I shift in my chair, shaking my head a little. “I’m sorry, what?”
Gwen’s lips twitch. “I was just saying that Caden is like a gift from God, don’t you think?”
I nod. “He’s something all right.”
A gift from God feels like a bit of an overstatement, but the man certainly knows how to grow things. Under Caden, plants seem to thrive in a way they don’t for other people. It’s annoying, but I can’t fault Wyatt, Gwen, and Jackson for thinking he’s the shit.
“He’s got the gift,” Wyatt says, leaning back in his chair and stretching out his long legs.
I shrug. “You can thank Gabe. He’s the one that found him.”
I can’t even really take credit for it. If I hadn’t been desperate, I’d never have hired him. I would have thrown him out and insisted he never darken our doorstep again.
Gwen’s sister Hope smiles at me. “Do you need any help tomorrow? I can go over your marketing plan and give you some suggestions, if you’re interested.”
Hope might be all sweet and innocent looking with her blond hair, blue eyes, pretty face, and curvy body, but her softness is an illusion. She’s a high-powered consultant that helps startup companies get their infrastructure and operations in place so they have a strong foundation to drive rapid growth.
She’s a workaholic shark that cannot sit still. She practically vibrates with energy.
At her words, I experience a surge of panic. Because I don’t have a marketing plan. I know I’m supposed to have one—it’s on my list—but it’s been on my list for the past year, and every time I go to tackle it, I find something else to do.
My excuse is that I’m pulled in so many directions, always putting out fires, so I take things as they’re thrown at me instead of being proactive.
This is not the way I’m supposed to do things. I’m supposed to be strategic. I have good intentions. I just haven’t gotten there yet.
I can’t admit this, nor can I mumble some sort of polite yes, and then blow her off. Hope is the kind of woman that once you agree, she’ll be at your door, banging it down at six AM to get started.
Luckily, I’m saved from having to answer because Wyatt gives Hope a sidelong glance. “Cat’s got everything under control just fine.”
Wyatt isn’t a fan of Hope. He tolerates her, and the feeling appears to be mutual on her end, so I guess it works out.
Her shoulders tighten. “I wasn’t suggesting she didn’t, just offering my services.” She flips her hair. “Servicesothercompanies pay ridiculous sums of money for.”
Wyatt crosses his arms over his chest, unimpressed.
Gwen twirls her wine glass, twisting at the stem. “Here’s an idea, Hope. How about you be a normal person and take the weekend off?”
Gwen’s other sister, Payton, grins. “Yeah, like me. My only plan at the moment is to sleep until at least ten.”
Hope glares. “I’m perfectly capable of relaxing.”
Everyone laughs.
Hope’s spine straightens. “I am!”
Gwen points at her. “Put your money where your mouth is, baby sister. Cancel all your conference calls tomorrow and spend the day doing absolutely nothing.”
Hope huffs. “Like you’re one to talk. You work seventy hours a week.”
Gwen shrugs. “But I’m not one big ball of stress like you are.”
She flounces back in her chair. “Iam nota ball of stress.”
Jillian sits forward, inserting herself into the conversation. “Remember that time when we were in college and we kidnapped her and wouldn’t let her study for twenty-four hours?”
Gwen laughs. “We got her drunk, and she danced on the bar. God, that was fun.”
Wyatt raises a brow. “You got video of that? Because I don’t believe it.”