The Dating Plan(90)

“You won’t have to do it,” Daisy said, thinking quickly. “Get your new executive team in place and they’ll handle it for you. It doesn’t have to be a one-person show.”

“I thought you were a one-person show.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Come in. Do your work. Slip out the back. Don’t socialize with your colleagues . . . I was surprised you weren’t the first one out the door when things started to go wrong. When I hired you, I knew you never stayed in one place for long. It worked for me because things here were so uncertain, but now . . . What’s changed?”

“I’ve changed,” she said. “I was afraid to commit to anything, afraid to open myself up to making friends or become involved in the companies I worked for. I was afraid of getting hurt if things didn’t work out. But over the last few months, I’ve been forced to step outside my bubble. I met people who invited me into their lives and their hearts, who believe in me and like me for who I am. They made me realize that I have a lot to give besides being a coding genius.” She grinned, and Tyler responded with a halfhearted chuckle.

“I’ve realized that being ‘weirdly smart’ doesn’t make me less; it makes me more. I want to help Organicare be all it can be, and I’m willing to take risks to make that happen. And if it doesn’t work out, I know I’m strong enough to move on and keep taking chances. Because that’s how I’m going to live my best life, and that’s how you can live your best life, too.”

This wasn’t just about work, she realized. It was about acceptance and forgiveness. It was about love.

“That’s quite the speech.” Tyler pulled the folder toward him and flipped through the pages. “And this is quite the proposal. But there’s one big problem.” He sucked in his lips, ran a hand through the tangle of his hair. “Kristina won’t come back. She’s totally committed to the work she’s doing to raise awareness in third-world countries.”

“You could hire a new CEO.”

He stared at her for so long, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Had she gotten this wrong? Overstepped? Or maybe he’d already sold the company and . . .

“Why would I do that when the perfect person is sitting right in front of me?” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes warm with approval. “You pitched with me at the tech con. You brought Liam to help save us. You pushed for Mia and Zoe’s proposal. And now . . .” He tapped the folder. “You’ve done this, when it would have been easy for you to walk away. Those are leadership qualities, and right now the company needs a young, dynamic female leader, someone with the passion, drive, and commitment to see this through. That’s you.”

If anyone had told her two months ago that one day she’d be asked to lead a pitch to save Organicare as the company’s CEO, she would have laughed. But two months ago, she’d been stuck in the past, nursing old wounds, afraid to embrace her life and move on.

She wasn’t that woman anymore.





? 30 ?


LIAM parked his motorcycle in the distillery parking lot. He wasn’t surprised to see gleaming yellow backhoes, dump trucks, and wrecking balls lined up side by side. He’d met with Ed McBain and explained that since he wouldn’t be able to meet the terms of the trust, there was no point wasting time. Ed had authorized the demolition, and today the distillery was coming down.

“Thought you ran away to New York to become a big shot partner at your firm.” Joe blew out a puff of smoke from his favorite seat at the top of the front steps. He was smoking again, but at seventy-five years old he’d earned the right not to quit.

“I did, but I had to come back to deal with some loose ends.” Liam joined him on the step and they looked out over the parking lot and the green fields beyond.

“Was this one of them?”

“Brendan invited me to come and take one last look around.”

“You still have a week left before your birthday.” Joe gave him a hopeful look. “What about that girl you brought to meet the family?”

Liam sighed, feeling empty inside. “Didn’t work out.”

“I’ve got a niece . . .”

“Thanks, Joe, but there’s only one woman for me.”

After a few quiet moments with Joe, he headed into the visitor center, where Brendan was talking to the contractor. Jaxon saw him walk in and jumped up to greet him.

“Uncle Liam!” He ran over to give him a hug. “Can we go see the distillery again? Can we see my name and fly a plane in the stills?”

His throat tightened. “I don’t think so, bud.”

“Joe’s outside,” Brendan told Jaxon. “He’ll take you around if you want to have a last look.”

Jaxon pushed open the door and ran outside calling Joe’s name.

“Lauren’s working today and I couldn’t leave him at home,” Brendan said, watching Jaxon go. “I thought he’d like to see the heavy equipment at work, but’s he’s more interested in flying his plane in the field.”

“I would be, too, if I had this much wide open space.” Liam looked around at the polished wood bar that their great-great-grandfather had shipped over from Ireland intact. “Should we have a last drink?”

“Sounds good.” Brendan turned to the contractor. “You can get started. The paperwork is in order and we’re ready to go.”