You Smiled (8 page)

She got lost a little in his beautiful eyes. “Just making small talk.”

“Well, let’s use our time better than that. You’re a businesswoman. Time is money, right?”

She nodded, chastised, wondering where this was going.

“I’m leaving in an hour, and we may not see each other again.”

Grace caught her breath a little, then reminded herself that he was simply honoring her request. She exhaled slowly.

He continued. “Before I go, I wanted to share a couple of things with you. This may come across strong - I hope it doesn’t - but I haven’t got a lot of time, so I’m just going to let you have it.”

Well.
Grace squared her shoulders. “I can handle it.”

“I’ve got some ideas for your business.” He pulled some papers out of his pocket. “I don’t mean to offend you. You don’t have to take them. It’s just that I think you could appeal to the male market a little more effectively, and I sketched out some ideas for redefining this space at the back of the store. They might appeal to your brother. If he’s still going to be involved, he might be able to build on this.”

She eyed the papers, intrigued, yet trying to show some professional restraint. “Thank you for taking the time to help my store. I  don’t deserve this.”

“It’s what I do. I’d be happy if any of these ideas helped.”

She nodded.

He continued, all business. “You may not want to consider this, but I suggest you rethink the name of your shop.”

Grace clenched her fists in her lap, fighting the urge to get defensive. Knowing it would be wise to hear him out, she swallowed her pride and asked, “Why is that?”

“Caf-fiend is funny, and it’s catchy, but it’s not you, Grace. You don’t even like coffee. Have your employees, maybe even the town, compete to come up with something catchy and positive.
Give them some ownership. Keep the T-shirts, though, and the mugs. They’re great.” He smiled tentatively, knowing he was pushing it.

Still, he knew his business, so she held her tongue. She’d like to blame the name on someone else, but it was her idea - one that she’d never completely embraced if she were honest with herself.

“Okay, I appreciate your opinion.”

He smiled; seemed
relieved and impressed with her patience. “One more thing, and this may also be unwelcome.” He waited for her assent before he went on.

She gave it, hesitantly.

“If you’re ever looking for capital, I’d like to invest. You’ve got a good thing going here, and I’d like to see it succeed.”

She
tilted her head,
considering what being tied financially to him might mean. “Thank you. I think my brother isn’t as ready to bail as he led me to believe on Friday night.”

“I’m glad to hear it. How did it go yesterday?”

“It went well, thanks. He’s going to be moving into the cottage that we rented when we were kids. I think getting his own place here will be good for him. He’ll move next week.”

She was babbling, and hated her tendency to do that when she was nervous. She just didn’t know how to deal with Businessman Alex. It was like he had a whole different personna.

“I’m sure you two will take good care of each other.”

Grace bristled. Did she really want to spend her life taking care of her brother, having him take care of her? Somehow, it didn’t sound as fulfilling as it should. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to sound fulfilling. She shook herself and focused on Alex.

“I have one more thing for you.” He reached into his pocket, and Grace watched as he pulled out a small piece of paper, or possibly cardboard, and flipped it over onto the table. It was a school picture; his senior picture.

She pulled it over and stared at it. He was a pleasant looking kid, and she could see the resemblance to the grown Alex in front of her. The shoulders were vastly different however, not only in size, but in the way he held himself. In the picture his shoulders sagged, his smile was half-hearted. With a little confidence the kid in the picture could become a different man. Grace looked up at Alex. He had become a different man; a very successful man.

She smiled. “I can see the resemblance.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“Why do you have it with you?”

“I brought it to show you. Maybe jog your memory.” He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose …?”

“I’m sorry, no.” She wished she could remember the kid in the picture, but she couldn’t force a memory to surface.

Alex covered her hand and the picture with it.

“Good. I’m glad.”

Grace’s eyes widened in surprise.

Alex shifted in his seat, his posture suggesting that he was ready to deliver his coups de grace. Grace imagined that people took notice when he adopted that stance. She certainly did.

“Yesterday you mentioned four reasons that we can’t work right now.”

Grace sighed.
That many?

“One was your brother,” he continued. “You just said he’s doing alright and starting to deal with life. He’s going to be okay, Grace. You’re still here with him, and getting involved in the shop will be good for him. Number two was your business.” He patted the pile of papers. “These ideas could help, and though you may not want my money, I’m ready to invest. Not just because it’s you, but because this is a good business risk.”

Thanking him would be appropriate, but she seemed unable to respond.

“Three is your concern that we are both busy and live half a country apart.”

He had a good memory
.
She listened with interest.

“Grace, I can afford to come and see you any time I want. And if it comes down to it, I can be based anywhere to do my work.”

She felt him watching her as she absorbed this impressive bit of counter-argument. Would it ‘come down to it?’ There was an exhilarating and terrifying thought. She hardly knew what to say.

“So where does your picture fit in?”

“Reason four was that you felt bad that you never noticed me in high school. You may not remember me, but you did notice me, Grace. It even means more that you smiled at me when I clearly wasn’t making an impression on you. You didn’t smile at me because I was so memorable or because you were trying to impress me.” He tapped the picture. “Don’t you see? For whatever reason, you did notice me and you smiled at me that day. You shared some of yourself and it changed me.”

He was determined to make her look like some kind of hero. Grace swallowed
, watching as Alex stood and walked over to her side. He sat down next to her and she slid over to accommodate him. When he turned to fully face her, his nearness took her breath away.

He gently touched her cheek. “I wish I could give you back your smile. I wish I could do for you what you did for me.”

She looked into his beautiful, earnest brown eyes. “I think maybe you already did.”

He cocked his head, searching her face.

“I’ve been informed that I never smile, except when you’re around. My employees just about fired me for trying to say ‘goodbye’ to you yesterday.”

A small smile lifted his lips.

“So it turns out, it’s your smile to begin with, because apparently mine doesn’t surface unless you’re around.”

Alex touched her mouth gently. “So, where is it now?”

Grace’s lips buzzed with his touch. “It’s probably hiding in embarrassment for not giving us a chance.” She’d never said such a silly thing in her life. Somehow it didn’t matter.

“I think I know how to put it back.”

She arched a brow while her insides melted into a delightful puddle.

“Can I kiss you, Grace?”

He grinned as she glanced over his shoulder. “Do we have an audience?”

“Of course we do.”

“Chicken?”

“Oh please! I’m not the one who waited ten years to kiss the girl.”

“I’m not waiting any longer, Grace.”

She started to panic. “I can’t kiss you when you’re dressed like that and I’m dressed like this and we’re sitting
in a disgusting booth!”

“Okay, well, how about if I kiss you?”

“No, I just said …”

There was nowhere for her to go, and really, once he made his decision, he was very compelling. She closed her eyes and felt his lips on hers; gently, tentatively, then with more confidence. He pulled back just as she began to forget the booth, her employees, her name …

He rested his forehead on hers. “Too short for a beginning, but no way this is an ending.”

Grace breathed a quiet,
“No way.”

“I have a plane to catch; pretty effective escape plan.” He touched her cheek. “I’d like to come back next weekend, if that’s okay.”

Grace smiled a little. “Okay with me.”

“We can do this, Grace.”

He leaned in and kissed her again. Grace thought she might float away when his lips left hers.

“I’ll be back in a few days.”

She nodded, aching at the thought of his leaving, thrilling at the thought of his returning. She sat up and squared her shoulders, willing her head to clear. “Okay. Be safe. I’ll look at your ideas. Thank you - for everything.” She groaned inwardly. She was just no good at emotional interaction.

Alex grinned. “You’re welcome.”

They looked at each other, contemplating the adventure they were embarking on. In silent agreement they stood, and Alex took her hand as he led her to the door. Drew was the only one who had the decency to pretend to be busy doing anything other than watching them.

Alex smiled at the crew. “Okay if I borrow Grace for a minute?”

Amidst a chorus of, “Please … Absolutely … Keep her!” they walked out the door. Just outside, Alex pulled her gently into his arms.

“Your employees love you.”

Grace was having a hard time thinking of anything other than Alex’s arms around her, but she managed to correct him. “They love
you
.”

Alex smiled.
“They want you to be happy.”             

“How did you know that?”

“I guessed.”

He kissed her again, and she effectively forgot about everything but the wonderful man who, for some reason, found her wonderful, too.

The End

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