* * *
Jason sat behind a large, solid wood desk—the same desk where his grandfather used to hold him on his knee and tell him that one day this place would be his. That day had finally come. He’d just never imagined he’d be working alongside Kara.
His gaze lifted and met hers. He’d been doing most of the talking for the past hour, explaining his vision for the future of the resort. He’d noticed her raised brows a couple of times when he’d covered how he thought they could cut back on expenses. However, she never interrupted, just continued to take notes.
Now it was time to get to the part where she could really be helpful to him. “While I work on finding the appropriate balance between year-round and seasonal workers, I’d like you to get new quotes from all the available vendors.”
“Which one did you have a problem with?”
“It isn’t that I have a problem with any of them, but it’s a smart business practice to periodically get quotes and make sure no one is gouging us.”
She shook her head. “They wouldn’t do that. We’ve been doing business with these companies for years now—”
“And when was the last time you received quotes from the competition?”
“Never, but—”
“Exactly what I thought. My father always did take the easy route. I’m sure that’s why this place is in the red.”
“I should have been on top of this. Is this really what has the business in trouble?”
He didn’t want her blaming herself. “There are many things that contributed to the financial mess, but it’s not one single person’s fault. We’re going to put into place new procedures and policies, so we don’t end up in a rut again.”
“Which vendors did you want me to work on?”
“All of them. From the liquor to the vegetable supplier and everything in between.”
“But surely you don’t want to get rid of Pappy Salvatore’s.”
Jason searched his memory. The name didn’t ring a bell. “Who’s this Pappy?”
She cast him a look of disbelief. “He’s a childhood friend of your father’s. He and his sons have been providing us with the freshest vegetables longer than I’ve been here. They’re punctual and their produce is of the finest quality.”
Jason paused and stared at her. Throughout this meeting, she’d accepted what he’d said about overhauling the mechanics of the place. Her occasional frown let him know she didn’t always agree with his methods, but she’d kept her mouth shut. Why in the world would she pick this one particular vendor to defend? Was it possible there was more going on with the Salvatores than just business? The thought soured his stomach.
“How well do you know this Pappy? Or perhaps you’re more familiar with one of his sons?”
She glowered at him. “Don’t twist this into something it’s not. Yes, I know Pappy. He used to come to the resort once a month to go over the order with me...and your father. He’s a sweet man and his whole family is involved with the business.”
Still not getting the reason for her to defend their business ties so ferociously, Jason prompted, “And...”
“And he was instrumental in convincing your father to give me the promotion to office manager. He was so impressed with how I’d reworked the various menus, giving each of our food outlets a different ethnic flair.”
“Of course he was. He wanted you to swing him more business.”
Her eyes narrowed and her chin lifted. “He didn’t need to. Your father had already awarded him the resort’s full order years ago. He did it because I impressed him with my ideas.”
Jason rocked back in his desk chair. He liked this Pappy and he hadn’t even met him. He also liked Kara’s strong sense of loyalty. He could only wish she’d hold him in such high esteem one day. But how he’d manage to get there, he didn’t know.
“That still doesn’t put the Salvatores above review. Get the quotes. We’ll talk later.”
Kara’s lips pursed together as her pen flew over her notepad. “Is that all?”
“There’s one more thing. Could you check on the furniture we ordered for the Igloo Café?”
She nodded, got to her feet and headed for the door.
Not wanting her to go just yet, he said, “I meant to ask you if Samantha liked the tree.”