Page 87 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
“No Kane’s Donuts around the corner?”
“Crap. I hadn’t thought about that. She named a doughnut after me and Drake.Perpetual Bliss.Pretty cool, huh? I bet Abby would mail them overnight delivery if I asked.”
“First of all, that’s wicked cool, and second, maybe you can convince her to move to the Cape.”
She sipped her coffee and said, “Look at you, strategizing my life.”
“Someone has to.”
“That’s just it. Nobody haseverhad to figure things out for me. I’ve done it myself forever. That’s why this is throwing me off so badly.” She got up and went to the window, gazing out over the city. “This was what I thought I wanted. A big city, posh clients, and a job with a big-name firm. I wanted everything my mother didn’t want to achieve.”
She’d told Gavin about her mother the other night, and it hadn’t fazed him in the least. He’d said,Every strong woman I’ve ever met had a parent who failed them, a parent who did well by them, or siblings to compete with. There’s no magic. We all become who we are because of someone else.
She turned around, taking in his sharp blue suit and shiny shoes. She had fancy clothes, but she still felt like an imposter in them. Her heart would never be in this company.
“I know what I want, and it’s not this,” she said confidently. “I want to go to work every day without the fear of being hamstrung by a boss or having to take on projects I don’t want to. I don’t care about the money. I care about doing what I love and being around family—Drake, Chloe, Mira, Rick, Emery. The whole gang.”
“Great. So what’s the issue?”
She plunked down into the chair again. “I have savings, but not quite enough, and I’m not sure I want to sink every penny into something so risky.”
“I thought you said the business was solid.”
“It is, but what if I mess up?”
He laughed, then coughed to cover it. “Wait. The woman who has no issue going up against Suzanne Kline has confidence issues? Baloney. What’s this really about?”
“Okay, fine. I know I won’t mess up, but something could go wrong. The building could catch fire. The economy could change.”
“Both true. So you get good insurance, and if the economy tanks you get a new job. Or you can sit around here, work six days a week, and hustle to and from the Cape, and if the economy tanks, you start over anyway.”
She assessed his words and his expression. She trusted Gavin to be honest. He had no ulterior motives to get her to stay or leave. “So you think this is actually a good idea?”
“You don’t belong here, Serena. You keep telling me that in different ways. ‘If this were my company, I’d dothis,’ and ‘If I were the boss, I’d dothat…’”
“I know,” she finally admitted. “I think I’m just scared to get my hopes up. What if I can’t pull it off? What if Justine doesn’t want to change course and goes with the other buyer? What if I can’t get a loan?”
“Do youwanta loan?” He sipped his coffee, casually watching her.
“Nobodywantsa loan. You get them because you have to. She’s asking fifty grand, and I have thirty-two, but I’d be left with nothing. I don’t have a car payment or carry any credit card debt. I figure I can probably borrow twenty-five and still have a few thousand left of my savings. It means giving up the hope of buying the cottage I’ve rented for the past several years, but that’s a trade-off I think I’m willing to make.”
“There are other ways to make businesses work. Would you consider a partner?”
“Like Drake buying the business and me being a kept woman?Never.” She crossed her arms against the idea.
“I said apartner, not a sugar daddy.” He leaned forward and brushed something from her shoulder.
“What…?” She looked at her shoulder.
“Nothing. Just trying to get that big ol’ chip off your shoulder.”
She sighed. “Okay, I’m stubborn. No secret there.”
“Serena, I’m being serious. I think you’ve got a chance at something awesome. I’d love a shot at partnering with you. I don’t have contacts at the Cape, but I’ve got plenty of contacts here in Boston thataren’taffiliated with KHB. And in case you haven’t noticed, clients like me. I can work the system. I’m an honest guy, and you and I get along well. I know when to toss you cookies and when to back off. I know you’re razor sharp and your ideas are usually spot-on, but when they’re not, I know you can handle a little criticism,ifworded correctly.”
“I didn’t kick you in the butt when you told me I was going in the wrong direction with that one idea I had for Seth and Jared, did I?”
He shook his head. “That’s how I know you’re not a jerk. We can make this work. We can build something incredible of our own, taking on clients who respect us and, equally important, clients we respect.”
