When she hung up, Hailey felt like she could float to the ceiling.
“You know, you’re providing goods. People pay for goods and services. It’s expected that you charge for food and delivery.” Wes had gone back to working on the laptop.
“I know, but I can still appreciate it.”
He regarded her with an expression she couldn’t read. “I remember the first app I sold. I was very excited.”
She couldn’t imagine him doing a happy tap or squealing. “How did you celebrate?”
“I didn’t. I told my brothers, invested the profit, and continued working.” She wasn’t sure what she was going to say but he continued. “My dad considered my making apps a hobby, so it wasn’t something to toast like when Noah purchased the Morgan Park properties and we turned them into condos. Or when Chris turned a small camera shop into a chain store. But I was happy.”
“Being successful at something you love is its own reward, I guess,” she said.
He sipped the last of his lemonade while she pulled his laptop toward her. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
While she scrolled through the new features, the add-ons like signing up for her newsletter, and the format, she grew more and more curious about the man beside her. “Is this what you do for your father?” Seemed like all three of them worked for their dad.
Something strange flashed in his gaze. “It was part of what I did at one time. We don’t work with him anymore. I was groomed to take over technology in all areas since I had an aptitude for it.”
“Groomed?” Who was this man?
“I have degrees in computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity.”
Her jaw dropped. “Degrees?”
“Yes. I graduated young. I liked learning so I did as much as I could. What do you think of the site?”
Quick change. She couldn’t blame him. The tension filling the air when he spoke about his dad was tangible.
“It’s perfect. Truly. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. It was fun.”
“I should pay you.”
He shook his head. “Nope. It was my apology.”
“Your apology was your apology.”
He chuckled. “Okay. It’s a favor for a friend. How about that?”
She hated the favor part. She hated owing people. But the friend part felt too nice to wreck the moment. She didn’t even realize they were staring at each other until her heart pinched. Like it was warning her of something. Whatever passed between them must have caught him off guard as well if the hitch in his breath was anything to go on.
She pointed at one of the options. “I don’t know if I should advertise delivery.”
She really wanted to but she definitely wasn’t ready to hire employees who could cover the store.
“That page can stay hidden until you can offer it. You know, you could offer deliveries during a one-hour opening. If you only offer three spots, it would increase demand.”
Checking the time, she realized they’d chatted and he’d worked most of the afternoon. She went to the door, turned the sign to CLOSED. “I’ll think about it. I’d really like to increase my in-store clientele first.”
“That’s fair. Did you get business cards made?” He stood, stretched.
“Since yesterday?”
He stared at her like he didn’t think that was asking the impossible.
She rolled her eyes. “No. Not yet.”
“You should.”
She stopped herself from sticking her tongue out at him and saying “duh” like one of Piper’s kids. “I know.”
“You’ve got a good logo. It’s fun and easily transferrable to shirts, mugs, and other merchandise if you choose to go that route. You’re in a touristy area so that’s a definite option.”
Did he just have all of these ideas kicking around in the back of his brain? “Again, I need to increase my customer base.”
“Flyers are a simple and effective way to spread the word.”
She could print them herself.
“Have you looked at Facebook ads?”
Her spine straightened. “Not yet.”
He frowned. “It’s important even if you have limited funds.”
Pushing away from the counter, she stared at him a minute before letting out a frustrated groan. “Okay. Thank you. That’s a lot of ideas and examples of what I’m not doing. But I’ve been a little busy. I’m on my own and funds are limited.”
He reached over and closed the laptop. He cleared his throat, stared at the counter. “It’s a lot. It can be overwhelming.”
A new kind of tension pushed against her rib cage. He knew what he was doing, had done it before, according to what he’d said. He was just offering advice.
“Sorry for being defensive.”
He finally looked at her again. “It’s your business. People say it’s not personal, but it is.”
She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. It was definitely personal. “Thank you for all your help. You have a week of salads on the house.”
“Not necessary but thank you. Let me know if you have any trouble with the website. It’s live now and as things change you can update it.”
She’d need to google how to do that. “Perfect. Heading home to delete your dating profiles?”
His grin did a weird thing to her stomach, made it feel like she was on a trampoline. Fortunately, he’d just irritated her so she was able to ignore it.
“The exciting night of a bachelor. I think I’ll just stay away from them for now. How about you?”
“I’m going to go home and look up business cards.”
His laughter surprised her. “Good idea. I’ll see you soon, Hailey.”
She locked up after him, went back to her laptop, and played on her website. It looked fantastic. She had a lot to do and think about but didn’t want to go home. She wanted cake. And knew someone who loved it every bit as much as she did.
It was quiet next door, just a few tables with customers.
“Hey,” Tara said when she got to the counter.
“Hi.” Hailey had only spoken to her a couple times. Now that she knew the connection between Stacey, Everly, and Tara, she was even more determined to make a good impression. “I’ve heard great things about your chocolate cake,” Hailey said. The coffee shop was open much later than Hailey’s. She’d gone with demand and decided, for now, eleven to six was plenty.
“It’s got a reputation. Who’d you hear it from?”
“Wes.”
Her smile widened. “Ahh. He’s such a sweetie. You want a piece?”
Maybe Wes should try asking out someone he knew in real life. “Two actually.”
As she stepped around one of her baristas, not the bored one from last week, Tara grabbed a pair of tongs. “I’ve been meaning to stop by your place but things have been so hectic. There’s a San Verde Shop Association meeting next week. We have one a month. We also have a Facebook group and an email chain. It helps all of us keep up to date with what’s happening. Sometimes we organize sales and specials. I thought you’d like to know.”
Hailey took out her debit card. “That’s awesome. Thank you for telling me. I will absolutely be there. Where is it?”
Tara passed her the cake in a little bag. “Upstairs. There’s a meeting room we rent out from the owner.”
It seemed strange they had to pay to rent something when they all paid to rent their shops. She hadn’t met the landlord yet.
“Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
“My pleasure. You settling in okay?”
Hailey nodded. She wanted so badly to sit down and have coffee with this woman, to talk about business and promos and how to get more customers. But she didn’t want to seem needy and she’d received enough pro bono help today.
“For sure.”
After paying for the cake, she left the shop, headed to the back parking lot to get her car. She looked up at the apartments with longing. It’d be so nice to just take those stairs up and settle in for the night. She could sit on the balcony and listen to the sounds of the square. Her place was okay but it was nothing special.
The problem with pushing aside all her wants for so long, so her ex could have his, was now she was impatient. She wanted it all.
“You have everything you need,” she said, getting in her car. Heading toward Piper’s house, she thought about which rom-com they should watch. When Harry Met Sally seemed like a good choice.
She wouldn’t have thought, this time yesterday, that today would be entirely different. That was life though: it turned on a dime, and the only thing she had control of was how she responded to what happened.
6
Anyone looking his way would believe Wes’s undivided attention was focused on his date. Eye contact, check. Body positioning, check. Feet pointed forward, check. But a split-second flit of his gaze had let him see Hailey walk through the door. Now, as she stood in line, his thoughts and his focus stumbled. Which made him feel rude. Which irritated him.
“So, I thought, why not? The worst-case scenario, the quiz will tell me I’m only suited to do what I currently do.”