Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(96)

“But what you’re asking for is controlling percentage of my building. Presumably to keep Luke’s monthly rent down, correct? Why would I agree to that to only have a quarter ownership of yours?”

“Because the profit sharing you’d get as twenty-five percent owner of Ocotillos combined with the portion you’d still make off Luke’s monthlies would be more than you make off Luke’s lease alone. True, it’s not as much you would get by doubling his lease, but look at what you’re getting in the process. If, heaven forbid, you decided to sell your twenty-five percent you know you would get an astronomically greater return than you would for fifty-one percent of your building. You and I both know that what I’m offering is a far more valuable business holding.”

“There’s still the matter of the flailing businesses in town—”

“I’ve thought about that too. I haven’t worked out the details yet but I think I can help them with their revenue. I’ve drafted vendor contracts to present Dan and Barb for produce and Libby for ice cream. Truthfully, I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought to do that before this but no matter. It’ll be mutually beneficial. As for Kim, I can work in a distribution deal for her novelty products—discreetly behind the bar of course. That should do well with the college crowd that comes in. And I’ve already talked to Rylan for his music expertise on how to help Jilly.” She gulped in a breath to slow down her racing monologue. “For Gavin, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea how to help his diner yet but I’ll come up with something, I’m sure of it.”

“Now you’re starting to sound like the businesswoman responsible for making Ocotillos what it is today,” Noah replied gruffly, sounding noticeably impressed.

“So do we have a deal?” She held her breath.

Sitting through his long contemplative pause was an exercise of patience. Not really her strong suit.

“Dani, your ideas sound all well and good, but to be honest with you, it doesn’t sit well with me to make business deals of this nature. Not when there are more emotions than sense involved. You shouldn’t give away part of your business and real estate for some guy.”

“I’m not. Giving it away, that is. I’d be getting something out of this too. And besides, why do you care if I’m doing it partly to help ‘some guy?’”

“Because I know what your business means to you, what it meant to your dad. I can’t see you being okay with this years down the line. What happens if you and Luke don’t work out?”

Flinching at the prospect, she rushed to fire back. “Then I’ll do what you’re planning on doing anyway—kick him out and have Derek open his winery.” LIE. “It’ll be win-win for me either way.” By the derisive snort from Noah, she knew he was calling bullshit on her big talk.

Noah sighed. “Look, I think what you’re doing is noble, romantic even. But take it from me—no good comes out of mixing your business and personal lives. I speak from experience.”

Dani’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Wait, what? You let a woman interfere with—”

“I’m not saying no, Dani,” he said, ignoring her question and bulldozing right along. “But I’m not saying yes either. You’re right, this would be a good deal for me to take and I’d be a fool to pass it up; yours is one of the most successful businesses in Cactus Creek, with the kind of staying power I’d normally pounce to invest in. However, I’d be just as big a fool if I accepted without giving you a bit more time to think about it. I think we’ve established that you tend to jump into these things ass first, brain second. I’ll go ahead and have my assistant draft some paperwork, but in the meantime, I suggest you evaluate this from all angles once more. Since we’re still vetting the wineries interested in Luke’s building anyway, that’ll give you another few days to think this through some more.”

“But I don’t need any more time.”

“I don’t care what you think you need. Take the few days,” he ordered brusquely. “Also, though I’m pretty sure you’re going to disregard my advice, I still say you should talk to Luke about all this before you make your decision. Trust me on this; he needs to know what you’re trying to do here. I really don’t want this turning out badly for you.”

She remained silent. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell Luke and Derek what she had planned; she just didn’t want to ‘pull a Dani’ here and fail as epically as she has been known to before. No. She’d do a grand reveal after Noah signed on the dotted line and all chances of failure were eliminated. “Fine. I’ll take the few days but be sure those contracts are ready for me to sign at the end of those few days,” she said, using her best Danica Dobson voice, the one that have shriveled the balls of men nearly as imposing as Noah.

Noah muttered under his breath about irrational romantics and ended the call with an exasperated, “I’ll be in touch.”

Dani looked over at the photo of her dad on the wall.

You’d do this for mom, wouldn’t you?

She took his big, teddy-bear grin as a clear hell-yes.

For once, following in her dad’s footsteps regarding love didn’t quite seem so bad.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN