Her gaze narrows, like she’s suspicious of me, before she turns to face the screen. “This is the shared drive.” She clicks on the button. “I have it organized into distillery business and restaurant business.” She shrugs. “Although, I’ll admit I’m still new to that side, and it might be a good idea to set up time with Jackson and Gwen to go over it in more detail.”
She clicks away.
I forget to watch the screen and instead study her more intently. “How did that come about?”
Her fingers fall still, and she turns her attention to me. “What?”
“The restaurant side of the business. What made you decide to use some of your land for such different crops?”
Her brow furrows, pulling a bit. “Jackson decided.”
“Just like that?”
Her lips curve into a half smile. “Just like that. It’s his land too. Wyatt and Jackson talked it over, and there was acreage we hadn’t expanded into yet. It made sense.”
Actually it didn’t make sense at all. I did some research, and the rum distillery had been growing at a steady clip. Not allowing the crops to expand slows their production and expansion.
I raise a brow. “Did it?”
“Well, yeah, do you know who Jackson is?”
“A little.” I looked him up on the local library computer when I did my research.
She nodded. “So then you know that a restaurant by Jackson and Gwen is like a worldwide culinary event. They will help put us on the map.”
“But doesn’t it slow your growth?”
She shrugged. “Wyatt’s not interested in mass production. He wants to focus on high-quality, specialty bottles. He’s after an exclusive market, not competing with Captain Morgan. His rum in Jackson and Gwen’s restaurant helps his end game.”
It’s in line with what both Jackson and Wyatt told me as we walked through their operations. But it doesn’t really factor Cat into the picture, and I can’t help wondering how she fits into their business plans.
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
The frowning is back.
“You’ve talked about what Wyatt wants and what Jackson wants, but what do you want?”
The downward curve of her lips deepens, and a shadow passes across her features. For a split second she looks crestfallen, but her mask snaps back into place so fast I’m not even sure what I saw.
“I’m here to support the business and take care of the operations to free them up so they can focus on what they do best.”
Didn’t answer my question, but I don’t push it. Climbing inside her mind is not on the agenda.
I nod. “Fair enough.”
There’s silence. Our gazes meet. She searches my face with those silver eyes, but I’m not sure what she’s looking for. I don’t think she finds whatever it is, though, because she snaps back, jerking her attention to the computer in front of her.
“Let’s walk through all the schedules.” She glances at her Apple watch. “I’ve got forty-five minutes, and then I have to change for the tasting this afternoon.”
“You’ve got my undivided attention.”
Her shoulders stiffen, but she opens a system icon and starts to talk.
All my unanswered questions about her will have to go unanswered. Which seems fair, considering.
Both of us will have to stay unsatisfied.