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“Ernie and I could make that happen.” Leslie grinned.
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Hold on.” As Leslie walked over to where Ernie and Zoe were talking candles, a group of four ladies came into the store, and she greeted them. They started up a conversation with her, so I wandered over to where Zoe was.
“I don’t know, I think if you put the candles small, medium and large side-by-side they would make more of an impression, than doing it from front to back.” Zoe jerked on the ladder at the sound of my voice, but I was ready for her, and I caught hold of the ladder on either side of her hips.
“Adam, what are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d see if I could take you to lunch.”
Her expressions changed from surprise to pleasure and landed on a scowl.
“I haven’t heard from you in ten days. As you can see, I’m busy.”
“No she’s not.” Ernie said. “You’re right about how to display the candles, Adam. They’ll sell like crazy. Get down from there, Zoe. I’ve got this.”
Her annoyed expression turned from me to her employee.
“You do not have this. You have other things to do today. Darla and Wendy are coming in an hour. You need to get everything prepped for them.”
“They don’t need a damn thing prepped for them. When it comes to shipping orders, they run circles around me. Now come on off the ladder.”
“I don’t know, I kind of like you where you are.” I grinned up at her and Zoe realized what a great view I had of her butt.
“Both of you suck. Actually, men in general suck. Adam, get the hell out of my way.”
“Does that mean you’re going to have lunch with me?”
“As long as I’m back by one-thirty. I need to have a talk with one of our suppliers then.”
I stepped away from the ladder, and kept an eye on her as she stepped down. “I can promise that,” I assured her. “Where should I take you?”
“Down Home Diner,” three women’s voices called out. I looked around and saw that the ladies with Leslie had been listening in. They had opinions.
“Down Home Diner it is.”
“Let me get my bag,” Zoe said as she headed to the register.
“Dude, you haven’t been to Down Home? What’s the matter with you?”
“We’ve been living off room service and PB&J at the Inn while checking out places to live.”
“That’s just lame,” Ernie shook his head. “From what little Zoe has said, it would be a lovefest between Little Grandma and your kiddo.”
“Little Grandma?”
“You’ll see.”
Zoe walked up, a black leather purse with silver studs over her shoulder. “My Jeep or your truck?” she asked.
“Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“Good thinking. Let’s skip your truck this go-around. Even though I’d be in the front seat, I think I still need more time.”
I chuckled. “Your Jeep it is.”
She took me through the back of the shop, which was almost as big as the front. “You have a lot of inventory.”
