“You can get started on the mint juleps while I get the cornbread in the oven.” Maple smiled at me over her shoulder, long silver hair loose today in a riot of curls thanks to the humidity. “I decided to do a down home southern style meal for tonight. Fried chicken is good for the soul.”

My stomach growled and the rest of my body sighed in relief, or maybe it was just relaxation. The past week had been completely hellish, with me putting in ten to twelve hour days, which I was used to, but with my business those hours were all work. Not bullshit meetings where people went around and around about border colors and other nonsense. “I could definitely use a mint julep. A strong one.”

“Long day?”

“Long week, Grandma. No wonder people in the corporate world are so tired and miserable. If I never seen another conference room again, it’ll be too soon.” The work itself was great. Fun and invigorating to work with others on the creative side. But the day to day shit, could drive a person to more than booze.

“How is Talia settling in over there? I thought she might join us tonight.” Talia usually did, but she had plans.

“She’s doing great, actually. Efficient and a great gatekeeper so I can actually get work done. I invited her tonight, but she has plans with Kyle,” I told her and rolled my eyes. “There’s something off about that guy that I just don’t like.” I set both drinks on the table and got busy grabbing plates and silver.

“Not that I don’t agree with you, but he is Talia’s mistake to make. All we can do is be there for her if she needs us.” She gave me that pointed Grandma Maple look that I hated, because it always came after she dropped a truth bomb. “Speaking of mistakes, tell me more about your gentleman caller. I saw he stayed for more than an hour after Talia and her young man left.”

“This isn’t the fifties, there are no more gentleman, never mind gentleman callers Grandma.” We shared a grin and I helped her bring the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, butter peas and glazed carrots and shallots to the table. I took the seat across from her and nodded for her to sit while the cornbread baked. “There’s nothing going on with Blake other than the fact that he thinks he can seduce me into selling his company.”

She took a long sip from the highball glasses with the frosted flowers around the rim and sighed. “Damn good drink, Poppy.”

“Yeah, thanks Grandma.” I often wondered if other people were as close with their grandmothers as I was, sharing cocktail recipes and dating stories. To be fair though, most of the dating stories were Maple’s since her love life was a lot more active than mine.

“Can he, seduce you into selling the company?”

“I’d love to say no, but we both know my inexperience is no match for his seduction skills. He can definitely seduce me, but I won’t sell him OAA.” If I sold it at all, I would sell it to anyone but him. Probably. Almost certainly. “Besides I won’t sleep with someone for the first time when I know going in that his motives are suspect.”

Maple tilted her head back and laughed, one hand to her chest while the other gripped her cup as her body shook with amusement. “All men have ulterior motives when it comes to sex.”

“I disagree. Men will say whatever it takes to get to achieve their goal, which is sex. The difference is that at least those men want to have sex with me for no other reason than to get off. They might not call the next day, but they want my body.”

She nodded and took another sip as she thought about my words, blue eyes sympathetic and kind, as always. “Nothing wrong with having a bit of fun.”

“Nothing at all. I love fun, but Blake isn’t the kind of guy you have fun with. He is deliberate in everything he does from the way he knots his ties, combs his hair and even the different smiles he has. Once the seduction begins, he’ll wage a full on war, not stopping until I’m head over heels in love with him and ready to sign over Out & About Apparel for pennies on the dollar.” She grinned and I rolled my eyes, ignoring the blush that stole over my skin. “Not that I’ve thought about it or anything.”

“Of course not,” she agreed with a falsely grave expression. “If that’s how you feel, I think distance is wise.”

“Agreed,” I told her, jumping up too fast when the oven timer sounded. “Anyway, tell me about your date last night. Where’d you go?”

Her face lit up as I set the glass dish on an oven pad. “We went to that artsy movie theater downtown to see ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.” Her eyes lit as she talked about watching her favorite musical on the big screen. “It was a blast, honey. And Ted even sang along, can you imagine?”

I could, actually. Ted and Maple were two peas in a pod, perfect for each other. “I need to know the most important part, can he carry a tune?”

“Oh his voice is as smooth and honeyed as The King,” she assured me, a glazed slightly wistful look in her blue eyes.

“Please, spare me the details while I eat.”

“Don’t be jealous,” she said, pointing a forkful of mashed potatoes at me. “Just go out and get some. You’re beautiful and quirky, and now you’re rich too. A catch if I ever heard one.” Silver brows arched in my direction, daring me to disagree.

“Yeah, that’s what I need,” I told her bitterly. “More men after me who want something other than my hot body.” I stole another piece of chicken and listened as Maple told me all about her date with Ted. They went to dinner and dancing after the movie, and if the glow on her face was anything to go by.

“Tell me again why Ted isn’t your boyfriend?” They went on dates regularly, had overnight visits that I’d rather not think about and spent enough time together that he should probably move in.

“I’m too old to have a boyfriend, but I like spending time with Ted. I’m going to keep him for a while.”

“Well that’s good to hear.” At least one of us was getting some action. “This dinner was so spectacular that I’m going to clean the kitchen without complaint.”

“That’s not necessary, though I do appreciate the offer.” The hair on the back of my neck stood at her tone.

“What’s wrong, Grandma? Tell me.” I braced myself, digging my feet into the updated linoleum floor as I prepared for Maple to tell me the worst news of my life. That she was sick. Or worse. “Just say it.”

I’d never seen Maple so nervous. Not since she called me downstairs that Saturday morning to tell me that my parents weren’t coming home again. “Victoria Sanchez sold her shares of Out & About.”

I let her words sink in before I said anything. Victoria was the one shareholder who’d made her dislike of me apparent from the beginning. It was no surprise that she’d jumped ship, I figured it was only a matter of time. But knowing she’d sold it wasn’t the problem, knowing who the likely buyer was though? That pissed me off. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“You know what this means, don’t you?”

I nodded, still silent because what I wanted to do was scream until I lost my voice, maybe strangle someone or throw rocks at people. I’d done my homework over the past couple months and I knew exactly what that meant. “It means Blake is twenty percent closer to his goal.” And I was that much farther away.

“You know this isn’t the end, don’t you?”

“Hell yeah, I do. I still have the majority share so all I need is one person on my side. I plan to get the rest. No matter what.”

Maple patted my hand and smiled. “That’s my girl.”

I stayed a bit longer but I was too distracted to be decent company, so I made a pitcher of mint juleps for Ted’s imminent arrival, kissed Maple goodnight and went to do two things.

Drown my sorrows in booze.

Plan my attack.