Chapter 25
“Call from Penny,” the villa’s high-tech communication system announced. Bash froze. He’d arrogantly thought she’d take a few days before calling him back, as if she’d need time to compose herself. As if she was hurting as much as he was. “Call from Penny,” the disembodied voice repeated.
“Answer it,” he barked as he washed his hands. He could finish his dinner prep later, assuming he hadn’t lost his appetite. “Thanks for calling me,” he said when the call connected, channeling his inner CEO but failing.
“You didn’t need to send flowers. A call or text would have worked.” Her crisp voice was a balm to his soul.
“Lucas said you’ve been getting lots of snow, and I thought you might like them.” He leaned against the counter, crossing one foot over the other, hoping the casual pose would send a message to his brain to calm down.
“I do, thank you, but I hope we’re past talking about the weather.”
“How are you?” Please be miserable.
She chuckled. “Good and you?”
“Great. Shoulder’s getting better every day,” he lied, hating that she sounded happy and poised. “How is everyone?”
“Everyone is fine. Elspeth, Nanna, and Grandad are in Arizona for another week. Cal is in Scotland trailing behind our uncle at the distillery. Lucas is keeping busy at Thistlestone and working on the space next door, and Maggie seems to be enjoying her baking boot camp, but she’s tired of sleeping on her friend’s couch. And you probably know all of that already. For a self-proclaimed hater of small talk, you’re sure clinging to it now. Can we move off it?”
“So, I don’t need to start at ground zero?”
“I think we’re past that, don’t you?” The sadness in her voice hit him harder than a three-hundred-pound defensive lineman.
“Penny, I’m so—”
“Your card mentioned a proposition,” she interrupted his apology, and it stung. “What do you want?”
Another chance, he thought, but he said, “To hire you, as a consultant. You can work remote, and you don’t need to come to New York unless you wanted to—”
“I’m not sure I have the time.”
That’s not a ‘no’. Keep pressing!
“It’s not full-time and you’ll have an assistant. Her support will flex with your schedule.”
“I don’t understand,” Penny said.
She’s giving you an opening. Take it!
“My plan is that you’ll be the idea person and Tanya will be execution.” She gasped, but he continued. “I want to take everything you’ve done at Get Lost and package it for other indie bookstores. I also want you to select the books and create questions for book clubs. Funnel everything you’re currently doing to Tanya, and we’ll roll it out to others.”
“All VV Pub books, or would you consider others?” she asked.
“All VV Pub, and if you’re interested and have the time, I wouldn’t mind your opinion on reader likability for possible acquisitions. There’s often a lively debate on what will sell, and your insights would be a useful tiebreaker.”
“Are you hiring me or my gifts?” She sounded cold.
“You, in whatever capacity you’re comfortable with.”
“How many hours do you anticipate?”
“As many as you’ll give us. Penny, what you’ve created at Get Lost is special, and I believe with support other booksellers can replicate it. This is a win-win for everyone.”
“Is it a set monthly rate?”
“You’d bill us hourly.” Bash hoped that was right or else Pat in accounting would have his head.
“How much?”
Bash named a number, knowing his dad would have his head for it, but it seemed reasonable given the long-term upside potential. And if his dad got his undies in a bind over it, Bash would cover the difference.
“Can I think about it?”
“Sure, but I’d appreciate an answer before you leave for vacation next week.”
“I can do that.”
“If you have questions, call me and we’ll work through them.”
“There is one. The Tanya you mentioned, is her last name, Harris?”
“It is.” But he hadn’t known that before he hired the detective. She’d found several Tanyas working in mid-sized publishing houses, but luckily, only one of them claimed to be friends with Penny Buchanan.
“She texted me she had a new job, but we haven’t had a chance to talk. We’ve both been busy.”
“Well, she hasn’t been busy on account of us. Her schedule has been light since I dropped the ball.”
“Oh?”
“I should have called you weeks ago. The way I handled—”
“I’ll think about the offer and get back to you. Goodnight, Bash.”
“Call disconnected,” the system announced.
Her, too, Bash thought uneasily. He couldn’t get a read on her, and he wished she’d used video calling instead. Seeing her face would have given him all the answers. If she was interested in his offer. If she was happy he’d hired Tanya away—rescued was more accurate, based on some stories he’d heard—from the other firm. If she hated him. Although he couldn’t see Penny hating anyone. It wasn’t in her. Detest and loathe, however, were distinct possibilities. At least where he was concerned.
What offer? George asked, batting at a miniature carnation.
You’re not a florist, leave it alone.
What? I’m just tszujing it. He nudged her hand, and Penny instinctively rubbed behind his ears.
You miss her, don’t you?
I miss my dinner.Penny stopped and glared at him. George sat and looked at the floor. I miss Maggie, too. I like it better when you both serve me.
She’ll be back soon.
Will he?
Why? Penny grabbed a can of cat food and George trotted over. His interest in Bash was disconcerting.
Because he made you happy, and you haven’t been happy since he made you cry.
Since when do you care if I’m happy?She laughed. George looked wounded and offended.
I always care. You take much better care of me when you’re happy. If this offer makes you happy, take it.
Because a happy Penny means a happy George?He smiled at her as if he was proud she’d figured it out.
Win-win, right? See? I’m a team player. Now that everything was right in his world, George focused on his dinner.
The question, though, is do I want to be a team player? Penny asked herself as she loaded the dishwasher. If she said no, her life would go on as it was. There’d be an awkward blip when Bash returned to Cascade City, but once they moved past that, things would be fine. Ugh, I hate that word. Fine. She slammed the dishwasher door and George jumped before glaring at her.
Penny wanted more than fine for her life. She wanted travel and adventure. Bash’s open-ended deal with the obscene billing rate meant she wouldn’t have to worry as much about the store’s finances. If she didn’t need to beat sales goals for her bonus, she could relax. Maybe take some long weekends away, or if she was dreaming big, reduce her salary for more vacation time and a part-time employee could cover for her. Something like that would be more than fine.
She wanted to use her brain and skills. Penny was on autopilot for a good portion of most days. The consulting gig would be challenging, but not difficult. A bit like the man himself, she thought as she reheated her dinner in the microwave. She usually recommended books to the clubs, but she’d never created questions for them. How hard can it be? Penny poured herself a glass of wine, eyeing the small, pathetic frozen dinner and promising herself she’d make popcorn later.
She wanted her gifts back, but Bash’s proposition wouldn’t help with that.
She wanted love, too, but his proposal had killed that option. There’s other fish in the sea, right, George?
He smacked his lips, pushed his bowl away, and strutted toward her. Yes, but most are inedible.
At least we agree on that.
Don’t be a chicken. Take the offer.His good eye stared at her. Speaking of chicken, I want that next.