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“Ah, perspective,” Isaac said.
“Exactly. I just needed a good dose of my own medicine.”
“And did it work?”
“Heck, no. I just got really good at getting stains out.” They both looked to each other and laughed.
“So, how does the bookstore factor into all of this?”
Del took another drink from her water bottle, then snapped the cap back into place. “The bookstore was my mother’s idea. She was a teacher for years but didn’t feel like she ever had enough time to really connect with the kids. She wanted to do more for them, for the community. So one day she comes to my dad with this harebrained idea to open a bookstore in a newly vacant shop downtown.”
“And what was his response?”
“He kissed her on the forehead and headed out the door. Came back an hour later with a signed rental agreement in hand and his checkbook in the other. ‘Don’t go too crazy with it,’ he said. It was the sweetest thing ever.”
Her gaze shifted to the yard once more, and Isaac remained quiet, mindful not to intrude on her memories. Clearly, the Brooks were a loving, close-knit family. Envy unexpectedly pricked his chest. Isaac’s home life had been less rosy, his parents divorced and older sister distant.
“It’s why we have to save the bookstore. I can’t—” Del shook her head. “Her memory deserves to live on.”
“Then I hope you find a way. Oh! How did your meeting go? Did you all come up with a bulletproof plan?”
Del groaned. “It wasn’t nearly as productive as I’d hoped. No one could come up with anything substantial. Then I get a phone call at three this morning from Mrs. Harper, who says her sister came up with the perfect idea: a talent show. They’re convinced that if we offer a grand prize, people will come running. Personally, I think she’s nuts. We’re trying to raise money, not give a bunch away!”
“Hang on, now, they might be onto something. I mean,American Idol,America’s Got Talent—those shows have huge followings. And they’ve got people lined up for city blocks trying to get in. All you need to do is charge entry fees for the acts, and then sell tickets for the spectators. If you play your cards right and advertise the heck out of it, you guys might just strike gold.”
“Yeah, like we have any experience advertising something like that. And unless it’s just a bunch of people from town, we can’t really expect people to drive all the way into Bourbon Falls to sign up.”
“They wouldn’t have to,” he said, a plan of his own beginning to take shape. Isaac looked from Del to the winding drive before them. She needed a way to collect and organize entrants; he wanted an excuse for her to continue keeping him company. Not the brightest idea on his part, and certainly one Will would definitely advise against, but what Will didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.
“I see gears turning,” Del said, poking him in the arm. “Now, dish.”
Isaac met her gaze. “Oh, the gears are definitely turning. Though there will be some terms and conditions involved.”
She arched one brow. “Terms and conditions? This had better be good.”
“Trust me,” he said. “It’ll be a win-win for us both.”
Chapter Six
Delaney had nosooner gotten home and climbed into her clawfoot tub than her cell phone began buzzing. Mia—she had zero doubt that’s who it was. But she wasn’t quite ready to be grilled by her older sister on how today had gone at Isaac’s, not until she’d had time to process it all herself.
What had started as a simple, one-day yard cleanup had now grown into an entryway revitalization project. But instead of offering to pay her for the work, Isaac had thrown out an even better idea, one she couldn’t possibly turn down:
He would help develop the website and online presence for The Sisters’ insane talent show fundraiser idea.
Since web design was a skill no one she knew in town possessed, Del had quickly jumped on his offer. As much as she hated the www, she wasn’t fool enough to think a project as big as this proposed talent show could possibly succeed without using it. Plus, finding a web developer had already been on the group’s to-do list.
Isaac was right—his idea was a total win-win.
Plus, their agreement meant more time for her over at Isaac’s, which, she was able to admit in the privacy of her bathtub, was a bonus. She’d thoroughly enjoyed his company today, and already had ideas for what to do with his landscaping. As for the web stuff, however, she was clueless. He said he’d be needing her help on it, but Del didn’t know what she could possibly contribute. Isaac was supposedly the computer expert, not her.
At least that’s what he’d told her. She honestly didn’t know for sure what he did, as vague as he always was. And his whole “terms and conditions” had caught her a little off-guard, too. Who did volunteer work but insisted no one could know it was them who did it?
Maybe he had some serious social anxiety that kept him home all the time. Or maybe his job didn’t allow side work and he didn’t want to jeopardize his career. Whatever it was, he insisted that no one know he was the fundraiser’s web designer.
Well, no one except her.
She sank a little lower into her lavender-scented bubble bath, allowing the warmth of the water to calm her mind and ease her sore muscles. They’d worked hard today getting his storm debris and thistle patch cleaned up. And despite his general cluelessness to yardwork when they’d started, he’d been a quick study, unafraid to get dirty and offering her additional muscles when hers began to tire. In fact, several times he’d had those mighty fine muscles on full display.
