Page 14 of The Deal Maker

“No problem. Are you planning everything yourself? With the business and a short engagement, it might be good to have someone working on it for you.”

She lets out a long breath. “I’ve thought about it. I mean, if I wasn’t running this with Maggie, I’d plan it myself. Someone was telling me that there’s a new gal in town who’s a planner. I’ve got an appointment to meet with her tomorrow morning.”

I nod, thinking of Beck’s new gal. “Yeah, her name is Dallas. My mom has a lot of great things to say about her.”

Hope hands me the cone and accidentally got some of the ice cream on my finger. I grab a couple of extra napkins from the holder.

“Will Maggie be the only one here while you’re gone?”

I shouldn’t be butting into their business, but I’m curious. And I can’t imagine it would be good for Maggie to be by herself at the shop for a week or two. Someone who comes up with an entire personality test over ice cream preferences might need some regular human interaction.

“We already have one employee and we’re hoping to hire someone today. We have a few interviews set up to find someone we can train quickly.”

I taste the ice cream, not loving this one as much as the others I’ve tried. I probably should’ve gotten one scoop instead of two.

“So, you’re going to interview, hire, and train a new employee, all while planning and having your wedding in four weeks?”

Hope’s smile falters a bit and she nods. “Yeah, when you say it like that, it sounds like a lot.”

It is a lot. But I won't rain on their parade. Then again, I think I just did.

“Well, good luck. Let me know if I can help with anything.”

“You could be Maggie’s date to the wedding,” Hope says with a laugh.

As much as I think I’d enjoy that, I’m not sure Maggie would, given my current employment, if that’s what makes her so crazy around me.

“Does she not have a date?” I ask, trying to play the question off as a passing thought and not the curiosity ready to kill the cat. Maybe it’s the fact I know she doesn’t like me and I somehow want that challenge of helping her see who I really am.

Hope shakes her head. “No. She’s very focused on one thing at a time, and right now it’s our shop. I wish she’d just relax and figure out we’re going to be fine, but that’s just how she works.”

“I don’t know if she’d want me to come, but if she can’t find anyone, I’m free. I’ll just be here.”

“No travel plans any time soon?” Hope asks.

“I wish. Maybe after the busy season.” If my business doesn’t sink.

The door opens and in walks Maggie with her arms full of stuff. A couple of baubles fall onto the ground and I lean over to pick them up, which causes the top scoop of my ice cream to fall onto the floor. I use the few extra napkins I’d grabbed to pick it up and throw it into the garbage.

“Do you have a mop or a wet rag or something?” I ask.

“I’ll get it,” Hope says, walking into the back room.

“Still addicted to sugar?” Maggie says, walking by and setting everything onto the counter.

“Absolutely. Where do I rate on the scale with Cherry Garcia? Is it like mint chocolate chip?”

Hope walks in with a mop and her eyes go wide as she looks between the two of us. “You told him your ice cream theory?”

Maggie shakes her head, focusing her attention on the box in front of her. “I might have mentioned it.”

Hope has a hand on her waist and says, “If he’s already comparing mint chip, I’d say you were fairly thorough.”

Maggie avoids looking at me and I’m wondering what that means. Maybe I’m not completely on her hit list. She did tell me I’m the third person she’s ever told about personality comparison. I didn’t believe her at the time, but it must be true.

My phone rings and I recognize the number belonging to my new salesman, Jace. “I’ve got to run, but thank you for the ice cream.”

I answer the phone and hurry over to my door, surprised he’s not here already.

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