by Robyn Neeley
“Not today. I’m going to pitch in at the end of the line.” That was Chuck’s area, and, damn, he was so good at it. Franco was scheduled to work there, as well, and although Becca loved the sixty-two-year-old, Chuck had always overcompensated for Franco’s slower pace.
She sat down and attempted to do some paperwork, but the strong floral scent easily distracted her. No man had ever sent her flowers before. Not that this was a romantic overture.
She set her pen down and stood again. She still had quite a bit of time before she met Roselyn, but she needed some fresh—non-gardenia-scented by Grayson—air.
Becca straightened her white smock and headed out of the factory, the humidity instantly seeping through her apron and dark shirt. Fresh air wasn’t in the cards. She needed air-conditioning STAT. Not wanting to return and deal with the flowers or her inquisitive coworkers, she took the pebbled path toward the corporate office. Maybe Roselyn could meet with her earlier.
She hated the fact that one of her best employees was going to be terminated for simply coming to her defense.
This isn’t your fault. Chuck didn’t have to clock Grayson. Men.
She glanced over at the parking lot and the vacant spot next to her truck. Of course, Grayson’s convertible wouldn’t be there. He was probably frolicking on some beach by now.
She paused at the entrance and took a deep breath. Everything will be fine. She’d talked to Chuck last night and, truth be told, he wasn’t that disappointed. His brother owned a cattle ranch a few miles outside the Sweet Ridge line, and Chuck would be feeding the animals in exchange for room and board. This way, he could still take his remaining night classes and finish school.
A young man wearing a dark suit and red tie came out, holding the door open for her. “’Morning, Becca.”
“Good morning,” she echoed, her hand self-consciously reaching for her ponytail to double-check that she hadn’t put on her plastic cap for the day. She’d never met the guy, but he obviously knew her. All the employees in corporate probably did. She’d have to get used to it until she started learning names.
She hurried down the long hallway, her black rubber shoes squeaking on the shiny marble floor. Somehow they didn’t quite fit in this building, nor did her white apron. Though she could probably wear a skirt if she needed to, the thought of walking in high heels made her nauseous. The Cooper boys would have to deal with her more factory-appropriate wardrobe. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Grayson had looked absolutely horrified when she’d shown up to the Silver Spurs in her working-class regulation apron covered in guacamole.
In the elevator, her finger went to push the button for the second floor, where the HR department was located, but she paused. Grayson’s office was on the third floor. He wasn’t up there. She hit three.
Taking a quick peek wouldn’t hurt. She was a little curious about what his office looked like. The elevator doors flew open, and her heart pounded as she stepped out. Calm down. She had every right to be up here—hell, she might have her own office on this floor soon enough. Still, she felt like she was doing something wrong, like sneaking into an amusement park after hours.
But there was nothing fun or amusing about her situation. She hurried down the hall but stopped midway in front of the Legacy conference room—the room where she’d learned about Jack naming her in his will. God, that day seemed so long ago. She gazed at the black leather chair Grayson had sat in, glaring at her the entire time.
How did she go from a time when she could have sworn his eyes launched imaginary darts aimed directly at her, to slow-dancing with him just two months later?
And why couldn’t she stop thinking about his touch? How he had smiled down at her and folded his hand around hers while they danced?
She stepped into the empty boardroom, taken aback by the new portrait of Jack Cooper that hung on the wall adjacent to the window. It hadn’t been there the last time she was here.
Her steps were cautious, moving closer to the wall. In some ways, she half-expected to see Jack’s blue eyes blink and his mouth move. There were so many things she’d ask the portrait if it could, in fact, talk.
Like, what was he thinking giving her all those shares? Did he really think she could lead his company with Gavin and Gage? Did he choose her for Grayson, and if so …
“Why me, Mr. Cooper?” she asked her last question in a whisper.
“Can I help you?”
Becca whipped around, bumping straight into one of the leather chairs. “Hi.” She moved back and straightened. She’d just been busted by Grayson’s assistant.
“I’m so sorry I startled you.” Eleanor stepped inside the conference room. “It’s so good to see you.”
Becca smiled. “It’s nice to see you, Eleanor.” She pointed to the portrait. “I was just admiring this picture of Jack. Is it new?”
“It is. It was taken a few years ago, and we had it framed earlier this summer.” Eleanor admired the photo for a few silent seconds, her sweet floral scent reminding Becca of her mom’s. “Mornin’, boss,” she said to the picture and gave Becca a wink. “I like to come in every morning and say a quick hello to Jack. Makes me feel like I can start my day, knowing he’s somewhere up there looking down on us. Dumb, huh?”
Eleanor’s eyes went moist.
“I don’t think it’s dumb at all.”
Eleanor swiped a finger under her bottom eyelashes. “He was a good man. Gone way too soon.”
That was certainly true. Becca nodded in agreement.
Eleanor straightened her shoulders and picked up a stray drink coaster. There must have been an earlier meeting, as there were a couple more coasters flung all over the table. “If you’re here to see Grayson, I’m afraid he’s gone out of town.” She turned to Jack’s portrait. “Did you hear the news, sir? Your workaholic son, who’s never taken a long vacation a day in his life, has up and jetted off to Cancun.”
“Was this vacation planned?” Becca picked up the three remaining coasters and handed them to Eleanor.
“Thank you, dear. Not that I know of. He e-mailed his executive team yesterday, saying he was taking a few weeks to recharge. He picked a good time. Half of the office is out right now enjoying the last few weeks of summer. Grayson’s the only one who is usually around all through August.”
She sighed at the distant sound of a phone ringing. “Duty calls. You’ll have to excuse me.” She darted out of the conference room but popped her head back in. “Becca, would you like a cup of coffee?”
She glanced up at the mahogany wall clock, much fancier than the plastic one in her office. She still had twenty minutes before her meeting with Roselyn. It wouldn’t hurt to spend those minutes getting to know someone who had Grayson’s ear. “Sure. I’d love some.”
“Right this way.”
She followed Grayson’s assistant down the hall, Eleanor chatting that Grayson had moved into his dad’s spacious corner office. She decided to keep it to herself that she already knew that since she’d caught the CEO spying on her from his window for most of the summer.
While Eleanor answered her phone, Becca couldn’t help but peer in, her gaze zooming in on the corner where he stood when he watched her arrive to work.
She turned her back to his door and stepped farther into the reception area. It was enormous and tastefully decorated with two white sofas and light green fixtures. Eleanor’s desk was stationed right in front of the door to, no doubt, serve as Grayson’s gatekeeper.
Eleanor finished her call and went to a table that held a small coffee machine. She poured some in a paper cup and asked how Becca would like it.
“Just cream, please.”
Eleanor opened a creamer and poured, mixing it into the coffee with a red stick. “How are things down in the factory?” she asked, handing her the cup.
“Good.” Becca took a sip. “Busy. Summer is always a hectic time. People love their chips and guacamole.”
“And we’re all grateful for that. So, are you and Grayson getting to know
each other?”
Way to not beat around the bush, Eleanor. She traced the rim of the cup with her finger. She wasn’t quite sure she wanted to address the giant elephant in the room. “We’ve had our moments.”
Eleanor chuckled as if she knew about their encounters. She probably did.
“I know Grayson can come off as a bit arrogant.”
“A bit?” She brought down her eyebrow that involuntarily shot up.
“You have to remember, he’s still feeling his way around the CEO position. Just know, he can be sweet and charming.” She grinned, adding, “When he wants to be, like any man.” She touched Becca’s arm. “Follow me. I’d like to show you something.”
Eleanor headed directly into Grayson’s office. Becca hesitated before joining her, but stopped in the doorway. “I don’t know if I should be in here, Eleanor. It feels forbidden.”
“Nonsense. He’s miles away, and he wouldn’t mind you being here.” She glanced sheepishly at Becca.
“Yeah, he probably would,” they both said in unison and shared a laugh.
“We’ll, he’s not here now, so you are my guest.” Eleanor walked over to a beautiful cherry oak bookshelf filled with books and industry awards. “Now, let me see. Where did he put it? Oh, here it is.” She picked up a tiny brown hourglass, showing it off. “His most prized possession.”
She took it from Eleanor and flipped it upside down in her palm, watching the sand run through the funnel. “An hourglass?” Somehow she didn’t think a simple trinket would be something he’d consider his prized possession. His convertible, maybe.
“Not just any hourglass. Jack gave it to him when he graduated from business school. The sand is made of the avocado skins and core from the company’s first avocado peeled. I catch Grayson staring at it every morning when I bring in his coffee.”
Becca couldn’t help but feel a tremendous sense of pride herself holding the company’s first avocado. What a wonderful gift Jack had given his son. Did Grayson feel the same sense of pride when he flipped the hourglass? Somehow, from the little she knew about him, she doubted it.
“I think he’s looking for answers in there,” Eleanor speculated. “His heart’s trapped inside.” She smiled. “He just needs some help realizing it. From someone who knows how special Guac Olé is.”
Becca’s cheeks began to warm. She handed the hourglass back to Eleanor. “I don’t know if I’m that person.”
“Jack thought so.”
“Right,” she said flatly, trying to rub out the warm flush creeping up her neck. She needed to get out of Grayson’s office. “Um … I should … um … probably get going. Thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome.” Eleanor gave her a smile that indicated she understood what Becca was feeling. “We’ll keep his heart here for now.” She returned the hourglass to the bookshelf. “I hope to see you again soon.”
Becca said good-bye and bolted for the stairs, taking them two steps at a time to the second floor. She stopped at a trash can to throw out her paper coffee cup, then leaned against the avocado-green wall.
We’ll keep his heart here for now. What did Eleanor mean by that? Did she think eventually Becca would take it? Obviously she thought Jack had picked Becca for Grayson. Did she have inside knowledge from the man himself before he died?
How was all of this going to end? She was pretty sure it wasn’t with her and the CEO walking down the aisle hand in hand.
And there it was again. The same image of Grayson smiling in a tux. Becca shut her eyes tightly. “Go away. Go away,” she chanted, trying to get his handsome face out of her mind.
“Becca, are you all right?”
Her eyelids flew open. Roselyn stood in front of her, eyebrows drawn together.
“Hi, Roselyn.” She pushed off the wall. “Yes. Something I had for breakfast. I’ll be fine. I’ve come for our meeting,” she added meekly.
“And I’m ready for you. I have someone in my office I want to introduce you to.”
She took a deep breath and followed Roselyn to her office, ready to face Chuck’s music. After they were done, she’d clean out his locker and ask Tangie if she could take his things to him tonight. She hadn’t wanted to touch Chuck’s belongings until it was official that he no longer was a Guac Olé employee.
She’d always admired Roselyn’s simple decor with a desk and two comfortable black chairs. If she had to move into an office next month, perhaps she could request the same furniture as Roselyn’s.
Inside sat a man with light brown hair. Judging by his black shirt and jeans, he wasn’t a corporate employee.
“Becca, this is Coop Jackson. Coop, this is Becca Nash. She’s our day-shift supervisor in the factory.”
The man stood, and the first thing she noticed was his trimmed beard. He also had warm brown eyes.
“It’s nice to meet you, Becca.” The man shifted the tan cowboy hat to his left hand and then extended his right. His accent was noticeably Southern and his shake firm, almost painful. Thank God he let go almost immediately.
“Nice to meet you.” She resisted the urge to shake off the pain pulsating through her fingers. He smelled nice. For a minute, his cologne reminded her of Grayson’s. Must be a popular men’s fragrance. Figured, even from Cancun, Grayson’s scent would somehow haunt her.
Roselyn moved behind her desk and took a seat. “We have a few things to go over regarding Chuck’s departure, but we can do that this afternoon. Coop is your new hire. He’s ready to get started, so I’d love for you to assign him a locker and show him his place on the line.”
Becca tilted her head. Since when did she not have a say in who was hired for her assembly line? “Sure, but isn’t there a procedure to follow regarding new hires?”
“Normally, yes, but Coop’s an old friend of Grayson’s.” She tilted her head to Coop. “College roommates, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He shook his head and laughed. “Only for one fall semester. The whole college thing didn’t really work for me. I quit my freshmen year.”
Well, they had that in common. She folded her arms, not liking that she didn’t have a say, but she didn’t want to push back. She’d caused enough scenes in public lately. “Welcome to Guac Olé.” She pasted on what she hoped was a bright smile. “I’d be happy to show you around. I hope you like guacamole.”
• • •
Grayson suppressed the urge to grin so as to not flash his dimples. His plan was going better than expected. “I love guacamole,” he answered and turned to Roselyn. “Thank you so much for talking with me this morning.”
Roselyn nodded, and Grayson had to give it to her. His vice president of human resources had done a smashing job pretending she didn’t know that the CEO was sitting in her office.
When he arrived this morning and came clean that it was him under the disguise, her mouth had dropped and her eyes widened. He’d told her only that he wanted to do a little experiment and see what his employees truthfully thought of his leadership. She’d laughed and asked him if he really wanted to know.
He followed Becca down the hallway, where she pointed to the stairs. “I don’t know how much Roselyn has told you, but all of the corporate employees work in this building. You won’t have much reason to come over here.” She lowered her eyelids. “Unless you come to see Grayson.”
Grayson smirked. If she only knew. He nodded to the ceiling. “Is his office on the second floor?”
“Third, all the way to the right. I guess he’s out of town for a couple of weeks. Did he tell you he was leaving?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“When did he hire you? Did he even tell you what you’d be doing?” Her gaze fell on the small gold cross around his neck. A Christian boy. He probably wouldn’t lie to her.
Man, he hadn’t expected her interrogation. Good thing he was pretty adept at thinking on his feet. “He called me yesterday. I told him last month that I’d been looking for work. Said he had an immediate opening and to come down to Gu
ac Olé first thing in the morning. So here I am.” He paused, adding for good measure, “He said I would enjoy working for you.”
That got a sarcastic laugh. “He did, huh?” She headed down the hall toward the front doors. “Coop, what kind of experience do you have? Have you ever worked in a factory?”
Shit. He hadn’t thought about what might be on Coop Jackson’s résumé. “I’ve been doing a few things.” He paused, trying to think what those things were. “Mostly sales. Um … vacuums,” he said the first thing that popped into his mind.
Her eyebrow shot up. “You were a vacuum cleaner salesman? Do those positions even exist anymore?”
Damned if he knew. “Yes, ma’am.” He really should have spent some time last night thinking up Coop’s backstory. Now, he’d have to Google what being a vacuum cleaner salesman entailed.
“Well, line work is a little different than sales, but you’re still trying to reach a daily goal.”
“I like goals.”
They headed out of the corporate building to the factory. Grayson took a deep breath. So far, so good. Would any of the plant employees recognize him? Probably not.
Becca held the factory door open. “The employee break room is straight to the right. We’ll go in there first and assign your locker.”
Grayson took the short steps to the break room. It had been years since he’d worked here those summers during high school. It was quite dark with two worn brown couches adjacent to each other. The left side was lined with white lockers, and there was a small kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee machine on the opposite wall.
“Where’s the flat screen?” he asked.
“Flat screen?” she repeated.
“TV.”
“We don’t have one.”
“Hmmm.”
“Is that weird?”
“No. It’s probably a good thing. Work, work, work.” He couldn’t help but compare this bland space with its chipped walls to the spacious cafeteria they had in the corporate office. Factory employees were welcome to have breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, but he couldn’t recall the last time he saw anyone from the factory in there.
