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His lips turn up in a smirky smile. "You mentioned it like fifty times. You also said you're too broke to keep buying take out, so this is on me."
"You're already paying me for your re-brand, I can't—"
"You can," he says. "Consider it a business dinner."
I can't reasonably argue with that. "Thank you. Now, what's your plan for proving to RJ I'm worthy of him?"
I hold the whiteboard in my lap and write out, Plan to Trap the Man.
Xavier snorts at my title. "First, you need to get him to my shop to see the amazing window display you designed."
I look over at him, but he doesn't appear to be joking. "You really like it?"
His eyes widen. "Didn't I tell you that?" He runs a hand through his hair. "Shit. Yes, Cherry. I love your window display, and it's already working. I had more customers today than I've had all week."
Excitement fizzes in my chest. "Really?"
He smiles. "You're clearly very good at what you do."
I swoon, my head going light, my belly heavy. I seriously can't remember a time anyone has said something like that to me. Is this it? Is branding what I should be doing?
Maybe I've had such a hard time finding clients for my life design business because it's not the right fit. I thought branding and marketing was too unoriginal a business to get into, that I'd get lost among the millions of people already doing it better, but I've helped Xavier. Maybe I can actually be good at this.
I run on bravado and false confidence pretty much twenty-four seven and it's always worked for me, but under all that is a deep well of self-doubt and fear. Deep down, I've believed what so many others have, that I lack substance, that I'm just a silly girl who did well in school, but who would really make a better wife who shops all day than a businesswoman.
I doubted I could be successful, but it's what I've always wanted even deeper down, because even more dependable than a man who loves me more than I love him is me. Me with a talent and a skill set that will allow me to support myself, because I'll never let myself down.
And Xavier's not a friend of the family who only hired me for nepotistic reasons. He's the grumpiest man I've ever met, and he didn't even want me to help him.
Xavier touches my shoulder and leans in close. "Hey, you okay? You just spaced out on me."
I laugh, feeling giddy. "Just bathing in the glow of that compliment. I think that might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
He frowns, looking almost angry. "You're definitely hanging out with the wrong people, if that's the case."
I think about my friends and family, those who've been supportive and those who haven't. "Maybe, but I haven't always put my best side forward or made the best choices."
He scowls, looking hilariously offended on my behalf. "Or most people are idiots."
I laugh. "Or that."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Cherry
Ididn't dress warmly enough for this. I blow into my hands as the third school group of the day approaches. Josephine is busy on her phone and laptop, so my main job is welcoming individuals and groups to our small, reindeer-only petting zoo. It's basically just a fenced in circle holding three reindeer.
They're docile enough that we can let small groups of people in with them for pictures or petting, but the kids here today are just going to look at the reindeer through the fence and try to lure them over with small handfuls of food.
Josephine has put up Christmas lights around the top of the fence posts, but that's the extent of her Christmas decorating. I guess she feels the reindeer are the only draw she needs. They are impressive, but this school group asked in advance for Santa to show up and he's supposed to arrive any minute.
I stamp my feet, trying to get the feeling back into my toes. I'm actually looking forward to my next opportunity to muck out the enclosed area because the physical activity should help me warm up. Josephine sits on a stool, looking totally comfortable in her snow boots, jeans, and heavy coat. She gives me hope I might someday acclimate to this cold weather.
As the kindergartners, all chattering and pointing at the reindeer excitedly, step up to meet me, Josephine rises from her stool and walks over to greet the teachers.
"Welcome to Santa's Reindeer Petting Zoo," I proclaim with a big smile. "Our three reindeer, Bergamot, Chamomile, and Frankincense, have been waiting to meet you."
"Those aren't their names," one kid pipes up. "They're Donder, Blizzard, and Comet."
