“As a part-time advisor,” he said quickly. “You wouldn’t get an office or anything, but I’m sure we could rustle up a desk for you if you need one. We could do it on a trial basis to start, and if it works, we keep going.”
“You’re serious?” she asked.
“I am. I know it sounds crazy, and you can’t stand me, but I think that’s why you should consider it. You’d be paid to tell me no.”
Maisie laughed because she couldn’tnotlaugh at that and replied, “Well, when you put it like that…”
“I can’t promise that I’ll do what you say, though. Iwilltake your opinions into account. Best I can do.”
“I want to help this city. It started with my shop, yes, but it’s more than that for me now. I don’t care about the politics.”
“I know, but itispolitics, Maisie.” He sighed. “As much as you might not like it, that’s how you can help get things done, and if you want to run in the next election, being on my staff will help you.” He then cleared his throat and added, “Look, I know I’m an asshole. I don’t pretend to be otherwise. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth; you and I both know that. But Idolove my big sister, even when she’s being a jerk to me and not congratulating me on my election win or coming to the victory party our mother wanted her to attend.” He chuckled. “She seems to think you have something, and I think I could use someone like you on my team. If you’re interested, think about it and let me know. I don’t need an answer right away.”
Maisie smiled at the thought that India hadn’t congratulated her brother on winning the election. She would have laughed, but this was technically a professional call, and that would beunprofessional. On top of that, Colter would probably want to know what she was laughing about, and Maisie wasn’t sure what he knew of her relationship with India.
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
“Okay. Well, that’s all I called about, so I’m going to get back to work.”
“Work? Really?”
“Yeah. Yeah.” He chuckled a little, and for a moment, he no longer sounded like that smarmy guy she’d met in her shop.
“Okay. Well, bye, I guess,” she replied.
“Yes. Okay. Fine. Bye.”
He hung up, and Maisie laughed as she stared down at her phone. She hadn’t even thought about the next election yet. She had planned to keep runningChapter & Verseand thought she would worry about the rest later, but as much as she didn’t care much for politics, and she didn’t, she had a taste now for what it might mean to be able to make a difference in her community, and she wanted to see what that led to. She wasn’t sure about being on Colter Stone’s staff, and she’d probably hate it, but he had been right to suggest that she would be getting paid to disagree with him, which had a nice ring to it.
Her thoughts went to India after that, because she had to have played some part in this. Colter wouldn’t have even thought to make Maisie part of his staff all on his own. He wasn’t that smart or creative. The beautiful woman who had looked so worried that she had screwed things up yesterdaywas, though. Maisie pictured India walking down the street past the shop, just as she had the first time Maisie had seen her, talking to her brother on the phone, looking very much in charge, sexy, and beautiful, and she knew that she missed her. It had been hours, not days, but she really missed her.
The shop phone rang at the counter, interrupting her thoughts, so Maisie picked it up, expecting it to be someone wanting a special order or possibly a telemarketer trying to get her to change her phone service. She was also prepared to hear an automated voice ask about an extended car warranty or tell her that she’d won some sweepstakes she hadn’t entered.
“Chapter & Verse.This is Maisie.”
“Hi, Maisie. This is Melinda Andrews. Jill told me you called NOLA Guides yesterday, wanting to work on a possible partnership between us and the bookstore.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you for calling me back.”
“No problem. I’m usually here, but my fiancée and I are in the final stages of wedding prep, so things have been a bit crazy.”
“Congratulations,” Maisie said.
“Thanks. And it’s nuts. I have a wedding planner, but I still feel like it’s so much work, and we’re doing the thing in our backyard. Why is this so hard? We really wanted it to be simple.” Melinda laughed.
“I wouldn’t know. Never planned a wedding.”
“Well, if you do one day, prepare yourself, because everyone has an opinion. We have moved our date at least three times because of those opinions. Now, it’s in January, and my best friend is getting married right after us, in February, so that’s where part of this craziness is coming from. She and her own fiancée had to move their date way up because her fiancée’s father isn’t doing great, and they want him there, so it’s been a little like running around from one wedding vendor to another for me and one for her. Anyway, sorry about my ramble.” Melinda laughed again. “Jill told me you had some ideas. Want to maybe meet me in person and talk through all of them?”
“Yes, that would be great,” she replied. “When are you free?”
“I’m at the office for the rest of the day today, if you want to stop by. If not, we can set something up.”
“Today? Yeah, sure. I can be there in maybe an hour. I just have to cover the lunch shift right now, but I can head over after.”
“No problem. I’ll be here until at least five,” Melinda told her.
“Great. I’ll see you soon, then,” Maisie said, and they disconnected.
