He figured she thought he was bonkers but was too polite to say so. She was a nice kid, so it didn’t surprise him.
“This little townisour target market,” he explained. “People in the city don’t want small-batch, full-sugar soda-pop. But if I can get those guys out here, they’ll see that me being here is bringing me back to the roots of the soda. They’ll see that my insights will be better from this perspective.”
“Back to the roots of your root beer, huh, Mr. Tailor?” Amanda ventured, laughing nervously.
“I love that, Amanda,” Ash said, chuckling. “Write it down. We’ll use it.”
“How are you going to get them out there?” she asked worriedly.
“Private plane, the works,” he told her. “I’ll take them around town for the day. They’ll fall in love with the place, just like I did, and then we’ll wrap things up in the evening.”
With any luck, he would wraptwothings up in the evening…
“I actually kind of like that idea, sir,” Amanda said. “Give me dates and details and I’ll put it all together.”
“Check your email, Amanda,” he told her. “Your holiday bonus should hit your account today too. Don’t spend it all in one place.”
“Oh wow,” she said. “Thank you, sir.”
“My pleasure,” he told her.
“But if the investors are out…?” her voice wavered a little, like she didn’t quite want to imply that he was hurting financially, but she was worried.
“I’m fine, Amanda,” he told her. “More than fine. I don’t really lack the funding. I lack the experience on a national scale. That’s what the investors are for. I have to cut them in if I want their expertise. So don’t worry about your paycheck, it’s safe no matter what happens with this deal.”
“Oh,” she said, sounding relieved. “That’s good to know.”
“You can share that news at the water cooler if you want,” he told her, feeling bad that he hadn’t anticipated the employees would worry. “Tell them all their bonuses are coming too. But I still want the investors on board, so let’s give them the full court press.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, a smile in her voice. “I promise.”
He signed off, feeling better about his chances of taking TBC national than he had in a long time.
Now it was time to take on a challenge he cared about even more.
He tapped on Allie’s contact in his phone and typed out a quick text to join his other unanswered messages.
I know you’re a busy teacher, Allie, and I respect that. So this will be my last message beforethe weekend.
I was in town today and noticed that there’s a big fundraiser gala this weekend for that new mentorship program. I want to go, and I’d like you to be my date. I took the liberty of arranging an appointment for you and a friend at a dress salon in Burlington. The saleslady will be ready for you both to choose dresses and accessories. My treat, of course. Feel free to change the date and time to whatever is convenient for you.
I hope the children behave for you this week. And I hope to see you at the ball.
He followed up with a link to the dress shop and the appointment details.
Then he turned off his phone and slid it into his pocket, determined to make plans for the investors and for Allie, instead of just staring at the phone, wishing she would message back.
As he turned his attention to the small map of Sugarville Grove he’d picked up in town and the list of must-see attractions Kris over at the post office had shared, he started to feel hopeful.
Ash had never been the kind of person who waited for things to happen. He was a man of action, and he was ready to do whatever it took to pull every aspect of his life together so that he could offer Maya the kind of family and fortune she deserved.
20
ALLIE
Allie and Charlotte walked down the snowy sidewalk of one of Burlington’s cutest streets toward the dress shop.
Burlington wasn’t exactly New York, but back when she was in high school, Allie imagined that when she grew up and had a car she’d be here in the city every weekend, hitting the bookshops and cafés, and maybe even going to concerts and other events.
