“Want to know a secret?” he whispered to her.
Her eyes widened with excitement. “Yes.”
“That’s my grandda’s whiskey.”
She gasped. “Are you serious?”
He told her the story of how his grandda used to make the whiskey, and when his dad couldn’t play football anymore, he decided to start the company with his father.
Lottie clapped her hands together. “I love that story. Does Rachel know?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her.”
“You’re from a creative family who succeeds. How lucky you are.” Lottie’s expression shadowed. “I wish Rachel had had that sort of leg up.”
“Rachel has everything she needs to succeed.”
“But what is she trying to succeed at?” Lottie shook her head, lifting his glass to her lips again.
Obviously he was drinking wine today instead. He picked up her glass and took a sip. It was no MacNiven, but it wasn’t bad. “What do you think I should do about Rachel?” he asked point blank.
Lottie’s face softened. “Just love her, Jamie. That’s all.”
He nodded, his gut tight. “I’m afraid it might not be enough.”
“Then my granddaughter has no sense.”
“I don’t want to pressure her into seeing me.”
“You want her to meet you halfway.” Lottie nodded. “As you should, because if you’re putting in all the work, it’s not a relationship.”
“That was wise,” he said.
She shrugged. “I have my moments.”
“More than moments.” Jamie looked at her, a click happening in his head. “Ms. Lottie, would you ever consider going back to work?”
“As secretary? Not in a million years.” She made a face.
“I was thinking more as a consultant.”
She tipped her head, eyes narrowed with interest. “What sort of consultant?”
He laid out Didier’s idea and explained how they’d talked about it yesterday at the game. He told her he’d asked Rachel to go in with him, but he wasn’t expecting that she would. She wanted her promotion so badly. “I’m not sure if she didn’t believe I was serious or if she thought she wouldn’t be able to do it,” he admitted. “I’ve never been so frustrated. I can see the path so clearly, and I feel like Rachel can too but she’s skirting the edges, afraid to go all in.”
Lottie tsked, shaking her head. “I don’t understand why the girl tries at that so hard. She only went back because she couldn’t get another job, not because of her but because there was a job shortage.”
“And you and work?” he asked, bringing it back.
Her eyes narrowed even more. “What sort of salary are we talking? Because, sweetheart, I have skills.”
He sat back, arms crossed. “You’re going to drive a hard bargain, aren’t you?”
“You bet your fanny.” She laughed, holding up his whiskey. “To the future.”
“To the future.” He clinked his glass against hers. He swallowed a mouthful and then set the glass on the bar, seeing the path very clearly at the moment. “Will you excuse me?”
She gave him his leave with a sweep of her hand, glancing at Otto before she waved Chris over.