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Olivia laughed. “Have you seen the place? I’m sure Jax barely pulls in enough to keep himself afloat, let alone give me half.”
“You haven’t heard my idea,” she stated, her voice suddenly taking on almost a sinister tone. “You’re going to turn that airport into something like this town has never seen.”
Olivia nearly choked on her tea. “Excuse me? You not only want me to keep this part of my past that I want out of my life, but you also want me to get fully involved in it and . . . what? What exactly is in that marketing brain of yours?”
Jade was a mastermind when it came to business. She had taken more than one dying company and breathed it back to life, but Olivia didn’t want Jade breathing in the direction of the airport.
“Haven has seriously grown since we lived here. The tourists are flocking in from Savannah, the resort is really pulling people in, and with the film industry flocking to this state, Haven is the perfect town for even more.”
Olivia registered every word, but she didn’t even want to entertain the idea of renovating the airport or making it into something spectacular. None of that ever even entered her mind, because she wanted out. How many times did she have to keep telling herself and her friends that? Maybe if she kept replaying the main goal in her head, she could make it a reality.
“They’ll have to fly into Savannah or another city and drive in,” Jade went on. “Why not make it where people want to come to Haven instead of into other places? I don’t know the full dynamics yet, but Haven is growing. Why shouldn’t the airport? We can make it something that will not only keep Jax more than in business, but will create revenue for you as well. You don’t necessarily have to be here. There’s no reason you can’t oversee from Atlanta.”
Olivia’s head started spinning. “What did you put in this tea?”
“Sugar and more sugar. Oh, and ice.”
“No alcohol? Because that idea of yours doesn’t sound terrible . . . except the part where I have to be involved at all. I’d rather just be done here.”
Jade swung her legs over the side of the chair and sat her glass on the table. “Maybe you should discuss this with Jax. What if you two can collaborate . . . or at least share another kiss?”
Olivia groaned and took another drink. There was no way she could work with Jax on anything. Just being near that man made her . . . well, she couldn’t figure out the exact term for all her feelings. Maybe one didn’t even exist.
And why did she instantly think of him and have tingling lips? Damn that man for making her get sidetracked.
Olivia cursed Jade, too, for planting these thoughts of a renovated airport. She didn’t have time to babysit contractors, come up with plans, or work with Jax in an intimate manner . . . because any job of that caliber would consume much of her life and require one-on-one time that she simply didn’t have the emotional stamina for.
“We’re not sharing anything,” Olivia demanded. “I have a promotion to get back to. I have a corner office that’s just waiting for me and my new nameplate.”
“You’re not a shallow person, don’t start now.”
Her childhood friend knew her so well. Still, there were times she did look forward to the material things and accomplishments of life. She’d worked hard to get where she was and if she wanted to be shallow for a bit, then she would.
“You said you put that quote in,” Olivia claimed. “Did you overcompensate for all of this grand designing you’re talking about?”
“It’s all taken care of and on paper,” Jade stated confidently with a wide grin.
Olivia smoothed her hair back over her shoulders and wished she had some magical crystal ball to see all the answers. She was at a complete loss as to how to move forward. There was her path and then there was Jackson’s path and the two went in opposite directions.
“Your idea sounds great, honestly.” Olivia sighed and chose her words carefully. “If I were a different person, if I didn’t already have ties to that place, and if I weren’t so busy at work, then maybe I would find a way. But there are just too many factors.”
Jade came to her feet and picked up her glass. “Don’t shut it down completely. You really should think about this option. Melanie and I would both help and I’m sure Jax would rather that than to get rid of it altogether.”
Most likely he would, but he wouldn’t have any money to invest in the initial renovating process. She had a good chunk saved, but even that would only go so far. They’d have to get grants and loans if they wanted to do everything up right.
“I see the thoughts going through your head.”
Olivia glared up at her friend. “I hate you right now.”
With a laugh, Jade shrugged. “I know that’s best friend code for how awesome I am. Seriously, Liv, I’m here for you. No matter what you decide, no matter if you want to run away from everything or stay and make it work, I’m here.”
Olivia swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “I know you are. There’s just so much to figure out and I’m not in familiar territory.”
“Meaning you always do business without getting your heart involved. It’s time to use that organ, you know.”
She grabbed her tea and came to her feet. “I’m not sure it works,” she muttered. “I’ve purposely kept feelings out of my career.”
“Well, the airport isn’t your career. It’s part of who you are whether you want to admit it or not.”
