I followed the two of them down the hall and plopped on the small sofa I'd persuaded Cam to buy so she could sit or nap if she needed to. Or that I could use when I actually came to town.
Hey, I was a night owl and sometimes I needed a little nap to make it through the day. Some people drink, I nap. It is what it is.
Crap, now I was using that saying. I hated it as much as Cam did.
Cam sat in the chair behind her desk, but she leaned back in it. "Your mom was very proud when you graduated college but she never told me what you studied."
Lee shrugged one shoulder. "I think she was just glad one of her kids made it through without the threat of being kicked out."
Cam grinned. "Your brothers seem fairly settled now."
Lee laughed. "I think having kids has taken most of the excess energy they used to put into playing pranks and partying."
"I'm sure your mother appreciates that."
That bright, sincere smile appeared again. "She definitely does. Especially now that she can send the grandkids home when they start to act like their fathers."
"I'm sure," Cam said with a laugh. "So what did you end up getting your degree in?"
"Marketing with a minor in business administration."
Okay, so maybe Colette's friend, Natalie, knew what she was talking about. But also it raised the question—why wasn't Lee working somewhere else? Somewhere where she could make a heck of a lot more money than we could pay her.
Cam, bless her soul, knew exactly what I was thinking because she said, "I don't mean to pry but with a degree like that and the fact that you graduatedcum laude, why aren't you working in Dallas for a big firm or somewhere in town where you can make a lot more money?"
Lee smiled, but it was weak. "You want the honest answer or the one that sounds the best?"
"Honesty, please," I said.
"I've never wanted to live anywhere but Farley. I liked college but I missed home. And I like the idea of working for a small business. It will give me a chance to learn and grow with the company."
I glanced at Cam. That sounded a lot like something she'd told me when she was getting ready to graduate college. I'd asked her to get an apartment with me in Dallas but she wanted to go back home. She liked it there and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
I saw her expression and knew that she wanted to hire Lee based on that answer alone. But that wasn't necessarily a smart business practice, so I asked a few more questions about her work experience and if she would be willing to develop a marketing plan for the shop.
Cam chimed in a few times but I knew that everything Lee said only cemented her decision.
After a half hour, Cam rose to her feet and I followed her lead. "Thanks for coming in today, Lee. Can you give me a few minutes to talk to Cam? Feel free to grab a drink or something while you wait."
Lee stood as well. "No problem."
As soon as Lee walked out of the office, Cam turned to me. "I want to hire her."
I bit back a sigh. "I do, too, but we should at least check with her references first."
Cam nodded. "We should do that, but I can tell you right now that if Natalie Phelps recommends her, all her references will, too."
"So you want to give her the job immediately?" I asked.
"Yeah, I do."
"Then, I defer to your judgment. I pitch in around here, but this is your baby."
Cam nudged me with her elbow. "Stop that. It's a joint endeavor. Let me go grab her and tell her she got the job."
She left the office and returned with Lee in tow. I'd moved to the chair behind the desk by the time they entered and Cam rolled her eyes at me, probably because I was swinging back and forth in the swivel seat.
"Lee, Sierra and I discussed it and we would like to offer you the job," Cam said.
