Cale pulled the phone from his ear to peer at the number again just to be sure it was his uncle. He'd never known the man to give compliments. Leigh wasdefinitely having a beneficial effect on the man. Putting the phone back to his ear, he said, "She's resisting. I suppose after the trouble she had with the project manager, she's afraid to trust someone else."
Lucian grunted, was silent for a minute and then announced, "I'll have Bricker meet you at the new restaurant and help you convince her."
Cale sighed at the suggestion, knowing Lucian meant he would have Bricker use mind control on Alex. The idea was tempting. It would certainly make things easier, but he didn't like the idea of taking the decision from her in that way. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. This is her business, Uncle. She-"
"She isn't aware of all the facts," Lucian interrupted. "And she can't be told. She can't make a proper decision with only half the facts, so I'll make it for her."
"But-"
"She's your life mate," Lucian said grimly. "Your winning her over and convincing her to take up that role will make you happy, her happy, and Sam and Jo happy, which in turn will keep my enforcers happy. I'm sending Bricker."
The announcement was followed by a click, and then dead air. Lucian had hung up.
Muttering under his breath, Cale pocketed the phone and turned to head back to the register in time to stop Alex from paying for the groceries.
"I'm the one who was hungry," he reminded firmly when she appeared about to protest allowing him to foot the bill. Alex hesitated, but then nodded solemnly and didn't argue further.
"Are you all right? " she asked moments later as they drove back to the restaurant. "You seem a bit quiet."
Cale forced a smile. "Just hungry," he assured her, but the truth was he was fretting over Bricker's meeting them at the restaurant to use mind control on Alex. Part of him was irritated at his uncle's underhanded tactics. The man really had no business in their relationship. Not that something as insignificant as it being none of his business had ever stopped Lucian. However, another, much larger, part of Cale was rather relieved at the idea. It would certainly simplify things. That way, Alex would be happy, and he could stay close and woo her.
"Is that Justin?" Alex asked, as they pulled into the parking lot.
"Yes," Cale murmured, spotting Bricker seated in his SUV.
"I wonder what he's doing here," Alex said with a frown. "I hope there isn't something wrong with Sam."
"He's here to help with the painting," Cale said to keep her from worrying unnecessarily. He then decided he'd bribe the man into helping to ensure what he'd just said wasn't a lie.
A loud and rapid banging dragged Alex from sleep. Yawning, she opened her eyes, sat up in bed, and peered around with confusion, slow to comprehend what had woken her. When the banging came again, she tossed the bedsheets and cover aside and got hurriedly to her feet, nearly tripping over her own feet as she stumbled out the door of her bedroom. She managed to make itdownstairs and to the front door without breaking her neck and yanked the door open just as a third round of rapping started.
The young man on her porch caught himself midknock, smiled uncertainly as he took in her flannel pajamas with pandas on them, and said, "Ms. Willan? Alexandra Willan?"
Alex nodded and then shifted to stand on one foot, covering it with her other foot against the cold rushing in at her.
"Here are your keys," the fellow said, raising a hand to dangle them before her.
"My keys?" Alex echoed with confusion.
"Yes ma'am. Your car's all fixed up. Turns out the battery connection had somehow come loose. She's good now. Can you sign here that you received the car?"
"Oh, yes, of course." Alex took the pen and clipboard he offered and signed where he pointed. As she handed the clipboard back, her gaze slid to her vehicle now parked in her short driveway. It looked like it had been cleaned as well as fixed. The salt stains that had marked it were gone. Alex shook her head slightly. She'd left the keys with Cale last night. He'd promised to have someone look at her vehicle for her. Apparently, he'd done as he promised.
"Have a good day."
Alex glanced back to the young man to see that he was heading off her porch. Frowning, she switched feet to warm the one that had been on top of the other, and asked, "What about the bill?"
"Oh, Mr. Argeneau said to send the bill to the restaurant. You should get it in a few days," he said with a wave over his shoulder as he hurried toward a truck idling at the curb.
"Thank you!" Alex called as he slid into the vehicle. He nodded again and gave another wave as he closed the door.
Alex immediately closed the door, very glad to be able to do so. As one would expect for late February, it was cold, but it was also windy, making it seem colder still.
Shivering, she headed back upstairs, thinking she should shower, dress, and head over to check on the new restaurant. Somehow last night she'd found herself agreeing to Cale's taking over as business manager, leaving her to cook. Alex had been leaning that way anyway, bending under the weight of temptation, but she didn't recall actually deciding it for certain.
She'd just suddenly announced that he was hired as they were sharing their picnic with Bricker. Then she'd allowed herself to be convinced to give him the keys to the new restaurant, as well as to her car, and found herself being driven home and leaving the rest of the painting to the two men. Alex wasn't really sure how that had happened.
"I must have been seriously exhausted," she muttered with a shake of the head as she crossed her bedroom to the attached bathroom. It was the only explanation she could come up with. Alex wasn't the type to shirk a job and go home to bed leaving others to do it.