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“Come on, sis,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“It’s OK,” Daisy says, patting my chest. I hook a protective arm around Daisy’s shoulder.
Mills is a lot more intimidating than Summer and Harmony, too, and I can tell Daisy’s eyes are searching the room, hoping for some boozy yogurt to appear to lighten the mood.
Knowing Daisy, she’ll give a straight answer. Maybe one tinged with her sweet sincerity that makes me melt.
Instead, Daisy goes with absurd sarcasm. “My intentions are to trick Owen into falling in love with me so I can have him as my live-in chef.”
Hayden chuckles.
Mills narrows her eyes, and I wait for a tongue-lashing. But it never happens. A slight smile pulls on Mills’ lips, and she says, “You should’ve gone with a joke about stealing Graham away from my brother, the helicopter dad. But I’ll give it to you. Owen’s a great cook.”
It doesn’t take much more than that for the future sisters-in-law to warm up to each other.
After some time, Hayden pulls me aside.
“Mills tells me you’re thinking of buying the feed store and turning it into a garden center?”
It sounds strange to hear my idea boiled down to the bare bones, especially from someone who owns one of the biggest sports equipment companies in the world.
The two of us are seated at the corner booth by the window, away from the crowd of friends, family, and townsfolk. Cooper and Carter, the yogurt shop investors, are sticking close to my sisters—a little too close.
A sense of unease settles on me. Then I see Rebel carrying Graham around like an accessory even though he’s been walking for a while now. Her bump is starting to show. I’m going to hate explaining to Graham in another few months why his favorite sitter is going to be busy for a while after her baby arrives.
“Sort of,” I tell Hayden. He’s listening with genuine interest. I explain my idea about expanding the feed store to include a garden center and a place for classes and resources for people interested in sustainable agriculture.
“That sounds really cool. Do you have a business plan?” Hayden asks.
“As a matter of fact, I do. My sisters and Daisy helped me draw one up in preparation for pitching my idea to the bank president,” I tell him.
“You don’t say,” he says with a smirk, taking a spoonful of non-alcoholic blueberry basil frozen yogurt.
“And recently I’ve had people interested in using my farm as an event venue, which makes me wonder if it’s possible to combine both under one company,” I say. “Both the farm and the garden center. But then, I think an event center space would be a lot to maintain. I’d have to hire coordinators because I don’t know the first thing about weddings.”
Hayden chuckles. “Delegating is your friend.”
I agree, but I have a hard time delegating. I’m working on that. “It’s a lot to think about. I just don’t know where to focus. Sometimes the only thing I know how to do well is being a dad and a good boyfriend for Daisy.”
The guy is seriously starting to freak me out. Not only is he overdressed for today in his business shirt and tie, but he looks deep in thought, as if he really wants me to be more dogged about my plans. More excited. More … something.
Hayden slides his business card to me across the table.
“I’m in.”
“You’re what?”
“You have big plans and big plans need a big investor. I’m in.”
I blink at him. “But your company is sports equipment?” Boy, I sound dumb.
“And?”
“And, I have a meeting with the bank next week to talk about a business loan…”
Hayden shuts me up with one look. Hell, now I can see how he won Mills’ favor. Nothing but an absolutely focused person can keep her interested in a relationship.
I’m not gonna lie — even I, a straight man, am slightly turned on by this dude’s intensity.
