Chapter Nineteen #2
"Just about everyone in this town, I think.
Hey—don't look like that. They don't think you're not up to the job.
They care about you, that's all. Reaves has given me a blanket order, of course, but I'm sure that doesn't surprise you.
Charles is the same. I talked to Callie yesterday, and she told me the same thing.
And I took a call from Jacob on my way over here.
Even he warned me off pushing too hard."
She went to sit on the end of the sofa closest to Alara's desk. "But like I said—don't go getting the wrong idea. No one thinks you're not capable. They're looking out for you. That's all."
Alara smiled slowly. "They are, aren't they?"
"Yeah, girl. They are. And if I were you, I'd get used to it." She sat forward. "But if you say you're good to go, I'm not gonna waste that energy. We need to get down to work, right?"
"Right," Alara agreed. "Before we do, tell me what Aaron said about the design. And Caleb, if he had any input."
"Caleb's easy. He said the same thing I did—the gold leaf is genius. It puts us squarely in the upper tier of premium, which is where we want to be." She hesitated.
"What?" asked Alara. "Was there something he didn't like?"
"No. Well—I won't lie to you. He has his concerns, but they're nothing to do with the branding.
Caleb's the logistics guy. He's more concerned about deliverability.
" Delaney glanced toward the door. "Charles is a sweetheart.
I adore that man. But he's not used to the kind of pressure that'll come from working with Sterling Hartman. "
Alara worried at her bottom lip.
"Hey. It's not your problem." Delaney grinned. "That's where your man's gonna need to step up. And don't tell him I said so, but I have every faith in him."
"You do?" Alara felt bad. She didn't want to question Reaves—he was so solid and capable. He'd never run a business before, though.
Delaney grinned. "Think about it. He's a pilot.
It takes a lot of dedication and confidence to even become a pilot.
He'll be fine. I know he will." She tilted her head.
"And forgive me if I'm talking out of school.
But from what Callie was saying yesterday, it sounds like he won't be on his own in stepping up to run this place. "
"What do you mean?"
"Callie made it sound like Ollie's keen to get involved as well." Delaney frowned. "Shit. I hope I'm not telling you things you don't know."
"That's okay. You are, but why would I have a problem with it? Ollie's his best friend, and I know Charles thinks of him as part of the family."
"Yeah. It seems that way." Delaney studied her. "And I should have known better. You don't strike me as the sort to get jealous over your guy's friends."
Alara thought about it for a long moment. The concept of being jealous of Reaves's relationship with Ollie hadn't even occurred to her. When she noticed Delaney was watching her closely, she shrugged. "I'm just glad to be a part of it. I'd never try to take over anything."
"No. I know." Delaney stood. "And come on—we've done enough gossiping. Why don't we get down to work?"
"I'd love to. Where do you want to start?" She handed Delaney her notebook. "Here's the list of things I can think of, and my initial ideas. If you want to put them in order of priority, we'll go from there."
"Oh my God," said Delaney. "An artist who gets the need to prioritize." She looked up. "I don't suppose there's any chance you'd want to keep working with me after this job is done? You'd be a great asset. And I'd pay you well."
Alara opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She didn't know what to say.
Delaney chuckled. "Let's leave it there for now. We have work to do this morning. But think about it, okay?"
"Okay."
Even as they got down to work, Alara's mind kept circling back to the idea.
If she were to work for Delaney, she'd be standing on her own two feet.
She wouldn't be relying on anyone for support.
She'd be able to pay her own way. It sounded so good in theory.
But for some nagging reason, it just didn't sit right.
~ ~ ~
"Hey, little buddy." Reaves turned to Zia when she came running out the front door to join him at the top of the steps. He raised his hand as Ollie's Cullinan pulled away.
"Hi, Prince Daddy!" She waved madly, and Ollie tooted his horn, making her smile. "Grandpa Grape said Sunshine King was here. All three of you were doing business this afternoon, weren't you?"
Reaves chuckled. "We were, yeah."
"Are you going to help Grandpa Grape make his wines now, so that the new men will sell them for him?
" Her arms hung loose at her sides, and she tilted her head to look up at him.
"Mom's labels will help them sell, you know.
They're sparkly. I said she should use glitter, but she said the gold is the closest thing that'll stay on a label. "
He held his hands out to her, and she grasped them and somehow managed to climb up his leg until she was sitting in her usual position on his hip.
"I'm not going to make the wines," he told her. "Grandpa Grape's going to keep doing that."
"Good. That's his magic, isn't it?"
"It is."
"Cookie Queen said he's a wizard, you know. The Vine Wizard."
"Cookie Queen?" he asked, confused for a moment.