“… and a hair salon for people with curlyhair.”
Cedar’s fork froze halfway to her mouth and her brain tripped. “I’m sorry, what was that lastone?”
Elijah consulted his notes. “A hair salon for people with curlyhair.”
Teo lowered his eyebrows. “Is curly hair that big of a deal?” He looked around the restaurant as if counting the number of women with curly hair. Cedar did the same. There were three in a room of twenty-five or so. But she’d bet her first nanny check that there were another ten women in here who had curly or wavy hair and straightened it every morning because they had no idea what to do with their natural waves andcrimps.
“Yes.” Cedar nodded slowly. “It is.” Both Teo and Elijah stared at her, and she realized they were waiting for an explanation. The research she’d done came back to her in a tidal wave of numbers, stats, and dollars. “Forty-five percent of women have some type of curl in their hair. There are four types, ranging from a wave to a tight spiral, and all four types can grow on one head of hair. Women who embrace their curl, or want to embrace it, want someone who understands that to cut and style their tresses. Preferably someone who has curly hairthemselves.”
Teo and Elijah exchanged an open-mouthed look. “How do you know this?” askedTeo.
Elijah leaned over his plate dangling his tie awfully close to what was left of hissteak.
“I, um,” Cedar paused, moving her knife to the center of her plate and pushing it aside. “I put together a business plan for just such a salon. My old roommate came home from getting her hair cut looking like she’d stuck her finger in a light socket. She cried for a week. I saw a need in the market that wasn’t being met and I did a lot of research, conducted a few surveys, and even made up a floor plan. I actually wanted Terri to run the salon. She’s a manager at Baby Gap, but this would be right up heralley.”
Silence fell over their small table. Even Akoni contentedly sucked on a graham cracker, his eyes big as he watched the adults. Cedar shifted in her seat. She never talked about her ideas, not since Darrin. They’d met in a class where she’d thrown a few ideas around for a group project. After a couple kisses and fewer dates, he was already talking about the two of them owning their own mom-and-pop shops. He believed those were the best kind to make millions and stay under the radar. He loved the idea of being the unknown millionaire next door. Cedar didn’t care about all that, but she had been flattered that he thought her ideas were worth millions. Somehow she’d confused that thought with the belief that Darrin thoughtshewas worth millions. Her mistake. One she wouldn’t make again. Teo’s appreciative gaze was only because he was interested in hermind.
“So you think the salon is the one to go for?” Teo lightly touched her forearm, bringing Cedar out of her head and back to the conversation at hand. She looked into his warm brown eyes as soda bubbles tickled her skin where his fingerstouched.
She managed to lift a shoulder; a move she prayed made her appear relaxed and unaffected by his nearness. As if that were possible. “I don’t want to tell you what to do with your money.” The idea that he would invest more money into this business than she would make in a year in something she suggested freaked her out. Doing class projects was one thing, but this was real life. If the business tanked, then Teo could blame her for arguing for it. He could probably sue her. He had the money and a lawyer. She wouldn’t stand achance.
“But if it were you, you’d do it,” hepressed.
Her back was up against the wall with all three of them staring at her, waiting for an answer. Yes, even Akoni joined the men in their stare-down-Cedar-for-an-answertactic.
Cedar’s mouth was so dry chalk would be jealous. She needed to get used to this pressure. One day, she would be the one asking for start-up funds. Except, that would be easier because she believed in her concepts—researched the crap out of them—and waterproofed as much as any new business owner possibly could. She’d have the confidence of knowing that she would do her best to make the business a success. Would whomever was asking for money from Teo do the same. Probably. No one went into business expecting to fail. Of course, most new businesses did fail in the firstyear.
After what must have been too long of a silence, Teo nudged her knee under the table. She jumped as a current exploded just under her skin. She rearranged her silverware. “If it were my money,” she swallowed, “and the funds were free for investing and I was willing to take a risk on a new business, then yes, I would take a chance on the salon.” Her body slumped forward, like she’d had to force the words out. When had she become such a wimp? That wasn’t her, and she shrugged inside the insecurity like a scratchy bathtowel.
“I’m in,” he told Elijah. Teo’s dimples appeared, sending warmth rushing through her body. How a man who was so big and tough could be so adorable was beyondher.
Elijah made a note. “I’ll have the paperwork drawn up.” He turned to Cedar. “What do you think about a storage facility in Plano? I have another client who wants to put one out there—says there’s a lot of newgrowth.”
Cedar considered the idea rather than considering Teo’s dimples again. “That area is growing.” She paused, still a little uncomfortable that her confirmation could trigger major capital exchanging hands. Real life had so many consequences compared to college. “I’d like to drive by the site and check on the number of homes being built per year.” She snuck a look at Teo, who was signaling for the check. “I’m not here to make decisions for Teo. Please don’t think I assume asmuch.”
“I appreciate your input,” said Teo. “And I value youropinion.”
Cedar blushed under the praise and ducked under the trust. She had entered her internship thinking she had enough information and confidence to take the world by storm, but even just this small meeting among friends showed her she was one of the little guys, the new kid on the field. She had a long way to go before she conqueredanything.
Elijah swiped his mouth with a napkin. “I imagine Cedar’s knowledge of business is a lot like reading the football field is for Teo. You get a sense of things over time: the other team, their strengths andweaknesses…”
“Hours of watching film,” Teoadded.
Elijah dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Same idea. Except Cedar studies the local economy and markettrends.”
Cedar grinned, but inside she panicked. At school, she’d had professors and other students as resources. Now that she’d graduated, all she had was herself and anything she could find online—and she hadn’t been taking the time to stay up on things because she spent so much time with Akoni. Right now, she felt like a big, fatposer.
Elijah continued, “I’m just sorry Teo got to you first. If you’re ever interested in consulting, I’d be happy to put you towork.”
Cedar relaxed into a smile. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. It will depend on where I end up. Some companies frown on outsideconsulting.”
Elijah nodded. “Where are youinterviewing?”
“This week? ClubCorp.”
“You are?” Teo scowled. The effect was intimidating, implying there was danger ahead, although it wasn’t aimed at her. She had not once felt intimidated by him, despite his size. Cedar could only imagine how scary he looked on the football field when he was after adefender.
“I forgot to tell you I got an email this morning.” She had meant to tell him. They talked about everyday activities, about the small moments of their day. Though she had yet to tell him much about her parents or what happened with Darrin. Their conversations tended to focus on the here and now; like friends keeping each other apprised of their comings andgoings.
