Page 25 of Small Town Boy

“Only thing he has left from Maisey,” one of them mutters, but I can’t tell who.

“Not a problem; we can make it work,” I reassure him. “Just thought I’d ask.”

“I’ll explain later,” Willa whispers, leaning in so only I can hear her. I nod, thankful she has my back. Straightening herself, she looks to her family and continues. “First things first though, the Turkey Trot!”

A collective groan follows, making the table almost vibrate. Uh-oh.

“You mean that we’re getting rid of it?” Jace asks.

“No. We’re going to make it bigger. So while y’all can have some of Bronwyn’s time for your marketing and branding needs, the first major project is the Turkey Trot. It needs a complete overhaul. We need to do something fun and fresh and make it the biggest one yet.”

“No one cares about corporate giving, Wil. You are literally the smallest fish here,” Huxley says.

Willa retaliates in a way that only a little sister can, by sticking her tongue out. I bite back a laugh, not wanting to make it look like I’m taking sides, even though I am. Professionally and personally. The professional side at least has an argument.

“Actually,” I jump in, “we do need to focus more on incorporating Willa’s department in with the rest of yours. Corporate giving is way more than just cutting checks for the required amounts to hit the tax breaks. Hayes Gives Back needs to be a major focus over the next couple of years, with each industry finding a way to specifically contribute. Anton, agriculture is the easiest, so probably the one we’ll tackle first.”

“With the Turkey Trot,” Willa adds.

“Just tell me what you need.”

My heart jumps, my pulse starting to race with the excitement. Because this is what I love. Putting together plans to help refocus brands and grow a business. This is what I was put on earth to do. It’s exactly where my skill set lies, and I am thrilled to be able to show it off. Especially with Hayes.

Fuck Coffman Witte…and Marie too…

I launch into my ideas—very basic ones I’m half spitballing since prior to forty-five seconds ago, I didn’t know anything about a Turkey Trot. But that’s okay. I can think on my feet. A few moments and a bunch of half ideas later, I have them all nodding, buying in to my thought process. I can feel Willa’s excitement radiating off her as she wiggles in her seat, playing off what I’m saying.

This is gonna be good.

“OMG, you’re seriously a rock star!” Willa says, closing my office door behind us. “And I know one when I see one, since my bestie is marrying an actual rock star.”

“Isn’t he a country star?”

“Same difference. Anyway, you seriously kick ass. I have never seen any of my brothers so bought into Hayes Gives Back. Maybe that’s because Martin, the guy who just retired from this role, was about 700 years old and believed that the only marketing you really need is advertising. He also has no problem voicing his opinion that my talents would be better spent being in said advertisements rather than running a ‘made-up department.’”

“Sounds like a real winner, this Martin.”

Lowering myself into the other guest chair, I look at Willa, my own mixed feelings starting to rise up. She’s fantastic. Smart, funny, witty. It’s clear that she’s a strong personality and has no problem voicing her opinion, and that she loves what she does. She also seems like the type who is loyal and takes her friendships seriously. Exactly the type of woman I want in my corner and to count among my friends. But my head keeps telling me to be wary. That we thought we found this in someone before. And what happened? We got burned. Not something I can let happen again.

“He was old school. But he’s gone now; that’s what matters.” She smiles, relaxing into the chair, making herself comfortable. “But, enough about work. I want to know all about this morning, and just why our resident landscaper was your chauffeur.”

I sigh. Time to come clean. Not that there is anything to come clean about. “It was nothing. Really. It’s only because the truck broke down on my way home Saturday, and he happened to find me and so he offered to drive me in. Actually, he more like informed me that he would drive me.”

“That sounds like our boy. But wait, the truck broke? Does Gus know?”

“I think so? Noel said that the guy who runs the tow truck said he would let Gus know. But I should probably check.”

That thought totally slipped my mind. Oops. Add that to this afternoon’s to-do list.

“I knew we shouldn’t have given you that truck,” she mutters. “But if Ken says he called Gus, then he did. And I would bet he chewed him out at that.”

I swallow hard, hoping I didn’t cause trouble. That’s the last thing I need or want on my first day. Since the issue of the truck hasn’t come up yet either, I don’t have any idea which way to lean on that front either. Great, one more thing to worry about.

“I’ll work on getting you another vehicle. Unless you want to keep riding around with Noel.” She waggles her eyebrows, smirking, clearly loving the potential for gossip.

“That would be fantastic. I’m rather attached to my independence.”

“I understand that.” She pushes up from the chair and spins to head to the door. “Let’s get that going for you. Also, pull out your phone, open your calendar, and block out Friday night. It’s bonfire night.”