A Guide to Being Just Friends(12)

“I’m not really into fate either but I do believe in following your gut. I think you’re going to do well here,” he said after a moment.

Her laugh was louder than she intended. “You don’t believe in fate but you’re a fortune-teller?”

“No. But I am an investor. My brothers and I buy and sell businesses, properties. Sometimes we go in, assess a company, find ways to maximize profits and efficiency, and decide to keep it, expand it. I know business. I’m not as much of a people person as my brothers but I’d like to think I have good judgment. Our meeting excluded.”

She set the broom against the counter, laughing as she slid onto the stool next to him. “Yeah, your judgment failed you there. Or, your eyesight. I still think you should get it checked.”

He gave her a mock frown. Pressure built in her chest, making it ache a little. “It feels good to hear you say I have a chance. I’m worried about the lack of customers and I put my money into getting started without thinking about how much marketing cost.”

He frowned for real this time. “Are you always this open?”

She leaned back, suddenly irritated. “Why? Did I overshare?”

Wes reached out like he might cover her hand with his but stopped. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to be abrupt. I just wouldn’t want to see anyone take advantage of you. Professionally. You seem like you can hold your own personally.”

Not entirely sure if he’d complimented her, she shook her head. “No, not always so open.” In fact, now that he said it, she was surprised at herself. “I think I thought we were starting to become friends.”

“Friends?” His brows pushed together.

She poked him in his surprisingly firm bicep. “Yeah. You know, people who talk, hang out, don’t get offended right away when one is abrupt or mistakes them for another person?”

“I’m never living that down, am I?”

She shook her head.

“Friends.” This time when he said it, it was like he was trying out the word, seeing how it fit. “I think I like that.”

Now she laughed. “You are really not great for the ego.”

Wes winced. “Sorry.” He sighed. “Maybe I’m not cut out for dating or friendship.”

Slipping off the stool, she decided, first impressions and attraction aside, she liked him. She could use some friends and she’d never have to worry about him telling her the truth. “Nah. You’re just a work in progress.”

Turning his laptop, he smiled at her. “Speaking of, what do you think?”

The colors popped right off the screen and the salad cup he’d drawn had somehow made it onto the web page. She started to squeal with excitement but was cut off by the phone ringing.

“Hang on one second. I love it.” She hurried around the counter to the phone. “I can’t believe you did that in, like, the last half hour.” She picked up the house phone.

“By the Cup.”

“Hi, there. I’m wondering if I can do a preorder for tomorrow. We have an office lunch and a friend of mine told me about your shop.”

She must have done her happy tap because Wes looked over with an arched brow.

“Absolutely. Let me get a pen and you can tell me what you’d like.”

It was a long list. “What time were you thinking?”

“Noon?”

She hesitated. She usually had at least a few people come by at lunchtime. If she wanted to exaggerate greatly, she’d say that was her daily rush. “The thing is, I’m by myself and to deliver, I have to close the shop. Which I don’t mind but around one would be better.”

“How about I have someone pick up?”

“Really?”

The woman laughed. “Of course.”

“That’s fantastic. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!”

When she hung up, Hailey felt like she could float to the ceiling.

“You know, you’re providing goods. People pay for goods and services. It’s expected that you charge for food and delivery.” Wes had gone back to working on the laptop.

“I know, but I can still appreciate it.”

He regarded her with an expression she couldn’t read. “I remember the first app I sold. I was very excited.”

She couldn’t imagine him doing a happy tap or squealing. “How did you celebrate?”

“I didn’t. I told my brothers, invested the profit, and continued working.” She wasn’t sure what she was going to say but he continued. “My dad considered my making apps a hobby, so it wasn’t something to toast like when Noah purchased the Morgan Park properties and we turned them into condos. Or when Chris turned a small camera shop into a chain store. But I was happy.”

“Being successful at something you love is its own reward, I guess,” she said.

He sipped the last of his lemonade while she pulled his laptop toward her. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

While she scrolled through the new features, the add-ons like signing up for her newsletter, and the format, she grew more and more curious about the man beside her. “Is this what you do for your father?” Seemed like all three of them worked for their dad.

Something strange flashed in his gaze. “It was part of what I did at one time. We don’t work with him anymore. I was groomed to take over technology in all areas since I had an aptitude for it.”