Page 32 of The Charming Checklist
“Max.”
Max. She’d give anything to see this. Valerie was off to her next customer, while Ava picked at her turkey burger and fries. He’d obviously made the tough decision. The one he’d warned her about. A business owner couldn’t get sentimental about their employees. They sometimes had to make the tough choices no one else could. She’d listened carefully to his warning. It sometimes held her back, the knowledge that she’d control everything, and make judgments affecting real people. Real people who had mortgages and car payments. She’d make decisions that would affect a family’s livelihood. It was both thrilling and frightening. And such a huge responsibility that she sometimes felt more comfortable just staying in her own little corner.
Oh dear. That might be the first time she’d admitted this to herself.
A few minutes later, Ava was halfway done with her lunch when her phone rang, and she fished it out of her purse. Caller ID readCharming Hall, the venue Ava had selected for the mayor’s anniversary party. It was the only place reasonably priced to fit in the large crowd expected.
“I’ve got some bad news,” Camilla said. “We somehow double booked the hall. I’m afraid we can’t accommodate the mayor’s party.”
“The party is next Friday!”
“I know and I’m really so sorry.”
“And you just noticed now? Why can’t you bump theotherparty?”
“It’s a wedding, hon, and you know how brides can be. I don’t want that kind of bad ju-ju. If I cancel a week before the wedding, there will be blood and intestines on the floor of the hall. With you, I know you’ll just find another place lickety-split.”
How nice. She supposed this is what Ava got for being so easygoing and good-natured.
I don’t think this is fair. You suck.
Do you know how hard it’s going to be to find someplace else now? And Tippi left me in charge!
These were all on Ava’s tongue, but she also understood Camilla’s position. She was a nice lady, a grandma-type that always called Ava when she had an unexpected opening just to see if she’d like to have first crack at the date. And Ava sure didn’t want a bride scrambling at the last minute. One was a marriage, the other an elected official’s party.
“Yeah. Okay,” Ava said. “I’ll find another place. Any leads are appreciated.”
“Nothing now, but I’ll keep you posted. How do you feel about having it in Galveston?”
“Let’s see. How do I feel about having theCharmingmayor’s party in Galveston?” Ava took a deep breath. “I’d rather give up coffee for a year.”
“Enough said.”
Ava hung up and spent a few minutes on her phone scouting for other locations. But of course, she’d scoped those out months ago and by now it would be too late. Still, it was worth a few calls. She had a slow afternoon, and planned to use the lull to do her homework for class this week. Instead she’d get back to the office and start calling people. Ava looked for Valerie so she could say a quick goodbye and found that in the past few minutes all hell had broken loose.
“Valerie, I’ve been waitin’ here for twenty minutes!” One of their regulars called out.
“Me too!” said another. “What’s goin’ on here?”
“Sorry, y’all, we’re short a cook and doin’ our best,” Valerie said, flitting by Ava’s booth and setting down an order of nachos nearby.
“What’s going on?” Ava said, following her.
“We had to send Sam on a break and we’re havin’ a hard time in the kitchen,” Valerie whispered. “Max is in a mood to end all moods. I bet he’s regrettin’ firing Nick today and that says something.”
Poor Max. Despite what he wanted her to believe, she thought he might secretly hate having to let someone go. There was something deep inside him that still remembered the tough times. He’d just somehow learned to push sympathy and compassion aside and be all business. Something Ava would need to learn. If she wanted to be a success, she’d have to learn to assert herself and stop being so darn...well, nice.
Welp. She could make those phone calls later. Now, a friend needed her help. Ava moved swiftly behind the bar and tucked her purse out of sight. She rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen, walking through the swinging doors. Nearly as fast as the Road Runner, Brian moved like the wind. So did Max, for that matter. But Max. Oh, sigh. Valerie had been right. Dayum but an apron agreed with him. His back to her, it rather nicely framed a perfect male butt.
“What?” he grunted.
Brian looked up first, just a flash of a glance in between moving like a ninja from microwave to stove to ovens. “Oh, hey, Ava.”
Max turned to her, brow quirked. “What areyoudoing back here?”
He indeed looked sweaty. And hot. Double meaning there. “Um, I heard you’re short a cook.”
“We’ve got it handled,” Brian said, moving swiftly, and she wouldn’t be surprised if any moment now he started juggling plates.
