outsourcing production, national distribution, and some well-placed advertising and promotion to market the toys. Regrettably, not only was Sam too fiercely independent for her own good, as a neophyte in business, she didn’t have the slightest clue how to exploit the niche market she’d stumbled upon or the expertise with which to do it.
But he did. He hadn’t spent six years in night school getting his bachelor’s in marketing and another three earning his MBA for nothing. His only problem was finding a way to convince her to accept his advice and help without screwing up his chance at reconciliation.
He left the sewing room and poked his head inside the master bedroom next door. With the guestroom bed gone, where was he supposed to sleep? Sam certainly wasn’t about to invite him to share her bed. Or at least not right away. But if he played his cards right, maybe he could use the lack of a guest bed to his advantage.
As he descended the front staircase, his feet glued themselves to the bottom step as the kids broke into a duet. Dani’s competence on the guitar had improved dramatically since the last time he’d heard her play, but it wasn’t her technique or even her vocals that stopped Nick cold.
Ryan Flynn’s voice was a lot more than merely okay , as he’d put it. It was golden. With a little training to refine his talent and a catchy tune, he’d have a decent shot at a professional music career.
Nick hung out in the living room for several minutes, listening. Eventually, he strolled into the family room, and Dani stopped playing. “Hey, Dad.”
He arched his eyebrows at Ryan. “So that’s what you call okay ? You should be trying out for TV talent shows.”
“That’s what I say,” Dani agreed. “I also told him how good you are. Could you play a little and show him?”
“Sure.” He took the boy’s guitar and sank into the lounge chair near them. “But only if Ryan sings.” Nick plucked the strings for an introduction to A Stairway to Heaven , a classic any vocalist in a rock band would know. The kid picked right up on it and crooned the mellow opening lyrics, while Dani joined in, strumming her guitar.
During the next hour, they continued accompanying Nick as he played through a medley of his favorite timeless songs. The boy’s voice was amazing.
At a little after eight o’clock, Samantha wandered through the family room’s archway with a set of sheets and a pillow under her arm, “Wow, the three of you sound great. As much as I’ve been enjoying your concert, I think it’s time to say goodnight to Ryan.”
“But, Mo-m....” Dani whined. “We were just—”
“It’s eight-thirty, and you have school in the morning. And since tomorrow is Friday, I imagine you have a few tests to study for.”
“Da-aad!”
Nick pointed toward the front door. “Get going, Princesa . Ryan can visit again tomorrow.”
Dani dragged her bare feet across the family room carpet, ranting, “What good is it having you around if you agree with whatever she says?”
“I have to go anyway,” Ryan told her. “I need to sit with my mom so my sister can grab a nap before she leaves for work.”
“Is your mother sick?” Dani asked, completely without tact.
“Umm, not exactly. An aneurysm burst in her head about six months ago and left her brain damaged.”
“Oh, Ryan.” Sam’s cheeks turned a deep pink, suggesting she felt ashamed about misjudging the boy’s character earlier. “I’m so sorry. If there’s anything we can do to help....”
“Thanks. We’re doin’ all right for now. Cindy’s there during the day, and I stay with my mom while my sister works the night shift.” Ryan waved to them and followed Dani down the hallway to the front door, calling back to them, “Thanks for dinner, Mr. and Mrs. R. I’ll see ya tomorrow, I hope.”
When Nick turned back to Sam, he found her spreading a sheet over the sofa.
“Oh, come on, Sammy. Don’t you have someplace else for me to
But he did. He hadn’t spent six years in night school getting his bachelor’s in marketing and another three earning his MBA for nothing. His only problem was finding a way to convince her to accept his advice and help without screwing up his chance at reconciliation.
He left the sewing room and poked his head inside the master bedroom next door. With the guestroom bed gone, where was he supposed to sleep? Sam certainly wasn’t about to invite him to share her bed. Or at least not right away. But if he played his cards right, maybe he could use the lack of a guest bed to his advantage.
As he descended the front staircase, his feet glued themselves to the bottom step as the kids broke into a duet. Dani’s competence on the guitar had improved dramatically since the last time he’d heard her play, but it wasn’t her technique or even her vocals that stopped Nick cold.
Ryan Flynn’s voice was a lot more than merely okay , as he’d put it. It was golden. With a little training to refine his talent and a catchy tune, he’d have a decent shot at a professional music career.
Nick hung out in the living room for several minutes, listening. Eventually, he strolled into the family room, and Dani stopped playing. “Hey, Dad.”
He arched his eyebrows at Ryan. “So that’s what you call okay ? You should be trying out for TV talent shows.”
“That’s what I say,” Dani agreed. “I also told him how good you are. Could you play a little and show him?”
“Sure.” He took the boy’s guitar and sank into the lounge chair near them. “But only if Ryan sings.” Nick plucked the strings for an introduction to A Stairway to Heaven , a classic any vocalist in a rock band would know. The kid picked right up on it and crooned the mellow opening lyrics, while Dani joined in, strumming her guitar.
During the next hour, they continued accompanying Nick as he played through a medley of his favorite timeless songs. The boy’s voice was amazing.
At a little after eight o’clock, Samantha wandered through the family room’s archway with a set of sheets and a pillow under her arm, “Wow, the three of you sound great. As much as I’ve been enjoying your concert, I think it’s time to say goodnight to Ryan.”
“But, Mo-m....” Dani whined. “We were just—”
“It’s eight-thirty, and you have school in the morning. And since tomorrow is Friday, I imagine you have a few tests to study for.”
“Da-aad!”
Nick pointed toward the front door. “Get going, Princesa . Ryan can visit again tomorrow.”
Dani dragged her bare feet across the family room carpet, ranting, “What good is it having you around if you agree with whatever she says?”
“I have to go anyway,” Ryan told her. “I need to sit with my mom so my sister can grab a nap before she leaves for work.”
“Is your mother sick?” Dani asked, completely without tact.
“Umm, not exactly. An aneurysm burst in her head about six months ago and left her brain damaged.”
“Oh, Ryan.” Sam’s cheeks turned a deep pink, suggesting she felt ashamed about misjudging the boy’s character earlier. “I’m so sorry. If there’s anything we can do to help....”
“Thanks. We’re doin’ all right for now. Cindy’s there during the day, and I stay with my mom while my sister works the night shift.” Ryan waved to them and followed Dani down the hallway to the front door, calling back to them, “Thanks for dinner, Mr. and Mrs. R. I’ll see ya tomorrow, I hope.”
When Nick turned back to Sam, he found her spreading a sheet over the sofa.
“Oh, come on, Sammy. Don’t you have someplace else for me to
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