Page 17 of Connor

“I enjoy instructing, teaching, and building the business… I feel like all these years working with you, Mom, and helping out running Sunshine has really given me all the skills I need to take on this new role.” My creativity and positivity are now flowing as we talk more about it. Maybe it’s because I’m still holding on to the clear quartz.

“Well, when you do yoga flow classes, they are always well attended. You have many skills, darling, and you would be perfect for this opportunity,” Mom confirms, and I nod.

“Think about it some more. Just promise me you won’t rush into anything.” Dad gives me a serious look, and I can see the initial shock of it has worn off and he’s slowly coming around to the idea.

“Meditate on it, honey. The right answer will come to you, and we’ll be supportive of whatever you decide.”

I tried meditating. I closed my eyes and tried to find the clarity I was searching for to help me with my decision. But all I saw was his bare torso and his hard-as-rock abs and that little V that delved into his shorts that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

I clear my throat and grab my fork again, digging into my food. Nope. I won’t meditate on it anymore.

But I can push my feelings for him aside in order to create a better future for myself. I would be a fool for doing otherwise.

Connor Whiteman and his abs can stay deep in the recesses of my mind. I can be professional, and I’m sure he can too.

8

CONNOR

“So the expansion is on track,” Dad says, looking at us all from where he sits at the head of the boardroom table. I tap a few buttons on my laptop, bringing up the numbers.

“We’re on budget. A little under, actually.” I review the figures carefully.

“I have most things secured for the interior. Once the build is complete this week, I can start,” Victoria, my dad’s fiancée and my soon-to-be new stepmom, says. My eyes flick to Dad quickly, and I see him looking at her with hearts in his eyes. He was alone for so long, I’m glad he finally found someone. The fact that she’s younger than me threw me for a little while, but seeing them so happy now makes me happy for them.

“How did it go at the Sunshine Space Wellness Clinic?” Lacy asks me, taking notes. She has a lot on her plate at the moment, probably shouldn’t even be here, given her mom is about to go in for a minor operation soon. But she had a great weekend in the city with Hudson, and I’m pretty sure the two of them are headed for the wedding chapel themselves one day. A perfect pair.

“Oh yes. Fiona goes to get her chakras cleansed there monthly. She swears by them. Mother-daughter duo who have been treating her for years apparently,” Victoria says, and I did wonder how they found the place, Victoria’s best friend from New York now the obvious connection.

“What the hell is a chakra?” Dad asks.

“Like, your aura…” Victoria says, and I frown, looking at Dad.

“What the hell is an aura?” I ask, getting confused with all this terminology. Daisy made it all make sense to me, giving me the information in business terms and not getting too woo-woo. Now all these words are flying around, and I feel like I need to read up on it all, be well versed. I look at my phone. It’s Monday morning, and I still haven’t heard from her. I’m not used to people not jumping at the chance to work with us. And while I did say I would give her the weekend, I thought she would’ve called before now. I run my hand over my beard, this unsettled feeling something new. I will give her until five before I call her.

“Kinda like your playboy, hot lumberjack vibes. It's the energy of a person,” Lacy says.

“You think I'm hot?” I tease her. We have a sibling-like relationship, more so than boss and employee, so she gets my humor.

“Shut up,” she says, throwing a pencil at me as Dad rubs his eyes, obviously frustrated.

“How was the sound massage and yoga flow?” Victoria teases, trying to hold in her laugh, and even Dad has a sly grin on his face now. Should’ve known he would know all about it.

“It was actually pretty good,” I say with a smile. The thought of the red-haired woman hasn’t been far from my mind for days. Lacy spits out her coffee.

“Shit, sorry, I think I burned my tongue,” she says quickly, mopping up the mess with a tissue as I throw the pencil back at her.

“It was relaxing. I don’t know… healing?” I ask myself, not sure that’s the answer I’m trying to convey. It certainly made an impact, and while I’ve learned a lot from college and years in the business, I lean on my gut instinct too, and my gut is telling me that Daisy is the perfect person to build our spa. “It got me thinking…”

“Go on,” Dad says, interested, knowing that I have some thoughts and everyone looks at me. I lean back in my chair, feeling relaxed. Offering her the job was one of the best things I’ve done. If only she would accept it already.

“Well, what if we made our spa here more than just a fancy spa? Maybe more like a wellness retreat?” I say. I’ve thought about it more and more since the weekend. It’s the perfect business move.

“It’s not really what we’re going for…” Dad says, frowning, thinking about it.

“I know, but a fancy spa isn’t really Whispers either. I think something more for well-being. Like sound healing and yoga could be good for our visitors and the locals.” As I look at everyone, they stare back at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“I could do with a bit of yoga and stress relief in my life,” Lacy mumbles, tapping her pen on the table.

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