“No. This is just a little side project that I hope earns me brownie points. I need all those I can get.” She glanced at the door to the back, then back to him. “I meant my parents’ store. I’ve been working on a secret marketing plan to really make business boom like it used to. I’m not supposed to know that Dad’s been quietly looking for buyers. I just can’t stand the thought of him selling it. It’s a family business. I bet if it was turning a higher profit like it was in its glory days, he’d hold on to it until the rest of us could decide if we wanted to continue the legacy.”
For the life of him, Conner couldn’t figure out why Marc didn’t see this side of Sadie. The dedicated, brilliant side. He doubted Sadie realized her own massive potential, either. Did she have any clue that with enough determination she could take over the world? Yes, he was most definitely falling. How could he not?
His gaze flickered to her lips, wondering how things might be different if Boomer hadn’t interrupted the moment last night.
“I called an emergency family meeting. Tonight, when the store closes. Well,siblingmeeting. But don’t tell Marc. He’ll never come if he thinks it was my idea.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“I bet you twenty bucks the moment he realizes I’m running the show, he’ll try to leave.”
“Bets with you are dangerous.”
“Only when they concern my stubborn brother,” she mumbled.
Conner only caught a glimpse at the time because the desk phone lit up with an incoming call. The orange light that revealed caller ID as well as date and time warned him he was going to be late if he didn’t get a move on it. But he didn’t want to leave without . . .without what?They weren’t dating. They were friends. At work. But he wanted more. So much more.
Though Conner slipped in the back to grab his bag and truck keys without a word, he still stopped by the front desk on his way out. “Good luck tonight. I know you’ll do great.”
“I need all the luck I can get.”
“Let me know how it goes.” When she answered with a shy smile, he added, “I mean it. Text me. I want to know.” He waited only long enough for her to agree before he rushed out the door.
He passed Marylou on the way to his truck and reminded her about his early departure. She thanked him with a smile. A smile that was nearly as rare as Marc’s unless she was greeting patients. No doubt this pleasant change was courtesy of Sadie. She’d survived three horrendous days and on this fourth one seemed to have things figured out.
If only Marc saw her for the woman she’d become instead of holding on to some past grudge Conner’d yet to figure out. Maybe then he could broach the subject of dating her without fear of a black eye or him disowning his sister. One could hope.
9
SADIE
Sadie checkedthe PowerPoint for the fifth time since they locked the doors of Evans’ Outfitters. She combed over the details of each slide, worried she’d left out something crucial. Everything had to be perfect. But her sweating palms and nervously bouncing knee suggested it was going to be a disaster.
“You brought Bonita’s blueberry scones,” Haylee said as she entered the open office area housed in the back of the store and helped herself to a pastry. “You must be pretty serious about this plan of yours.”
“I am.” Sadie looked around her sister at the doorway.
“He’s coming,” Haylee said about their oldest brother.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
As Laurel joined them, immediately distracted by the scones, Haylee’s phone rang. “It’s Cody.”
Last minute, Sadie asked Cody to call Haylee’s phone instead of hers. If Conner sent her a text during her presentation and Marc saw the name on her screen, he’d lose his mind. And she’d die from a variety of emotions, one of which was guaranteed to be humiliation. Not because Conner thought enough of her to talk to her outside of family dinners and the clinic. Oh, no. Marc would surely make some grandiose declaration about how she was manipulating his best friend and therefore be a terrible person.
No one knew they were on a texting level. No oneneededto know.
“Hi, Cody!” Sadie said with a wave once Haylee switched to FaceTime and propped him on a table against a stack of unopened boxes of fishing tackle. She missed her brother’s surfer boy face this week more than most when he was traveling. But she hoped he’d be proud of how well she was handling herself, especially around Marc. “How’s the book tour going?” She asked both because she genuinely liked Jenna and wanted the best for her, but also because she really wanted this meeting to stay between the five of them.
“Great! She keeps selling out everywhere we go. Right now, she’s grabbing coffee with the librarians she met earlier today. Guess they have a list of ideas the kids have been begging for Jenna to put in her books and wanted to share them.”
“That’s great.”
“Everyone there?” His question implied the obvious.
“Yes,” Marc answered with a scowl as he trudged through the door. He looked exhausted from the long day. One that got longer when Conner had to leave early for his shift at the shelter. Marc had the more difficult patients today. Sadie tried to help, but her attempts of all varieties were shot down left and right. Which likely set the tone for tonight.
No matter. She could handle Marc’s grumpiness.
