Sweet Texas Charm (14 page)

“Do you want the shares?”

She took her time answering that question. “You know, I care about this company. I really do. I’m trying to go into all of this with an open mind, but your former—and now current—roommate hasn’t made it easy.”

Guilt crept up the back of his neck, and he gave it a good scratch, but it didn’t go away. “I know,” he said quietly.

“You do?”

“I mean, I know how Grayson can be,” he corrected himself. “So, can I ask, why did his old man give you the shares?”

She folded her napkin and set it on her tray. “That is the question I’ve asked myself every day since I received the news.”

“Did you interact with him?”

“Not really. I spoke to him a few times over the years when he dropped by the plant, but I didn’t think I left much of an impression.”

“Apparently you did,” Grayson said flatly but changed his tone. “I mean, of course you did. From what I hear from Franco, you’re a terrific boss.”

“I don’t know about that. Now, Jack Cooper, he was a great leader. Before his health took an unexpected turn, he’d pop in to the factory from time to time to taste the guacamole or give a motivational pep talk to all of us, followed by an impromptu pizza party or ice cream social, because that was just the friendly kind of guy he was.”

“And you don’t think Grayson’s that type of leader?”

That question got nothing but a sarcastic laugh before she continued eating her salad in silence.

She could have at least answered his question. Did she really think he was incompetent? “Okay, so I’m sensing you’re not a fan of Grayson.”

“You know … It’s just his leadership style is different from his father’s. Jack cared about what the people who made and shipped his product actually thought.” She set her fork down and took a drink of water. “Once he asked me what I truthfully thought of the guacamole.”

Grayson leaned forward in his chair.
Keep talking.
“You told him you liked it.”

“Of course, but I also told him that I thought it would be interesting if we branched out one day. Maybe offer something a little more”—she aimed her fork to what was left of his sandwich—“healthy. Avocados are so good for us, why not provide a dip loaded with fruit and less sour cream?”

A healthier dip.
Was that why she’d been experimenting with her own recipe? On memory alone, he could almost conjure up the taste of the delectable mixture. “Well, I haven’t been around long enough, but I think that’s a great idea.” He paused. He couldn’t blow this next question. This was his one chance to get an honest answer. “What was Mr. Cooper’s reaction?”

“I couldn’t really tell. He said it was a good idea and patted me on the back. That was the last interaction I had with him before his health turned.”

Grayson grabbed a napkin and wiped his hands. Stopping into the factory was one of his dad’s favorite things to do. He was starting to understand why. Not only did they have hardworking employees, but they had people like Becca, who had taken the time to consider ways to expand their product. Did his dad want him to hear her ideas?

He bit his tongue. Then why not just ask Grayson to call a meeting with her? Why did his father have to do something drastic and give away the shares promised to him? “So, Becca. If we, I mean Guac Olé, were to create a healthier version of its dip, how do you think it would do in restaurants?”

“In restaurants?” she repeated, shaking her head. “We don’t sell to restaurants.”

“But we could.” He smiled and stopped, remembering his dimples. “I mean, you could with your new power.”

“Power, right.” That got a hearty, albeit sarcastic laugh. “I think having a partnership with restaurants is a wonderful idea, but I also don’t think Grayson’s going to listen to anything I have to say, let alone
do
anything I suggest. At least not without a fight. His brothers own the other shares, so I’m guessing we could run into a lot of stalemate situations.”

“Well, I could talk to him if you’d like. There are so many Tex-Mex restaurants in this state. I bet they’d love to partner with the number-one leader of premade guacamole.”

“We’re number two,” she corrected.

“I’m forecasting.”

“I like your optimism.” She grinned and glanced down at her watch.

He did the same and saw he still had eight minutes. “If Jack gave me the company solely on an idea, I would move heaven and earth to make it happen.”

“Well, there might be another reason he did what he did.” She pulled a face. “There’s speculation that Jack was doing a bit of matchmaking before he died, and maybe he thought I’d be good for his son.”

“What, you and Grayson?”

“Yeah. Pretty ridiculous.”

Why was the thought of being with him so repulsive? Two could play at that game. He laughed—loud. “Sorry. That’s funny.” He covered his mouth.

“What’s so funny?”

“You and Grayson.”

“Do you think I’m not good enough for your roommate?”

That response caught him by surprise. “Not at all.” He scrunched his eyebrows. “Do you like him?”

“No. God, no. Like, seriously no.”

One no would have sufficed. “You know, Grayson’s a good guy. Under that swanky suit he’s really not a dipshit.”

“You heard about his nicknames already?”

“Yeah, and all I’m saying is maybe you should take some time to get to know him.”

“Noted.” She stood and picked up her tray. “We should probably get back to work.”

Grayson watched as she took her things to the waste area. His undercover mission was going well. He’d learned a few things. Things that he wasn’t particularly proud of. If he was going to lead the company the way his dad would have wanted him to, he needed to get a better understanding of the dynamic between his corporate employees and his line workers.

His years of breezing in and out of employee events and not spending any time in the plant meant he was seeing a future for Guac Olé with only half of the ingredients.

He grinned as he watched one of his young accounting guys try to talk to Becca. She was going to get hit on a lot when her shareholder status took effect.

Why did she hate him so much? He scratched his beard. Maybe it was time to get out of his disguise this weekend and find out.

Becca took a deep breath and held tightly to the white box in her hands, glancing behind her at all the expensive cars and fully loaded trucks parked around the Cooper estate. Was she really going to spend the next two hours hobnobbing with Gavin and Macy’s family and friends?

Tangie had lent her a black cocktail dress for the occasion. She must have tried on more than a dozen of her friend’s outfits before finally settling on this one. Though it was tighter than the loose-flowing sundresses she normally wore, she loved that it showed off her toned, tan arms.

She glanced down at her black strappy heels. Another new experience. She’d practiced all afternoon walking across her living room’s wooden floor because there was no way she was going to trip and fall tonight.

In addition to coming over with an armful of dresses for Becca to select from, Tangie had also taken to Becca’s hair, teasing it up and out for this occasion. Once done, she’d opened up her makeup case, giving Becca smoky eyes. She’d gasped when Tangie spun her around to face the bedroom mirror, barely recognizing her reflection staring back.

Trying hard not to feel that she was in disguise and that she got gussied up like this every Saturday night, she straightened her shoulders and rang the doorbell. Seconds later, the door flew open and Gavin greeted her with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you, Becca, come in.”

“Thank you for inviting me.” She offered him the box.

“Thank you. You shouldn’t have.”

“It’s not really an engagement gift, but I thought you could enjoy them tomorrow once the party is over.”

“Is this from Betty Lou’s?” he asked, obviously recognizing the signature white takeout box.

“It’s a dozen donuts. I know you love them as much as I do, so breakfast is on me. Betty Lou made a batch tonight so they’re fresh.” She laughed a little too nervously. “They go great with hangovers.”

“Good to know. That’s very thoughtful.” He grinned. “Macy’s manager might need the whole box in the morning at the rate she’s going.”

The doorbell rang, and Gavin sprang into action. “This is my station for the next thirty minutes or so. Go on in. The guests are outside on the patio. You’ll find Macy and Charlotte out there.”

Just what she needed. To spend the evening with not one, but both women who’d fallen for Jack’s sons. Why had she agreed to come?

She gave her lungs one last deep inhale and crossed the foyer, dropping into an enormous living room. She’d always imagined the inside of the Cooper house as being a place oozing with wealth, but in actuality it was quite simplistic, homey, and charming. Not what she’d pictured at all.

“Care for a glass of wine?”

Boy, would I.
Becca turned to see a young server with a tray of white wineglasses. “Thank you,” she said to the girl and took her glass. Would it be bad to take two?

She sipped her wine, recalling the last time she wore a server’s uniform. At fifteen, she’d gotten a second part-time job as a wait staff for catered events a couple times a month. The last party she’d staffed had been a doozy. Matter of fact, it had been a graduation party for a seventeen-year-old Grayson.

She shuddered at that memory. It hadn’t taken place here, but on land high up on the hilltop. She’d accidentally spilled a tray of punch on Grayson’s high school girlfriend. Becca couldn’t recall her name, but her boss firing her on the spot in front of everyone had cut deep. She’d left the party in tears.

And she hadn’t been back until recently. It was unavoidable not to drive by the house on her way to her mother’s. Jack had owned the property, but as far as she knew, the family had never lived there. They probably selected the location for Grayson’s graduation party on account of the massive lawn.

The town’s upper class had looked at her that night like she was an imbecile who didn’t belong on that side of Sweet Ridge.

Funny how an embarrassment as a teenager could follow you right into adulthood.

Becca drank down her wine, drowning that awful memory. Grayson probably didn’t even remember.

Another server passed them with an empty tray and turned the corner. She must be going into the kitchen to restock her appetizers. Becca couldn’t deny she was more than a little curious what the Cooper kitchen looked like, so she decided to take a peek.

Her eyes widened at the huge chef’s kitchen that was quadruple the size of her own. Modern, yet it had a lived-in country charm. She could easily envision herself flipping pancakes while Grayson sat in the biggest breakfast nook she’d ever seen reading the Sunday pa—

Whoa! Where had that come from? She took a long drink of her wine, yanking Grayson out of her vision and replacing him with Tangie, Chuck, Betty Lou, her mother, and maybe Coop, because she’d enjoyed their lunch together the other day.

They were all complimenting Becca on her pancakes. “Much better,” she said out loud.

“What’s much better?”

She whipped around at the sound of that way-too-familiar voice, her wine sloshing over the edge of her glass.

Grayson grinned and grabbed a cocktail napkin from the counter, handing it to her.

“Thank you.” She wiped her hands. “You’re back.”

“I’m back,” he repeated and reached for a wine bottle on the counter. One of the caterers came over to assist, but he waved her off and grabbed a wine opener off the counter.

Becca knew he was cutting his trip short, but Coop had said he was coming back next week. She would have never accepted Macy’s invitation if she’d known.

He moved around the kitchen, grabbing an empty wineglass. In a pair of jeans and a loose, white button-down shirt, he was handsome as hell. He poured her own glass before filling his own.

“Thanks.” She needed all the liquid encouragement she could get down for this conversation. “I was just admiring your kitchen.”

“Lots of great memories. I used to spend all of my time in here when my dad threw parties.”

“Cooking?”

“More like flirting with the servers and sneaking the wine.” He lifted his glass.

She laughed and clinked her glass to his. “You know, I could actually picture you doing that.”

He turned and leaned against the counter. “It’s also a good refuge from my brothers and their significant others.”

She had to agree with him there. “How was Cancun?”

“Great. I only planned on staying there a week, but don’t worry. I’m still going to take the rest of the summer off.”

“So, you won’t be in the office?”

“No.” He took a sip of his wine and then flashed his dimples. “I’m starting to understand the whole concept of completely unplugging on a vacation. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to do some things around my condo. Get my toolbox out.”

“Well, good for you.” She still doubted he really had one. “And thank you for the flowers.”

He smiled again, and she kind of liked that his sexy dimples at this moment were reserved for her. Feeling flushed, she brushed her hair off her neck and changed the subject. “So your former college roommate is quite a character.”

“I’m glad I could give him a job. How’s he doing?”

“Good.” She laughed, thinking back to Coop covered in guacamole on Monday. “He’s getting the hang of it. Although he’s a little slower on the line than I’d like.”

“I’m sure he’s doing his best,” he said flatly, grabbing a tray of mushroom caps and offering her one. “This type of work is new to him.”

“Yeah. Did you know he sold vacuum cleaners before this?” She popped the tiny mushroom cap in her mouth, savoring the amazing flavor that exploded on her tongue.

“He’s done a few things. Good guy, though, with a real sense for business. If he has ideas for the plant, you should listen to him.” He picked up a mushroom cap. “I mean, if you think any of his ideas have merit. You’re the boss.”

Just then the oven timer went off, and Grayson pushed off the kitchen island. Becca eyed how relaxed he seemed as he maneuvered around the kitchen island to show the caterer where she could find the off button.