Page 59 of Need You
“It’s not. The whole damn town saw what she did to him. He’s the one who never talks about it. What did he say?”
“I suppose if he wanted you to know, he would’ve told you.”
TJ smiled. “You’re all right, Delaney Scott.”
* * *
After lunch Delaney popped into Glorious Gifts and browsed while Hannah helped a customer. Hannah had a lot of beautiful items in the store. Delaney checked the handbag inventory to make sure Hannah had gotten the new order.
“I can’t keep them in the shop,” Hannah said. “I’ve already sold half of the new shipment.” She finished ringing up the shopper and afterward came over to Delaney. “You here to check inventory or are you shopping?”
“I just had lunch with TJ.”
Hannah gave her a quizzical look and Delaney explained about his idea to sell the cargo pants.
“You made pants for Colt? That was awfully nice. I thought you two were like cat and dog.”
“We’ve called a truce.”And now we kiss.
“Are you thinking of doing the pants, then?”
“I told TJ I would consider it, but it’s not really the direction I want to go.” But if the court made her take the Delaney Scott name off her existing shoes and handbags, she might have to find a new revenue stream. “What do you think of Garner Adventure selling merchandise?”
“Josh thinks they’re stretched too thin as it is. But honestly, I think it’s a brilliant idea, especially if they open an online store. They’ll probably have to hire someone with retail expertise and that won’t be me. I know retail but nothing about adventure wear and sporting equipment.”
Delaney nodded. “Same here.”
They chatted for a while and then the store got busy again. Delaney said good-bye and decided to stroll down Main Street. For a Wednesday, the boardwalk was busy, full of bicyclists and pedestrians, taking advantage of the last days of summer before school started. She splurged on a piece of chocolate at Oh Fudge! and got a loaf of bread at Tart Me Up. As she passed Old Glory, she noticed a poster promoting Colt’s band. He was playing the night of the End-of-Summer races. The show must’ve been what he’d been talking about on the phone the other day. She made a mental note to put it on her calendar.
“You going?”
She looked up from the picture of Colt on the poster to see him in the flesh.
“I was thinking I might,” she said. “Where are you off to?”
“To pick up a late lunch at the Morning Glory and take it back to my office.”
“I was just there with your brother.”
She saw something flicker in those brown eyes of his but couldn’t quite identify it. Whatever it was, he hadn’t looked happy.
“Win?”
“No, TJ. He wanted to talk to me about the cargo pants and shorts I made you and an idea for selling merchandise.”
Colt seemed to relax. “I told him you wouldn’t be interested. But TJ is pushy that way.”
“I was flattered. I told him I’d think about it.”
“But you’re not, right?”
She shrugged. “He’s so enthusiastic about it that I hate to say no. There may be a way to work something out. I’d have to talk to my people first.”
“It’s up to you. But TJ will understand if you’re not interested. Garner Adventure is small-time compared to the retailers you sell your stuff to. The design is great, though. I’d hate to see it go to waste, especially when you could make a mint from the pants.”
“TJ seemed to think it needed a few modifications.” That had sort of peeved her, which of course was her pride. She certainly wasn’t an expert in adventure wear.
“Did he now?” He took her arm and headed toward the diner. “Walk with me.”
