“Don’t mention it,” Cole said. “On second thought... I’m going to cash in on that later. Never know when I’m going to need an ally.”
“Against whom?” I asked. I was slowly starting to understand what Ryker meant with getting as many members on your side as possible being a survival strategy in the group.
“Don’t know yet, hence why I’m cashing in later.”
I raised my glass of orange juice in a mock toast. “Got it.”
“Tess and I are less demanding than our little brother,” Skye said. “We just want more of this amazing lemonade.”
“Perfect.”
“A word of warning,” Ryker said. “Don’t say yes so quickly every time... it’s a surefire way to get into trouble with this group.”
That hand on my lower back slid even lower.
“I think I can handle this lot.” I looked him straight in the eye, trying to convey that I could handle him too, only I couldn’t, really. All it took was for him to be this close, and I was already done for. I was pretty sure it was written all over my face, because Ryker smiled brilliantly. I loved being surrounded by this group. Watching Skye and Tess work so tirelessly for their store had rubbed off on me. Between that and Ryker’s encouragements, I’d started working on that book I’d always wanted to write. I could tinker with it whenever I had some time in between assignments.
My Pearman article had been published at the start of the week, and let’s just say, it hit the mark.
“We need to go back to the store,” Skye said, yawning. “Our sales assistant’s shift ends in one hour.”
I shifted in my spot, looking at her and Tess. This was the right moment for me to put the plan in motion. We’d started brainstorming ways to help Skye and Tess while they were going through this rough period. They were no longer looking for an investor, because they’d decided to postpone their expansion projects. But they had their hands full trying to put out the fires that had escalated because their last investor pulled out at the last minute.
“I’ve had an idea,” I said. “Since I’m now living a stone’s throw away from your store... I could help out sometimes. Say, Saturday afternoons? Your mom said she’d love to spend that time with Avery.”
Tess tilted her head, assessing me. “And let me guess, since you and Ryker are inseparable, he’ll join you too?”
Damn, they caught on fast. Ryker had warned me they would, but I’d thought that if I was the one who voiced the idea, we stood a better chance.
“Why not?” I said. “It’s something fun for us to do, a change from our regular jobs.”
Skye tapped her chin. “I’m trying to picture Ryker in the store. He’ll scare the clientele away.”
I held up a finger. “Already thought of that. He’ll be in the back office most of the time, doing whatever you girls don’t get to do during the week. Something you can delegate, obviously.”
“Well, Tess... this is the chance we’ve waited for—we can boss him around again like when we were kids,” Skye said.
Ryker’s eyes bulged. “Talk about an unexpected angle.”
Tess focused on Hunter, Josie, and Cole, who’d been silent during this whole exchange.
“And let me guess... the three of you would alternate on Sundays?” Tess asked.
Damn! This was scarily accurate. How was this even possible?
Cole shook his head. “Told you they’d catch on to the plan, Heather.”
Eh... it was more a conspiracy than a plan, but I was getting the hang of this conspiring thing and absolutely loved it.
Hunter cleared his throat. “This might be a good time to mention that Amelia’s in on this too.”
Skye elbowed her sister. “If everyone’s telling us the same thing, it’s a sign, sis.”
“That’s what I always say,” Josie piped up. “If more people tell you the same thing... it’s time to listen.”
Tess shook her head, but she was smiling. Finally, she threw her hands up. “Okay, let’s do this. Thank you. But we’ll alternate weekends. I’m not negotiating that.”
I clapped my hands once. “That’s a great start.”