would ever happen. We might end up being one of those couples who got engaged and called it good. Even though we had my surrogate sisters, Bella and Lenny, help with the day-to-day tasks, Willow had her hand in everything and took pride in her work. When we first met, she viewed her job as more like therapy than work. However, I wondered if she didn’t need a different outlet now. “Your panties are wound so tight. How can you even breathe?” Deb wasn’t diffusing the situation. “Deb. I’m so glad you could join us. To what do we owe the pleasure?” I figured I would save her from Willow’s wrath that I could see bubbling up. “Well, I haven’t heard hide nor hair out of you in two days. I thought I better make sure you’re still alive.” She smiled, but her words were meant as a guilt trip. “I’m sorry.” I sighed. It was hard finding a proper work-life balance these days, but as much as I loved Deb, she could be a bit much. “We need to do better at keeping you in the loop.” “There’s no loop.” Willow turned her annoyance toward me. “Stop placating.” I held up my hands and backed away from the situation. “Mother. You know I love you more than anything. But there are so many orders that have to go out for Valentine’s Day, so I’ve been up to my eyeballs in lye. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA, but can you please call before dropping by?” Will was calmer now, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her into my shoulder. “I love you, too.” Deb came over and turned it into a group hug. “Both of you. But I can’t promise to give you a heads-up. Sometimes I don’t even know I’m going to do it until I’m here.” Willow growled, and Deb and I let go of her. “Baby. You need a vacation. This isn’t like you.” Deb was right. Will had been going nonstop, and I was afraid she was past the point of being burned out. “After Valentine’s, things will get slower.” Will always had an excuse, but she didn’t handle downtime well. When she finished one extensive project, she would find something else to fill its place. “Nope. I don’t buy it. Give me a week in the last year that you weren’t running around like a chicken with your head cut off.” Deb wasn’t letting up, and I wasn’t sure how Will would respond. “That’s not fair. This company is our livelihood. If it fails—we fail. There’s nothing for us to fall back on.” Willow looked like she might have a panic attack, and I had no idea she felt so much pressure. “Whoa. Babe. Nothing is as important as your happiness and well-being. If you’re pushing yourself so hard because you’re worried about supporting us, I’ll gladly get a different job.” I cupped her cheeks so she would look at me. “Us working together wasn’t supposed to be stressful. It was supposed to be fun.” I hated that she’d been feeling this way and never said anything. “Could you give us a minute?” I turned to Deb, who was standing there watching us like a movie. “Me?” she questioned as if someone else in the room was intruding on a private conversation. “Yes, please.” I gave her a pleading look, and she walked to the kitchen, which wasn’t that far away, but better than nothing. “Thank you.” “No problem. Maybe you could speak up? I could barely hear that,” she called back, and Will rolled her eyes. “Hey. Don’t let her get to you. When we first met, the two of you were best friends. Her personality hasn’t changed.” I wasn’t trying to tell her what to do, but I wanted to remind her that her mom was still her mom, and she loved her. She closed her eyes. “I know. I think I’m losing myself.” I rested my forehead against hers. “You have to