Page 3 of While We Waited

Sophia rubs her hands together. “We could do a joint marketing campaign. I love this idea. Does anyone know whothe marketing manager at the resort is? Never mind. I’ll figure it out.” She digs her phone out of her pocket.

“Hold on,” I say before she can dial. “Hideaway Haven Resortisn’t a client.”

“Yet.” Sophia waves at me. “Use some of your sunshine magic on Hudson and he’ll be a client in no time.”

I cock an eyebrow. “My sunshine magic?”

“Oh, please. Don’t act confused. You can sell fish to a mermaid.”

Usually, I agree with Sophia. I am a pretty darn good salesperson. But Hudson isn’t interested in my sales pitch. I can barely get him to speak to me on the phone. Let alone buy our beer.

“Please,” Maya begs. “Hideaway Haven Resortis a huge account. Think of the financial security having the account will bring toFive Fathoms.”

“Fine. I’ll call Hudson.”

I log into my computer and …

I glance up. Sophia, Maya, and Paisley are now standing in front of my desk.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Sophia says at the same time Paisley says, “Eavesdropping.”

I shoo them away with my hands. “I can’t do a sales pitch with the three of you staring at me.”

“Fine.” Paisley checks her watch. “I need to get back to the brewery anyway. I have a new batch of Session IPA I’m working on.”

She leaves but Sophia and Maya don’t.

“I’m not calling while you stand there.”

Maya shrugs. “Fine. I can hear you from my desk anyway.”

Siren bait! I can’t phone Hudson with them listening. My friends believe I have a thing for Hudson. I don’t. Did I maybe have a teensy tiny crush on him in high school? He was the captain of the football team. Of course, I did. Every girl in school did.

But Hudson, the charming football player, is no more. He’s a grump who thinks it’s okay to tell women what to wear. Jerk.

I grab my phone and make my way to the bathroom. I lock the door behind me and dial Hudson’s number.

“What?”

I ignore his Holy Grumpiness. “Hi, Hudson. It’s Nova fromFive Fathoms Brewing.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to discuss the possibility ofHideaway Haven ResortcarryingFive Fathoms Brewingbeer. As you—”

“No.”

I open my mouth to try again but he hangs up. Captain Cranky strikes again.

He has another thing coming if he thinks I’m giving up. I’m not.

I’ll think of another approach. One he won’t see coming.

Chapter 2

Hudson – the king of grumps who doesn’t think he deserves sunshine

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