Page 17 of An Engagement for Erica

After next week with the senior staff, they’d have a meeting to go over the results before she moved to middle management and then got to the laborers on the floor.

“You know most of the complaints are going to be they want more money,” his grandfather said. “That is always it.”

“And I’ll address it,” he said. “But money only makes people happy for so long. I want to see what else can be done besides that. I want them to know they can talk and I’ll listen. Do I think I’ll make everyone happy? Absolutely not. First step is for them to know I’m not my father.”

“It takes time,” his grandfather said, sipping his scotch when he started to cough again.

“Are you sure you’re okay? It seems like you’ve had this cough for a while.”

“I’m old,” his grandfather said. “The body breaks down when you get to be my age.”

He laughed. “I feel like it’s breaking down at thirty-five too.”

“To be thirty-five again,” his grandfather said. “I could run laps around people your age.”

“You could do it now to half the people I know,” he said.

“I could,” his grandfather said. “Tell me about this consultant. A woman?”

“Yes,” he said. “Erica James. I worked with her in New York City.”

“So she’s traveling for this,” his grandfather said.

“No,” he said. “She went out on her own. She’s the one I brought in at my last job before my promotion.”

“I always thought you had a thing for her,” his grandfather said.

“A thing?” he asked. He wasn’t sure the last time he had anything with any woman.

He might have thought he had something started with Erica until she just vanished from his life.

Could he have found her? Yeah, he could have.

But after what happened to her, he wanted to give her space.

They’d talked about going on a date, but when he reached out after, she was short, to the point, and made it clear she was going to take some time for herself.

He wouldn’t argue with her.

“I don’t know what they call it now,” his grandfather said. “I don’t want to say a crush.”

He laughed. “I haven’t had a crush on anyone since I was in the fifth grade.”

“You spoke highly of her,” his grandfather said. “I thought I heard something in your voice. At some point, you’re going to have to settle down. Someone needs to take over after you. You’re getting up there in age.”

He’d been hearing this for years too.

“It doesn’t matter how old I am,” he said. “I just need a younger woman.”

His grandfather laughed. “And you won’t find the right one if you can’t get the rest of your life in line. Work can’t always come first.”

“You have to make up your mind, Grandpa. I can’t do them both at the same time. Let me get one in order first, then maybe I can work on the other.”

His grandfather laughed as if he won that battle. “I expect that you will.”

7

GO OFF COURSE

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