Dean walked into the office he shared with his two co-owners and sat down next to TJ’s desk.
“Did you see that order that came in this morning?” he asked.
“I did. Crazy.”
“I expected Pete to order, but I never dreamed it would be so big,” Dean said. Pete Schumer was the owner of Schumer Liquor, one of the biggest liquor store chains in the metro area.
“I was going to ask you if you thought we’d be able to fill it.”
“I think so, but I told Jake to inform suppliers from here on out that we’re probably looking at a month out on reorders.”
“You don’t think we should limit him?” TJ asked. “He wanted two cases per store. We could tell him just one. Or maybe he will only do certain stores for the first month.”
“Irritating Pete seems like a gamble.”
TJ shrugged. “Agreed. But if I know Pete, the idea that demand is high and supply is low will keep him on the hook no matter what. Especially if people like the product.”
Dean glared at TJ, who was grinning. “You know damn well the product is solid.”
“I do. Or I wouldn’t be here. So what do we do? We’ve erred on the safe side and figured a hundred cases for this first batch. I planned on one for the uncask party, and since we limited our bar and restaurant account to only three bottles on the first batch, that will leave us with less than seventy-five cases.”
“How many stores does Pete have?”
“Twenty-two.”
Dean nodded, his brain spinning. “We need at least twenty cases to get Jake started with his first trip this summer.” Jake was taking The Stag Wagon—which was currently being renovated as a whiskey-tasting party bus—on a tour of summer festivals starting in July.
“That answers our question then. We’ll have to tell Pete one case per store until the next batch. It won’t be that long, only a month.”
“Yeah. Maybe we can convince him to let us do some special promotion. Let him be the only liquor store with it for the first few days or so.”
“I think he’ll go for that. Want me to call Mel?”
Mel was Pete’s daughter, and buyer. “Yeah, do that and let me know what she says.”
“My answer is Only if you show me yours first,” a flirty voice said from the doorway.
Dean and TJ both turned at the same time to find Jen walking toward them. She dragged Dean’s desk chair over to where they were seated and joined them.
“Don’t act all weird, I was just kidding.” Today Jen wore a tank top, showing off her ink-covered shoulder. Sometimes he almost forgot she had those tattoos, and as brassy as her personality was, you’d have thought that amount of ink showing would make her look tough, but on her it seemed to have the opposite effect. She looked really pretty today—soft, almost.
“We were talking about Mel Schumer,” TJ said. He turned to Dean. “I’d be happy to call her. She’s always fun to talk to.”
Dean raised an eyebrow at TJ. He was obviously trying to make Jen jealous, and by the way she glared at him, lips twisted, he’d done a fine job. Interesting.
“Okay then, that’s settled. Let me know what she says,” Dean replied. He was just waiting for what would come out of Jen’s mouth next. Maybe he could distract her. “What are you doing here on a weekday, Jen? Paychecks are tomorrow.”
“I know. I actually needed to talk to you.” She looked around. “Is Jake here?”
“He has the day off. Why?” There was a hint of concern in TJ’s voice.
“Well, I had an idea.” Jen shifted in her seat, which was unlike her. She gave a sideways glance to TJ. “I know I’m not always … super fun to talk to. But what would you guys think about letting me take Tara’s job until her leave’s over?”
Dean’s eyes widened and he quickly turned to TJ, who appeared just as shocked as he was. “Don’t you work at the community theater during the week?”
“I did. It’s closing. Funding was cut off.”
“Damn, I’m sorry. I know how much you loved that job.” TJ’s voice was full of real concern. So much for sticking it to her.
“Yeah, well, shit happens, right?”
Dean looked at TJ once more, who was staring intently at Jen. If he knew his friend, it was killing him to see the woman he cared for so upset about her situation. Jen was obsessed with musical theater. It was her passion, and she’d mentioned several times just wanting to drop everything and move to a bigger city where she could pursue it. But Dean knew that with her mother’s health in question she never would. Jen might be many things—loud, mouthy, frustrating—but she was loyal and had a soft side when she wanted to show it.
“I don’t know what you made at the theater, but Tara’s hourly wage wasn’t anything to brag about,” TJ said. “Ben’s income pays their bills.”
“Well, a small income is a far cry better than none.” Jen looked nervous, something Dean wasn’t sure he’d ever really seen before. Even in her sweet moments she never lacked confidence. “Besides, it wasn’t like I was working at the theater because I was making a fortune.”
“I know that, but you loved it,” TJ said. He met Dean’s eyes, and the look on the guy’s face left no doubt. He wanted to give Jen the job.
“Jen, what will you do when Tara comes back?” Dean asked. It was a valid question.
“Well … I guess there’s the possibility that … my mother will have passed and then I’ll move to Chicago or New York where theater is only slightly more lucrative. Not that I want that. I don’t. I mean, not until we’ve done all we can.”
“Jen, we know you love your mother.” TJ leaned forward, and Dean could tell the guy wanted to touch her. He wouldn’t, but how could she not tell?
“I’ll let TJ be the bad guy if he’s so inclined, but I’m for it.” Dean knew TJ was grateful when he sighed with relief.
“The job is yours.”
Jen sat up straighter in her chair, a little of her Jen fire gaining some brightness. “Thank you, guys. I promise I’ll leave my bullshit antics at the door.”
“Nothing you do is bullshit. We wouldn’t employ you if that was the case.”
Dean could call bullshit on that statement, but he didn’t contradict TJ. They did love Jen—some of them more than others—she was just … high-maintenance.
“When can I start, then? How about today?”
TJ looked at Dean, who just shrugged.
“Awesome!” Her grin was wide, and Dean couldn’t help smiling back. It felt good to do this for Jen. Tara would also have approved. “I’ll need one of you goofs to come train me. I’ll be at my desk.”
She was gone. Dean gave TJ a long glance. “No bullshit, huh? Isn’t that what you said?”
TJ shook his head. “Jen is Jen.”
“Yes, that is true, which is why I was happy to do this for her. You gonna be okay working with her every day?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
Dean tilted his head. “Come on, man. It’s me, here.”
TJ sighed. “I know, and yes. I will be fine. I’ve been fine this long.”
That was hardly an admission, but even those words surprised Dean. “You have. But honestly, I’m not sure why you don’t … tell her.”
“Right.”
Dean was about to argue with him when Jen popped her head back in.
“Who is the super-hot new guy?” she asked, her eyes alight.
TJ gave Dean an I-told-you-so glance before he answered. “It’s actually Charlotte Linley’s ex. Dean gave him an apprenticeship.”
“What? Are you kidding me? She let that guy get away? Dean, you’re crazy for letting your girl be around that kind of eye candy.”
She darted off, presumably to find a way to put herself in John’s path. Dean looked at TJ, who was practically scowling. Yep, now they were both pissed.
Dean’s phone rang. When he picked it up and saw the name of his doctor’s office his heart sank.
* * *
Charlotte ended the call with an author looking for someone to shoot her next cover. She was ecstatic to get the job, which required a male and a female in a rather compromising situation. Tasteful, of course, but super sexy. She knew she could do it, and the author was wonderful and charming so far.
Now she just needed to pick the models. Strangely enough, the way the author described the hero, she’d immediately thought of John. Handsome but somewhat boyish good looks. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to pull that off, or if he’d even want to. The other problem would be finding the female. But she’d worry about that later. The cover didn’t need to be done for six months so she had plenty of time.
Her phone began to buzz and play “Honey, Honey.” She grinned from ear to ear, knowing it was Dean. Things had been going so well between them, and she realized she hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
“Hi, you.” There was no keeping the excitement out of her voice.
“Hi, you back. Busy?” he asked.
“Well, I just booked another cover shoot so I’m very excited about that.”
“Good for you. I wondered if you could be free this afternoon?”
Charlotte couldn’t help but notice he sounded a bit down. “Of course. What do you have in mind?” She asked, going for sexy.
His voice lowered. “I like what you’re implying. However … I need a favor.”
Sitting up straight, her brow furrowed. “Okay, what?”
“Well, I just got a call from Amy. My ex. I guess Alex’s dress is in and she wants me to come and look at it.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Why do you sound irritated? Don’t you want to see it?”
“Definitely. I just … I don’t want to see her. And it’s been kind of a rough day. That’s all. But seeing you will make it better. Plus I thought you might like to see the dress.”
“I’m sorry to hear you’re having a bad day. Want to talk about it?”
“No, it’s fine. Just work stress.”
She considered pushing because she didn’t quite believe that. He always had work stress, but he sounded so sad. Maybe she could get him to share once they were face-to-face. “I would love to see the dress. I’d also love to see you, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not a teensy bit curious about seeing Amy as well. Don’t judge me.”
Dean chuckled. “At least you don’t have to work with my ex.”
“So true. I don’t think I could do it.”
“I have two calls this afternoon. Do you mind if we meet?”
“No problem.” Charlotte wrote down the time and the name of the shop.
Once she hung up, she sighed down at the paper. She truly was excited to see Dean, but the location made her pause.
She’d unfortunately been to this dress shop before. About five years ago.