Walk the Line (Man of the Month 12)

She glanced around at all the faces. "I know that this kind of thing is more exciting to me than it is to you. But it's not just about the planning. I think it could really up The Fix's reputation in the city."

Tyree and Reece exchanged glances, then Tyree nodded. "This is all excellent information," he said. "Considering how much our income has spiked since we started the Man of the Month contest, I think it's fair to say that we won't be going out of business any time soon."

"Which means it makes sense to get involved," Jenna said. "And tossing historical tidbits into the mix makes a lot of sense. We could ask Spencer and Brooke to throw in a few facts during the last episode of The Business Plan. And we're already taking a leadership role in the downtown area with the food fair."

"That's true," Elena said. When she'd first arrived in Austin, the bar just launched the Man of the Month contest, a calendar guy contest that had been crea

ted in the hopes of drawing more business to The Fix, and thereby keeping it solvent and in business.

The contest had succeeded beyond anyone's expectations, and now there was no question that when Tyree's December thirty-first deadline came, The Fix would be solidly in the black.

Riding on that success, everyone at the bar had been thinking about how to keep The Fix in the public eye, and the idea of a food fair had come up. Jenna had jumped into planning, and now the date was growing closer, with dozens of Austin's restaurants and specialty food stores signed up to participate. And since The Fix was the founder and organizer, the bar's name would be all over the Winston Hotel ballroom the night of the fair.

Tyree moved to stand in front of her. "I appreciate everything you're suggesting, and I'm sure not disagreeing. But you haven't mentioned what you're going to do." His voice was gentle, but he wore a no-nonsense expression.

"Me?"

"You quit your job here to work at the Center. What are you doing for income?"

"Daddy..."

Tyree's serious expression softened, replaced by a wide, shining grin. "I do like the way that sounds."

She rolled her eyes, but that was only for show. Because she liked the way it sounded, too. And they both knew it.

She reached out, and soon her hand was engulfed in her father's larger one.

"I'm going to look for something else, of course. And they said they might bring me on as an intern. But I guess that's something they have to clear with the board, too. So I'm in a holding pattern."

"An intern," Tyree repeated. "You mean unpaid."

"There's value in the experience," she said, but he only exhaled. Loudly.

"Why don't you come back to work here? I don't have a lot of hours available, but we do have one part-time slot to fill."

Elena almost sagged with relief. She hadn't wanted to seem presumptuous and ask, but she really did need the work.

But just as she was about to jump all over Tyree's offer, Jenna let out a low sigh from behind Elena. "I'm so sorry," she said, moving to stand by Brent. "I hired someone this morning."

Tyree's brow furrowed. "We haven't even posted the position yet."

Jenna waved his words away with a curt, "She'd called me last week. I know her. It was one of those things. Anyway," she continued, rushing on, "just because there's nothing here doesn't mean you're out of luck. After all, you need a babysitter, right?" As she spoke, she nudged Brent with her shoulder. "Didn't that new girl you'd hired just quit? And now that you have to work weekends, it makes sense. Don't you think so, Elena?"

Her heart did a back-flip at the prospect, and her head immediately cringed. Honestly, what was she thinking? Work for Brent? Close quarters? Late nights? His house? His daughter?

Granted he'd hardly ever be there, but even so, that was a recipe for disaster. Or, at least, for embarrassing herself.

She had to say no.

"I really could use you," Brent said, his casual words conjuring all sorts of delicious images.

"Oh," Elena said, not even sure if he could hear her over the wild pounding of her heart. "In that case, yes."

Chapter Two

"He said he could use you? My, my, my." Selma Herrington sat cross-legged on Elena's living room floor, her choppy, ever-changing hair tipped with pink today. She grinned as she shot a glance toward Hannah Donovan, a local attorney who was dating Matthew Herrington, Selma's brother.

"As a babysitter," Elena said, feeling her cheeks warm.