Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“And were any of them your perfect match? Did you actually get set up?”
He looked smug. “I did actually get set up, and one of them was quite good at—”
I held up my hand to stop him. “Don’t.”
“Squash,” he said with a cheeky grin. “We would have never been compatible in bed, but Carl’s a damned fine squash player. In fact, we had a game set up for this weekend, but I canceled it so I could head up here.”
“Sorry,” I said, flashing him my own smug grin.
“No, you’re not.”
“No. I’m not. Not one single bit.” JT was mine for as long as I could have him. “Cousin Carl can suck it.” I met his eyes and lowered my voice. “While I suck you.”
The flush that came up his neck and onto his cheeks was sexy as fuck. I wanted to take him to bed right then and there. “Your mouth is making promises, Firecracker,” he murmured. His eyes bored into me, heating me up from the inside.
I focused on my dinner. If all went to plan, I’d need the calories for the night of gymnastic fucking ahead of us. The conversation returned to benign topics, and I finally found enough maturity to ask him about his job. “I hear you’re really good at what you do. What do you like most about it?”
He lifted one eyebrow flirtatiously. “Are you trying to make me talk about work after you made me promise not to, Honeycutt?”
I laughed and shook my head. “I already won the forfeit, remember? And I’m genuinely curious.”
“Okay, then.” His eyes lit up, which made my stomach drop. As much as I wanted him to be happy, I didn’t necessarily want to hear about him being happy in New York.
“I like the challenge of it. The connection of it. I started off selling our distribution services to retailers, bars, restaurants, and shops. I didn’t switch to the supply side until recently. I loved visiting the retailers and talking to them about their clientele, their brand, their goals. Figuring out what we had to offer that would improve their business and then helping make it happen. I wasn’t sure it would be that way on the supply side, but it is. It’s actually even better. I’m helping small businesses grow. Helping people achieve their dreams.”
I could see that. JT was a very outgoing person who could make friends with a potted plant. He was like Alden in that way. Alden thrived in a busy hair salon because he was happy talking all day long to anyone and everyone. I wasn’t quite the same. I enjoyed talking to my customers, but I also needed time alone either in my office, out at the lake, or even in the Meadery, where a glass wall separated me from the rest of the Tavern.
But I loved watching him talk about the people he’d connected with and seeing the happiness he got from their success. “I can tell you love it,” I said, finally admitting the truth. It seemed like he was exactly where he was supposed to be, even if Fortress was located in New York.
“I do,” he said. He hesitated for a second before admitting, “Mostly. But I guess there are some not-great parts of every career.”
“Totally. I don’t enjoy dealing with tricky customers, or negotiating with suppliers, or managing employees. But the rest makes it worthwhile.”
JT laughed. “You’ve just listed all the parts I like best about my job. For me, though, the problem is that…” He gnawed on his lip. “I used to think everyone I worked with had the same motivations as me. Like I was part of something worthwhile. Now, I’m not so sure. And then there’s the whole promotion thing…” He darted a look at me and fell silent.
“Your promotion to VP?” He looked surprised that I’d heard about it, and I smiled. “Come on. It’s Honeybridge. And you know how your mother talks.”
“Right.” He paused for a second, then leaned closer like he was imparting a secret. “The thing is, I earned that promotion twice over,” he said fiercely. “I worked my ass off.”
I nodded. I had no trouble believing that. “That’s why they called you Rainmaker. Because you were their closer.”
He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “But just when I thought my boss was ready to finally make the announcement, he told me I needed to make one more deal. It didn’t seem fair at the time.” He toyed with his fork for a moment, not looking at me. “It still doesn’t.”
I sucked in a breath. I told myself it wasn’t a hundred percent clear whether he was talking about the Honeybridge Mead deal, but my stomach squirmed a bit with guilt anyway. Maybe if I reminded him of the happy side effect of us not being in business together, it would help.