Chapter 6
six
. . .
beau
All I’ve been able to think about is Piper’s lips on mine.
I never in a million years thought it would happen.
At least, not without me instigating it.
She’s wrong, though. We weren’t caught up in the moment.
Even if it took me by surprise, it felt right.
Like something we should have been doing for years.
It’s been a few days since she was at my house. While it’s normal, it’s also not. She hasn’t texted me as much and I know she’s avoiding me. She can lie and say she isn’t, but I know her better than anyone else.
Too bad I have to be at work and can’t confront her about it.
I gave her the weekend to deal with what she was feeling.
The only thing fueling me is hope she’ll come to her senses and see how well we could work together.
Not in the way she’s expecting with the winery, but me and her.
Us against the world the way we’ve always been… but with kissing and stuff.
I’ll wait, though. I have been for years. A little longer won’t hurt. The fact she kissed me means she does feel more for me. She only has to stop lying to herself.
My phone dings with a text. Reaching into my pocket, I pull it out. As soon as I see the name, the urge to shove it in my pocket takes over, even though I know I need to answer it. He’ll keep blowing up my phone until I respond. He’s persistent like that. Always has been and always will be.
Pierce
We need to talk.
Beau
Why? I don’t remember doing anything wrong.
There’s a rock in the pit of my stomach because I know what this is about. Honestly, I’m shocked it’s taken him this long to reach out to me.
Pierce
You didn’t try to stop Piper from making those candid posts on social media?
For fuck’s sake. If we keep texting this conversation could go on all day. Talking to Piper’s big brother is the last thing I want to do, but I guess I have to. It’s the only way he’ll leave me alone. Putting it off will only make things worse.
At this point in life, I’m used to being dragged into Summers’ family drama.
But he doesn’t know what he’s up against if he thinks I’m going to abandon my best friend.
There’s nothing in this world that can make me turn my back on her.
Including if she decides she really doesn’t have feelings for me.
Instead of replying, I click his number and wait. It rings three times before he answers. It’s a little long since I know for a fact he has his phone in his hand. My eyes roam around the office to make sure nobody is around.
Should I be making this call in the office? Absolutely not. It’s worth whatever reprimand I may get.
“Hello?” He grunts. Oh great, I get to deal with annoyed Pierce. Better for me to catch his ire than Piper, though.
I don’t bother with pleasantries. He didn’t when he sent the text message, and doesn’t deserve it from me. Especially when I have an idea of how this call will go.
“What exactly are you insinuating I did?” Better to be the one confronting him than the other way around.
“You let Piper make all those posts on social media. She was at your house. You could have easily said you didn’t want to do it.”
How the hell is he going to dictate what I do in my house? That’s the thing with Pierce, though. He thinks he can steamroll over anyone he wants. Too bad life doesn’t work that way. One day someone is going to push back and won’t be nice about it. I actually hope I’m around to see it happen.
“Her making those short posts was better than her initial plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, she was going to go live. I talked her out of that.” I take a second to gather my thoughts.
He needs to realize this was the better option, and the more controlled one.
But it won’t stop me from giving my two cents.
“If you would give her some creative space on the socials, she wouldn’t feel the need to go behind your back and do it. ”
“That’s beside the point. I gave her a template to post. She strayed from that.” According to him, whatever he says goes. He doesn’t care about anyone else’s input. My eyes roam the office to make sure I’m not getting anyone’s attention.
“Did you know she consulted me about marketing tactics?”
He’s silent on the other end. The words were out of my mouth before I realize it. Who knows if she mentioned it in the presentation. If he didn’t know, it’s too late now.
“No. Why would she? It’s not her job.”
Well, that answered the question about him knowing. Paul is making a huge mistake letting Pierce make all the decisions with Starlit Fields. It’s this closeminded thinking that’s going to tank the company.
“Because she sees a bigger future for the winery. Her presentation laid it all out. Those were the points we talked about. She also had me come up with a scaled down marketing plan in case you turned it down.”
“Because we don’t know if what she’s planning will work.”
“You’ll never know unless you try.”
“I’ve made my decision. You are Piper’s voice of reason. Make sure she doesn’t go behind my back again.”
Why does he think he can order me around?
Never in the years I’ve known him has he pulled this crap.
He’s always treated me like an annoying brother and acted like I wasn’t there.
But I just put myself on his radar when it comes to the winery.
I don’t understand why he thinks he has any sway over me.
“And if I don’t? I can’t control her every action, and I don’t want to.”
Silence fills the air and I wonder if he’s hung up. I pull the phone away from my ear and check the screen. The call is still open. Whatever comes out of his mouth next won’t be good.
“If you don’t, I’ll find someone to handle the socials and office the way I believe it should be done.”
Wait…he can’t be saying what I think he is. Does he mean he’ll fire her?
Before I can argue he hangs up. He always has to have the last word. I’ve known what Piper has gone through, but this is the first time I can honestly imagine what it feels like to be in her shoes.
The urge to call him back is overwhelming. It’ll make things worse, and the last thing I want is for him to take it out on Piper.
How the hell am I supposed to be supportive of what she wants to do when it comes to the winery while also making sure she doesn’t lose her job. She can’t know about what he just told me. At least, not yet.
I set my phone on my desk and get back to work. These clients won’t take care of themselves. Too bad my concentration is now blown to bits.
My hand inches toward my phone again. Not to call Pierce, but to warn Piper her brother is in a mood and to steer clear of him. Her well-being is all I care about.
“Beau.” Cole appears at the side of my desk. I didn’t even see him walk up, and I push my phone to the side. The last thing I need is for him to tattle on me for being on the phone. He’s a nice guy, but he’ll do anything to get a leg up in the company.
“Yeah?” Dealing with him isn’t on my agenda today. Not after talking to Pierce.
“The boss wants to see you.” He nods toward the office on the other side of the room. “He said you can finish up what you’re working on first.”
“Thanks.” I put the finishing touches on this proposal and send it off to the client. Apparently today is going to be a doozy between Pierce and my boss. There are too many thoughts bouncing around in my head and talking to my boss will only add to the noise.
Deep breath in and out. Whatever Mr. Gardner has to say can’t be bad. I’m a model employee aside from that quick conversation with Pierce. I guess it’s time to find out what he wants from me. Hopefully it’s not to add more to my work load.
My steps are slow and measured across the room. The longer I take to get to his office, the longer I can put off this impromptu meeting.
“Close the door.” Mr. Gardner says as I approach his office. This isn’t a good sign.
“What can I do for you, Sir?” I take a seat in one of the uncomfortable chairs across from him.
You’d think he’d have better ones with the high caliber clients he meets.
Maybe I’ll suggest it to him assuming he’s not firing me.
If clients are comfortable, they are more likely to agree to any plans he offers.
He leans back in his chair and clasps his hands over his chest. It looks uncomfortable, and I don’t know why older men do it. Maybe he thinks it makes him look more important? It doesn’t. He looks like he’s one step away from stuffing his hands under his armpits.
“Cole told me you were putting together two proposals for a potential client.” Of course he did.
“Well, it was more of a favor to a friend. They’re a small business and don’t have the funds to be an actual client.” At least, I don’t think they do.
“I’d like to take a look at them.”
“Why?” The word is out of my mouth before I can reel it back in. Questioning your boss on something you did for a nonpaying client probably isn’t a good idea.
Now he leans forward. Having the attention of my boss is weird. I’m a fly below the radar type of guy. I come in, do my job, then go home. None of this other stuff is needed. Damn Cole for opening his big mouth.
“If both plans are solid, I’d like you to test them both. If we can make it work for an up and coming small business, it’s possible we can garner the same results for our larger clients. But on a bigger scale.”
“They can’t afford both marketing plans. At least not the one on one.” I’m going to murder Cole.
“I understand that. Is this something you’d be helping you friend with on a personal level without company time?”
Absolutely. I’ve always done what I can to help Starlit Fields. “Yes. That was my initial plan. I just wanted to run some numbers up here to give them a ballpark figure.”
Where is he going with this?
“Then do whatever you were going to do. If one of them proves to be successful, I’d like you to let me know. There may be a promotion in it for you.”
This isn’t at all what I was expecting. More money would be great, but at what cost.
“I like working with small businesses, Mr. Gardner. I’m not sure I’d want to be promoted to the larger clients.”
“Then show me how you can do it on a budget.” He reaches for his phone, an indication the conversation is over. “Maybe we can work something out.”
“Okay.” I’m almost certain Cole was trying to get me in trouble. Too bad it seems to have backfired on him.
“Keep me updated.” His attention is one hundred percent on his phone now.
“I will.” Without another word I stand and walk out of the office, closing the door behind me. Now I have to keep Piper from doing anything on socials while also showing my boss the marketing plans can work. What in the world did I just get myself into?