Page 18 of Connor

“Exactly!” I say, and Dad rubs his chin in thought.

“Daisy, from Sunshine, told me that the vibrations of the sound massage promote stress relief and healing. I thought it might be good to also incorporate some tonics and teas. We might be able to find something complementary to Whiskey, which could be a good marketing tactic. I mean, I fell asleep during my treatment,” I say, shrugging.

“You fell asleep?” Victoria says, looking at me quickly.

“Yeah.” I nod, still not believing it myself. I’m always on. At the ready for anything. While Whispers is a small town and a little sleepy at times, that doesn’t mean the distillery sleeps. It never has and never will. Dad and I have big growth plans, and I’m going to make them happen.

“Wow… Connor Whiteman has a kryptonite, and it comes in the shape of a Daisy…” Lacy murmurs, and I ignore her, even though now all I can visualize is Daisy and her kissable lips.

“At Sunshine, they offer shiatsu, acupuncture, sound healing, and yoga. We could also have relaxation massages and body wraps, like we originally thought, and no doubt, they’ll be popular… but we should think about incorporating the two. Beauty and wellness together, so to speak. Daisy also said that there are less issues around stock and products, so it seems fiscally sound to go in that direction.”

“Daisy sounds like she knows what she’s talking about,” Dad says, and I almost hum in agreement. I thought he might appreciate it. He hates waste, likes to reclaim old timber and make furniture and things. He likes ensuring that everything old is new again. So the fact that some wellness treatments can produce less waste and consume less water makes it all sound really appealing from a business perspective.

“If they can make you fall asleep, I think it would work. You’re one of the busiest, least likely people to even go for a massage, let alone fall asleep during one,” Lacy says with a shrug.

“So do you think this Daisy might be interested in coming to Whispers? Maybe she can consult. Start the spa, hire the people?” Dad asks.

“I offered her a job already,” I tell the table, and they all look up at me, shocked.

“A job?” Dad asks, expression turning serious. His eyes burn into mine. He knows that I never make a business decision without running it past him. This is new ground for us.

“To come to Whispers to consult; my thoughts mirror your own. Help us bring the spa to life.”

My dad eyes me intensely, giving me a small nod, almost like he’s proud of me for taking the reins on it. He’s been doing that more and more lately. I’ve been ready to step up in the business, and he’s ready to step back a little more. The switch is happening organically, and we can both feel it.

“It isn’t a bad idea. There’s no one here in Whispers who has experience in this type of thing. We would’ve either needed to hire from the city or train local people, so it fits within our plans,” Victoria says, looking at me curiously.

“What about Williamstown?” Dad quizzes again, asking about out neighboring town and I frown.

“I want Daisy. She’s the best.”

“We’ll have to offer her a good fee. I mean, she’s used to city living, and she’s an expert,” Lacy says, looking at me. I clear my throat and glance back at my laptop, getting my head back into the numbers.

“We can make it work. I can fly her here on the jet; she can stay in Dad’s old place next door to mine. I can have Sawyer draw up the contract today.” I nod as I move in my seat, my body feeling antsy as sparkling blue eyes and red hair fill my vision, and I tap out the email to Sawyer right now to get it done.

“Sounds like you have it all planned out, son. Are you feeling alright?” Dad asks, as both women start talking about the spa.

“Fine. Why?” I ask him.

“Just look a little flushed is all,” he murmurs.

“No. I’m good,” I say, smiling. My grin is feeling brighter than it has in a while.

“Hmmm. Must be all those vibrations to your chakra,” Dad says with a smirk.

“So you’re on board with this?” I ask him.

“I trust your judgment, and I think Daisy sounds like she could be a nice addition to the team, albeit for a month or two. Let me know if she agrees to your offer.”

I look at my watch again. Still no word from her. I roll my head on my shoulders, the tension building all over again.

“I should go call Sawyer, organize the contract.” Shutting my laptop, I gather my things.

“Anything else going on with you?” Dad asks as I stand, and I balk.

“No. Everything’s fine,” I tell him, wondering what he’s thinking.

“Hmmm. Tell Sawyer I said hello.” Leaning back in his chair, he watches me as I walk out of the room, grabbing my cell and hitting Sawyer’s number.

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