Page 14 of A Family Affair: The Vow
A tiny huff, followed by a half-irritated “I know I can figure it out, but we’re already behind and I can’t afford to get further behind. I have to understand the businessandhow things operate. All I need is a few hours of training and maybe the occasional phone call.” She didn’t look at Vic as she shifted her gaze to Nate. “My parents really respect you and Leah said you have a good head for business, are fair, and would never cheat anyone. I don’t want my father getting it in his head that he has to come back and run this place until my sister recovers. All I need is a little help and I’ve come here to ask if you can provide that.”
Nate rubbed his stubbled jaw, his dark gaze narrowing as though he could see past her questions to the real issue.I need help and I don’t want to ask Vic Tramont for it. Anyone but him.Of course, the man steamrolled that issue with his next comment. “I think we could work something out. What do you think, Vic?”
“Uhh...I’ve got my own deadlines, Nate. We’ve been working six days a week and I’m getting ready to bring on two new machinists. I don’t have time to teach kindergarten manufacturing.” He spotted the pinched lips and angry expression out of the corner of his eye that said Rae Darlington did not appreciate that comment and her next words proved it.
“Fine.” She turned her whole body so she blocked Vic from view and spoke to Nate. “If you can’t help, can you recommend anyone? I just need a few days with someone to walk me through the specifics of a metals distribution company and be available if I get in a pinch.” Before he could respond, she offered another comment that no doubt she used in her business to get a “yes”. “I’ve been in charge of an entire product line for a major clothing company and have been responsible for the allocation of every product to each of our 275 retail locations around the world.” Pause and a firm “I know I can do this.”
Of course, Miss-I-live-in-the-city-and-have-a-fancy-job would think she was qualified and capable, even if she’d never seen a bar of steel before. Vic did not want to get stuck working with her inanycapacity. He opened his mouth, spoke to her back. “It’s not that simple.” He didn’t miss the way she squared her shoulders but didn’t turn around. Instead, she kept her gaze trained on Nate who’d definitely read the room by now and drawn his own conclusions.
“Vic’s right,” Nate said. “Distribution can be complicated. There’s a lot to consider. What’s a good inventory level for each item as well as the optimum order quantity? You want to be able to meet the customer’s orders without carrying too much inventory. Finding the right supplier can be tricky and isn’t just about how much it costs. There’s the quality of the product along with the delivery terms. On-time delivery is a big deal. You want to find the best price to charge that is high enough to cover costs and make a profit but low enough to get and keep the customer for future orders.” Nate’s expression softened. “Your parents talked about you all the time, said that one of these days you were going to be running that company where you worked, so I don’t doubt your intelligence or your ambition. However, you’ve got to be able to work with people. Can you do that?”
Vic knew where this was going and he guessed the four-second pause indicated she did, too. What Nate really meant wasCan you work with Vic?When she answered, there wasn’t a lot of breath in her words. “I’ll do what’s necessary.”
The inflection onnecessarysounded as though it should have had an attachment to it such asNo matter how much I’ll dread it.
“Okay then. Vic’s going to train you. Vic—” the man’s voice shifted two octaves lower, a sign that told him this was not negotiable “—you’re the best choice. You’ve worked the closest with Leah, know the product and the people, and you’re a lot better at spreadsheets and financials than I ever was. If you get overloaded, let me know and I’ll see if Jack can help.”
Vic blew out a long, frustrated sigh. “Jack? The man who said the next time he stepped in this building would be to build his own casket?”
A laugh, a shake of Nate’s head. “Jack likes to pretend he’s miserable just breathing, but every Sunday he comes here and walks the building.”
“Are we talking about Jack Finnegan? Frizzy gray hair, baseball cap, surly attitude?”
“That’s the one.”
“No kidding?” How had Vic not known? Even if he didn’t come to the shop on Sundays, he should have picked up on the fact thatsomeonewas here.
“Who do you think leaves you the banana-nut muffins and chocolate chip cookies? And I heard about the brownies last week. Triple fudge with walnuts?” Nate’s lips twitched and he shook his head. “Dolly Finnegan always did have a soft spot for you.” Another lip twitch. “Didn’t she say you had bedroom eyes?”
“Dolly likes to tease.” Jack’s wife, Dolly, did like to tease Vic, mostly about finding a wife and settling down. She’d even offered to provide a few names with their “qualifications”. He’d sidestepped that offer with a big smile and a softI would settle down, but you’re already taken. The woman was no fool and saw his comments for what they were—an avoidance tactic. She’d laughed, swatted his arm, and vowed that one day some woman would steal his heart and he’d never see it coming.That’s what happened with Pete, she’d tell him.My boy fell hard and you will, too.Not likely. He had thought the goodies were from an employee’s sister, though he hadn’t narrowed down which one. Vic had guessed the tall blonde with the butterflies tattooed up her arm, but it could have been the petite brunette who favored patchouli. Or the—
Nate blasted through his thoughts about blondes and brunettes and their culinary expertise. “So, how about you and Rae figure out a schedule that works? I expect it shouldn’t be too involved, but you will have to spend time together. Some of it can be via email or phone, but not all of it.” He glanced from one to the other. “Is that going to be a problem?”
Why didn’t the guy just ask if something was going on between Vic and Rae because the look definitely said it all. “No, no problem. We’ll coordinate.”
“Yes. We’ll get together and figure it out.” Rae stumbled over that last part, corrected. “I meant we’ll meet and then we’ll figure out what to do…” Another stumble, a clearing of her throat. “It will be fine.”
“Okay then.” Nate smiled, raised a hand, and said, “I’ll leave you to it.”
* * *
Vic waiteduntil Nate left before he closed the door to his office, motioned toward a side chair. “We need to talk.”
Understatement.Rae slid into a chair, crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m listening.”
“Do you know why I was so interested in you three years ago?”
Wow, talk about getting to the point. He meant when she came back to Magdalena for the retirement party. Of course, it had been the physical attraction that pulled him in: instant, powerful, undeniable. “No idea.” She was not going to admit the darn attraction, no matter how strong it was.
“Obviously, you’re a beautiful woman, but I’ve known a lot of beautiful women.”
No doubt he had. “And I’m sure you had your pick of any or all of them.”
The shrug said she was probably right, but his next words said she’d misjudged him. “It wasn’t your looks, though what guy wouldn’t give you a first and a tenth look? It was Leah.”
“Leah? What did my sister have to do with it?”
“She painted a picture of a fierce woman, independent, kind, generous, intelligent. I tried to ignore her at first, but the stories sucked me in and the more she told me, the more I wanted to know. When you walked into Harry’s Folly, I felt the connection, believed Leah had been right about you. But after what happened at your house—” he rubbed the back of his neck, frowned “—I’ve been trying to forget that one for a long time.”
