Page 16 of Wishes on Wildflowers
Nathan’s heart clenched at the casual word.
“The boys tell me that your marketing won several awards in California. Congratulations.”
Nathan pulled himself to sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, tugging young Arie into his lap with a tickle. “Thank you, sir. I have enough savings to live on for a while, but I’m on the lookout for more clients than your children.”
“Well, I’m not in charge of marketing for the airlines.” Ray chuckled. “But I can put the word out among my entrepreneurial friends.”
“That would be awesome. It seems I don’t know a lot of people around here anymore, not that I’m opposed to cold calling. After all, that’s pretty much how I built my reputation in Los Angeles.”
Basil leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his hands clasped together. “You should check out Hailey and Kass down at Bridgeview Bakery and Bistro. Hailey mentioned something the other day about looking for ideas on how to expand their business now that they are approaching their third anniversary.”
Nathan shot his friend a look. He remembered all too well how Peter had urged all the guys to leave the bistro the other evening as Hailey minced toward their table. Not that Basiland Peter’s opinions had to mesh. They didn’t seem to in any other way, so this should be no different. Did he really want to willingly meet up with a woman whom all the guys talked about as being desperate for a relationship?
“A guy like you, with your kind of brains, should have no trouble coming up with something innovative for them,” commented Basil.
Business was business, right? If he wasn’t going to allow the situation with Jasmine to affect him and the way he conducted his work, then he should be willing to walk into the bistro in a businesslike manner as well. If Hailey came on to him, well, he knew how to turn a girl down. Not that he’d done it very often. A slight burn heated his cheeks. He’d usually just gone with the flow and extricated himself later on. He’d been trying to live differently since he’d begun exploring faith, and being back in Bridgeview closed the door firmly on his old lifestyle, at least if he wanted the respect of his friends.
The respect of Jasmine. Why did he even care what she thought? That sure hadn’t ruled his life for the last eight years. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he met Basil’s gaze. “Good plan. I’ll look them up and see if they’re interested in a consultation. Know anyone else?”
“There’s Ranta Landscaping,” put in Alex. “You probably remember Dan from high school. His dad had a heart attack last fall, and Dan took over the family business.”
“Dan Ranta?” Hadn’t that been the kid voted least likely to succeed? The kid brother of know-it-all Dave Junior? “I can look him up, for sure. If he’s just getting started on his own, he might be open to some ideas.”
“I can ask over at the jiu jitsu academy,” said Marco from his spot on the sofa. He sat between his older boys while theywielded controllers in a game where shooting aliens seemed to take center stage. Thankfully their headsets kept the staccato noise away from everyone else, or Nathan wouldn’t have heard a word coming out of the kitchen. Not that he knew what to do with the few snippets he’d caught.
Basil’s gaze grew shrewd. “Maybe Jasmine could use some help marketing her massage clinic.”
“Get real, bro.”
Nathan swiveled on the floor to see Jasmine framed in the kitchen doorway.
She shot daggers at her older brother. “I have enough clients, thanks. Especially now that I’m hoping to phase out of it in the next two years.”
Basil smirked. “But wouldn’t it be easier to sell a robust, thriving business in two years than one you’d let drift along?”
By Jasmine’s raised eyebrows and pointed glare, Nathan guessed that wasn’t high on her list of worries at the moment.
“Give it up, Basil. Quit interfering with my life, and grow up already.”
Basil shrugged, the smirk still on his face. “Whatever you say, sis. Just trying to help.”
“That’ll be the day,” Jasmine muttered. “You haven’t had my best interest at heart since we were babies.”
“Anything we need to discuss?” asked Ray Santoro.
Jasmine’s gaze swung to her father. “No thanks, Dad. I’ve said my piece to Basil. Daria and I are headed out for a walk. See you all later.”
Nathan felt a tinge of disappointment as she pulled her light jacket from the entryway closet. But that was ridiculous. There was nothing between him and Jasmine but bad memories. There hadn’t been for a long time, and there never would be.
7
Nathan closedhis umbrella in the entry to Bridgeview Bakery and Bistro and glanced around the inviting interior, his gaze snagging on Jasmine. Why was she everywhere he went? This was crazy.
Sitting with her back to the door, she chatted with the red-haired co-owner. Kass hadn’t seemed to be as flirty as her cousin the other time Nathan had been here, but he still hadn’t been back since.
Kass’s gaze slipped past Jasmine and lighted on Nathan. “Hey, there! Come on in. You’re right on time.”
Jasmine turned, and a mask fell over her face. “Hi, Nathan.”
