“That could be a logistical nightmare,” Zoe said.“Figuring out parking will keep you up nights.”
“I’m thinking of running shuttle buses from Waltham.”
Zoe nodded.“Good thinking.”
“There may be other options.I’ll know more when I see the ranch.”
“Anyway, back to Cade.”
Sofia had been hoping Zoe had moved on.She should have known better.
“Where are you meeting him?”
She pretended that her heart wasn’t suddenly thudding out of her chest.“At his place.”
“Just the two of you?”
“And the dozens of people who work for him.”At least she assumed so.The idea of being alone with him was one notch under terrifying.
“You’re being ridiculously silent.I’m thinking you liked him.”
Too damn much.
She was aware of Zoe regarding her, waiting.“He is intense,” she said.“Knows what he wants and is determined to have it.No seems to mean maybe.We danced.”
“Seriously?What, a waltz?”
Sofia scowled.
“Okay, okay.Go on.”Zoe had a small sip from the flute but somehow managed not to break eye contact.“He asked you to dance and you said…?”
“I gave him a list of reasons I shouldn’t.Including the fact I’m not the type who associates with the Donovans, or, rather, they’re not the type who associates with us.”
Zoe groaned.“Please tell me you didn’t mention that Mom used to be a server for Miss Libby’s events.”
“Shockingly, I was able to keep the confession from pouring out,” Sofia said wryly.
“Whew.So.Keep going.”
“He responded that he was a bastard.”
“To which you replied…”
“I’d heard that but I’d never had the impression it had anything to do with his parentage.”
Zoe lifted her glass to clink against Sofia’s.
“Is he a good dancer?”
“He is.”
“And?”
Sofia shook her head.“That’s it.”The rest was personal and private.
Obviously sensing she wasn’t going to get any more information, Zoe returned to business.“Okay, we know that working with the Donovan family could be really good for Encore.It could give us an intro into another echelon of contacts, which means long-term growth.So what are the potential pitfalls?”
“Besides capital expenses?If a thousand people RSVP, we may need to buy more sections for our party tent.And we’ll need to know soon so that we can get them ordered.”They rarely got requests for events of that size.Of course, they could advertise the additional capacity, in all the cities they served.“And he wants me to handle the details personally.All of them.”
