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“Okay, sure.” I watch her quietly, patiently waiting for her to get around to what brought her over here. Millie’s close to all of us brothers, but she and I have always had a special connection. And I know that it takes her a while to speak about what’s on her mind, so I’m patient.
“Where did you and Summer go?” she asks.
“The Wolf Den.”
She nods, as if she’s thinking that over. “Cool, cool. No sexy time?”
“I absolutely refuse to speak to my baby sister about my sex life.”
Millie rolls her eyes at that. “Oh, come on. If Brady asked, you’d tell him.”
“No, I don’t think I would.” I lean back on my hands. “How’s work going at the coffee shop?”
“I’ve been there for a long time,” she says and plucks at her lower lip. “Five years this week. I love it there, Chase.”
“I know you do. And you’re damn good at what you do.”
“It’s just making coffee. I’m not saving lives or anything.”
“It isn’t just anything. I can’t make coffee with that monster you use there, and it’s more than that. You’re good with the customers. You’re excellent at banter, and if someone’s giving you a hard time, you can stick up for yourself and diffuse a situation.”
“It doesn’t hurt that my brother is a cop and only a phone call away.”
“If that makes you feel better, I’m glad, but don’t sell yourself short, cupcake. You don’t take shit from anyone.”
“It comes with the territory when you have four older brothers.” She grins over at me, but then the smile falls, and she looks worried. “Marion wants to sell me the business.”
And there it is. The reason she’s here.
“Owning the coffee shop and working there are two very different things,” she continues. “And I have to wonder if it’s financially feasible.”
“You know you can take a loan from the ranch. Remington would back you in a heartbeat. Hell, Ryan would give you the money without a thought.”
“I know.” Tears spring to her eyes, and before I can jump up to hug her, she holds her hand up to stop me. “I’m okay. I think I’m just tired. I haven’t slept in a few days because all I can think about is this. I mean, I’m honored that Marion came to me and asked me if I wanted the opportunity.”
“Marion seems too young to retire,” I reply, frowning. “Why does she want to sell?”
“She wants to open a catering business and doesn’t feel like she can do both. I understand that. Passions change with time. She opened Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co, so she’s owned it for a long time.”
“I guess what it boils down to is, do you want it?”
“Yeah.” Her pretty hazel eyes find mine, lighting up with excitement. “Yeah, I do. Am I too young to own a business?”
“You’re almost twenty-six,” I remind her.
“Am I smart enough?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Start saying shit about my sister and I’ll kick your ass.”
That makes her snort out a laugh. “You know what I mean. I can’t do taxes and bookkeeping and stuff. Payroll scares me.”
“Honey, you hire a bookkeeper for that. Erin took over the ranch’s books, and I bet she’d do yours, too. Or use whomever Marion has used all these years.”
“Marion likes math,” Millie says, wrinkling her nose. “She does her own books. But you’re right, I could talk to Erin about it, but not until after the wedding and their honeymoon. I don’t want to add any more to her plate.”
“You know, it occurs to me that we’ve all been so careful not to add more to Erin’s plate lately, but she’s a tough woman. Talk to her about it now, before you decide to buy the business, so she can get it on her radar for after the wedding.”
“That’s a good idea,” Millie says with a nod. “Do you really think Rem or Ryan would back the loan? I mean, I can go to the bank, but I’d rather keep it in the family if I can.”
