Page 19 of Don't Game Me
“The German is being a bastard about merchandising. I got it figured out. I’m worried about the supplier for the goggles though. They’re still producing at a slower rate than they should.”
Noah’s forehead crinkled. “I thought they were improving.”
“They want another chunk of change to acquire a bigger labor force, even though I think it’s extortion.”
Noah’s eyes flared wide. “We’re leveraged to the max. We can’t.”
“I know.” His eyelids slid closed as the weight of expectation pressed down on his. “Damn it, I know. We’ll have them produce what they can by the deadline and hope there’s enough to meet early ordering demands.”
“If the launch goes better than expected, then what?”
“We can’t sell what we don’t have.” He glanced at the ceiling. “Never should’ve gone with this Malaysian company.”
“Don’t tell Mom you were late because you were working. She thinks the next three days are sacred. Wedding business only.” Noah turned to leave. “It can wait until after the wedding. Until Monday. Let’s get through Mom’s crisis meeting. She’s holding court in what she’s labeled the Command Center, which is the dining room. I’m warning you, there are maps and sticky notes involved. This wedding has turned her into a mad woman.”
“She commandeered my assistant forty-eight hours ago without even an apology.” Jake relied on Emma to keep him on schedule and field calls. She’d become an indispensible part of his workday over the past few months. He appreciated Emma’s assistant who tried to be as efficient and helpful as Emma, but she was nowhere close to Emma’s level of proficiency.
“Emma’s been a godsend to help Mom, but why wouldn’t she be? She’s magical when it comes to organization. Sometimes I miss her as my assistant, but it’d be weird now being she’s about to be my sister-in-law.”
Jake chuckled. “She still does half the work of your new assistant.”
“Thank God for it.”
Becca slid past them. The slight contact of Becca’s body bumping into him shifted his focus to her. Before he could say anything, she moved on. Purple Polo Shirt was hot on her tail.
Jake stopped Noah before they entered the dining room. “Becca got stood up at the airport yesterday. I did too. She asked me to go to the wedding with her.”
Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“I didn’t commit. She seems desperate not to attend alone. I wanted to run it by you. I’d do it as a favor to you to keep her out of the hands of assholes like that.” His eyes darted to Purple Polo Shirt.
“You and my sister?” Noah rubbed a hand over his face. “This must have to do with her catching the bouquet at my cousin’s wedding last year. There’s this family belief that the girl who catches either is engaged within a year or remains single forever.”
“That’s stupid.”
Noah’s exhausted gaze met his. “Not arguing it’s absurd. Hell, half the good-luck shit we’re doing associated with this wedding is ridiculous. I don’t have time to worry about her this weekend. If you go with her as a real-date-type thing and can manage not to end up in an argument, then okay. But you won’t end the night like you always do with your dates.”
“She’s your sister. No way. Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Total lie. He’d dreamed and would be dreaming.He’d do his best to keep it a fantasy though.
“It’s weird, but okay. It might keep matchmaking relatives at bay for both of you.”
As they entered the dining room, Carol Harrison smoothed her perfectly coiffed blonde bob and caught Jake in her sharp gaze. “You’re late.” She waved a hand. “No matter.”
Jake moved a few feet behind Becca.
Mrs. Harrison pointed at Jake. “I need you and Becca to go out to Long Island and pick up several printed items.” She handed Jake a map with several lime green sticky notes. One had a handwritten address and a phone number. The location would take them over an hour of driving one way.
“You want me to go with him?” Becca glanced behind her to Jake. Her eyes narrowed when she met his gaze. She then glanced to Reid. “It’s just a pick-up.”
“I need you to proof the menus, place cards, and programs. You know all the people on the list, and you’re familiar with the menu. If they messed it up, Jake will make them reprint.”
Becca started, “He can handle—”
Carol held up a finger, stopping her. “You will do this, Becca. And you’ll be leaving in a few minutes in order to make it back by two p.m. in time for us all to drive to the rehearsal together.”
“Why are you waiting until the day of the rehearsal dinner to pick up printing?” Becca asked.
