Uh-huh.Right.
“You sure there isn’t someone else you can pull in on the project?” Bran had lost all confidence in James.
“I built the program. I know it inside and out.”
Which raised the question of why the guy hadn’t fixed it yet.
The supposed “tech expert” sat back and stretched his arms over his head. He’d been at Prime since seven in the morning, and it was well past nine in the evening. “Besides, the other techs are on other jobs right now. But don’t worry,” James said, and hunched back over his computer, “I’ll get it fixed in no time. I’m close.”
Bran scratched the side of his neck. There was something about this guy… It wasn’t only that James came across as a preppy douche—which was annoying, yet tolerable—but also that Bran had caught discrepancies in the total income from the online ordering since the system had been up. Something James had brushed off as taxes and currency fluctuations.
What currency fluctuations? This was Lake Tahoe. They didn’t sell takeout to Uganda.
James claimed their company was based in Europe and that currency shifts occurred during the credit card transactions. Which sounded like the equivalent of taking a flight from Seattle to Los Angeles with a detour through Chicago. Why would the money need to travel to Europe for the club to get paid?
If there was anyone else Bran could have working on the problem, he’d insist Tech Banquet replace James. But the CEO had confirmed yesterday that James was their best, and that everyone else was tied up.
Bran left Prime and entered the club reception area. He took a sharp right and passed through a door to the corporate offices. Walking down a long hallway, he paused in front of the double mahogany doors to Levi’s office.
The receptionist’s head was barely visible behind a stack of files and a large green plant with a vine that trailed all the way to the carpet. “Levi around?” Bran asked.
The receptionist looked up and tipped his head down the hallway. “He’s with Emily. They’re working on a project.”
Bran glanced down the hall to Emily’s office. At least her door was open. According to Bran’s brothers, Levi and Emily had been known to hook up when the office doors were closed.
Bran shook his head. He was happy his gruff older brother had found the right woman, but damn, Bran didn’t want to accidentally walk in on all that happiness.
Even though the door was open, Bran knocked. “Hello?”
He peeked his head inside and opened the door wider.
Levi was standing behind Emily, his arms loosely wrapped around her waist, and they were staring at a wall full of sticky notes.
The lovey-dovey scene was typical ever since Levi and Emily had gotten together, and Bran was still getting used to it. Levi could be hardheaded and seemingly emotionless, but Emily had softened those rough edges. Levi couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. So, obviously, they had the chemistry thing going.
Wes called Emily the Velvet Hammer, and Bran had to agree. She could be sweet as apple pie, and yet throw down when she needed to. She’d helped Bran and his brothers keep the place running smoothly after their father had passed, and for that alone, Bran and his brothers were grateful to her.
Levi glanced up. “Everything okay?” He lowered his arms and scrubbed a hand down his face as though they’d been staring at the wall for a long time. “You get the software issue solved?”
“No. Unfortunately.” Bran nodded at the wall Emily hadn’t stopped staring at, her chin propped on her fist. “What are you doing?”
“Children’s program,” Levi answered. “Emily’s pet project has had the largest growth since we took over.”
“Don’t forget Hunt,” Emily said. “It was his idea to begin with.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “You made it a success.” Emily frowned, and Levi sighed. “Fine, Hunt helped.”
Levi and Hunt had smoothed over their rocky past, but it seemed Levi still had trouble trusting their youngest brother.
“Getting the club a spot on the PGA tour circuit was a lucky boon last year, thanks to Wes,” Levi said. “But we need revenue we can count on. The club is holding steady, while the children’s program is growing. We’re trying to come up with new ideas for it.” He looked at Emily. “Call Hunt and pull him in.”
Emily smiled. “Excellent idea. Kids are one area where Hunt excels.”
“Hunt?” Bran couldn’t picture his youngest brother as a child whisperer. The guy was too big of a child himself.
Emily moved to the wall and repositioned one of the sticky notes. “Have you ever seen your brother with the club kids? He’s really good with them. And always coming up with fun ideas.”
Bran’s mind had been filled with a certain woman he didn’t want to think about, and keeping the restaurants from blowing through the resort’s cash reserves. “Can’t say I’ve paid attention.”
