Page 29 of Always Be Mine

“The plan.”

“The plan?” Craig eyed the folder suspiciously. “Have you been working on this for a while?”

Chase shrugged and dropped the folder in front of him. “It’s what I do, brother. I take companies and make them better. There are just a few ideas. But I think you’ll like them.”

He didn’t bother opening the folder before sliding it away. “I don’t know, Chase. This is all a lot right now. I need to?—”

“It’s okay to accept help.”

Craig’s head snapped up. “What are you talking about?”

“I know you think you can do everything on your own. And I’m just?—”

“I do not.” He swallowed hard against the multitude of protests that bubbled up inside him, because Chase was right. He did think he could do it all on his own. Because hecould.

“That’s why you’re so calm about the whole nanny thing.” Chase raised his eyebrow. “Because you’re so good at accepting help?”

He was not impressed by his brother’s sarcasm. “That’s different and you know it.”

“It’s really not.”

Craig shook his head. It wasverydifferent, but he wasn’t about to fight his brother about it. Not today. “What’s your idea then?” Reluctantly, he pulled the folder toward him and flipped it open.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Craig leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms as Chase started talking. But it didn’t take long for him to drop the defensive stance and actually start listening. Despite his poor mood, and the fact that Chase was right and he did have trouble accepting help, it turned out that his big brother actually had a few good ideas.

More than a few.

Soon, Craig had dropped his arms and was reaching for the folder in front of him. Inside were copies of spreadsheets with projections printed out that detailed Chase’s idea.

“So, you think that if we diversify, that will help level out our off-season sales?”

“I know it.”

“You’re awfully confident.” Craig looked up at him.

“I told you,” Chase said. “This is what I do, Craig. I ran the numbers. And sure, there’s some margin for error, but if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that numbers don’t lie.”

Craig scanned the paper in his hand again. “These numbers are pretty good,” he admitted.

“I thought you might like that.” Chase took his seat across from him once more. “And really, you are called the Sugar Shack…why shouldn’t you offer even more sugar? It just makes sense.”

“I do offer all kinds of candy. There are literally shelves of it.”

“I mean, high-end sugar. Things that will appeal to the adults. I don’t think jelly beans are doing it.”

“Okay. I can’t deny that.” Craig dropped the papers on the table in front of him. “So you think that by offering a variety of freshly made chocolates, fudge, and treats, it’ll be that simple?”

Chase nodded. “I mean, it isn’t quite that simple. After all, you will have to learn how to make chocolate or hire someone who can. But yes, once you jump over that hurdle, it is that simple. You need to offer something that will have people seeking out your shop even if it isn’t a hot day. And chocolate knows no season.”

“Good point.” Craig laughed. “But how do you suggest we find a suitable candidate? Because I do not think I’d be a very good chocolatier, and I already have staffing issues.” He made a mental note to check his email for any potential applicants to fill Tom’s recently vacated position. “And I still have to staff up for the summer.”

“This will be a different type of position.” Chase tapped the table. “I don’t think it will be much of a problem attracting the right candidate from the city. Especially if we throw in the use of the apartment over the shop as a benefit.”

“The apartment?”

“The one above the Sugar Shack. Remember? I told you I would set it up for the first renter, but then you needed to take over.”

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