Page 54 of Mistletoe and Malice
“Check.”
“Radio spots …”
“Check.”
“Flyers until we get the brochures done?”
“Check.”
“What about television?”
“You tell me. You’re the marketing expert. Do we have time?”
“This already being Tuesday, it could be a challenge. But I’ll do a press release, and we might be able to get you on one or two of the local newscasts. Maybe a morning show or two.”
“That would be terrific.”
“I’ll fax the release out first thing in the a.m.”
“It’s almost eight, Avery, and you’re still going to work on this tonight?”
“Absolutely. We all are. What you’re doing here is phenomenal. Babs should have your papers together to file tomorrow for your non-profit status, and Fran said she’d have the logo to me tonight, along with the graphic design for the brochures I’m sending out.”
“You guys are the best. What on earth would I do without you?”
She prayed she’d never have to find out. All three of her friends had known since Sunday afternoon what she’d been working on and jumped on board from the first minute. During a conference call right before she went down to talk to the guys, they’d wrapped up the final pieces. Avery said she’d come over since she was out already, anyway. At dinner. With her dreamy detective.
So, while Avery still appeared every inch the put-together professional, Riley had wasted no time in changing into an oversized sweatshirt and jeans after work.
“We’re a team. Always have been, always will be.” Avery put her notebook into her large handbag. “Anything else we haven’t covered?”
Riley scanned over the spreadsheet on her laptop. “I think we’ve got it.” She turned back to her friend. “And thanks for sharing your good news with me. If I can’t have a sizzling love life myself, I at least get to live it vicariously through you and Frances.”
Avery harrumphed. “You absolutely need to let Graham know what’s what, friend of mine. Please. You are way too much woman for that … man.”
“Good girl.” Riley chuckled. “I was worried about what you were going to say there.”
“Just sayin’. The longer you wait, the more he’s going to think of you as a couple. And you can’t move on to the bigger, better thing you have waiting until you do.”
“What thing?”
Avery gave her a sardonic look. “You know, Ri, you don’t play dumb very well. I mean that hunk of a bodyguard of yours.”
Riley glanced up at her door, grateful she’d remembered to close it. “Please, Avery, not this again.”
“Tell me you don’t feel anything for him. Going to all this trouble because of the pain he suffered losing someone who didn’t get a transplant in time. This haslovestruckwritten all over it.”
Riley’s stomach knotted, and she prayed Colton wasn’t of the same opinion. That could get … awkward. “I am notlovestruck. It made me sad listening to what happened to his … to Theresa. And when I did some checking, it seemed to me I could do something.”
“You can’t even say it.”
“Say what?”
“Hiswife.”
“Okay. His wife. It’s sad his wife died so young when she didn’t need to. I want to help others not to suffer the same fate.”
“Is he going to chair the board?”
