Chapter 55

The night before the fundraiser, I found myself operating at warp speed. My mind buzzed with last-minute details and arrangements that needed to be finalized. With vendors, volunteers, and participants to coordinate with, I was juggling phone calls, texts, and emails like a pro. It turned out, getting fired was the best thing to happen to me. Between me and Archer, we were burning the candle at both ends to finalize every detail. I had not realized just how big the job was. I couldn't imagine Archer doing all of it on his own.

I hung up my phone and looked at Archer. "Got them."

"You did?"

I nodded excitedly. I had secured a pop-up petting zoo that operated out of an old ice-cream truck. Little critters like bunnies, chicks, and even a couple of rodents roaming around would only add to the festive atmosphere. The kids were going to love it. The parents would probably be less excited, but if it entertained the kids, that was the goal.

"The more the merrier," I declared with a grin as I confirmed the arrangements.

"Good job," he said.

We were sitting at the kitchen table in the big house surrounded by paperwork and schedules. It had become our command post. Everything was falling into place. Murray had stopped by earlier, which I thought was kind of cool. I knew things were strained with Archer's family. It made me happy to know his brother was in his corner.

"I posted the flyer at the country club," Murray said. "I expect a few dozen members to appear and make donations."

I couldn't believe it. A few dozen members from the country club? It was more than I could have hoped for, and I felt gratitude toward Murray for his efforts. "Thank you," I said. "That's awesome. Are you sure it's not going to step on any toes? I imagine the Hunt family are members or at least know people that are members."

"They don't have to go." Murray shrugged.

"That's so cool, thank you. What prompted you to do that?"

"Me," Archer said.

"Ah." I smiled. "Got it."

"It's going to be a success," he assured me. "I'm making sure we cover all the bases. If your old boss wants to accuse you of destroying his reputation by getting all the affluent people against him, then let's do it. He has no one to blame but himself. He thought it was cool to fire you because you were trying to save the library. Now, he's going to realize he created a monster. You have nothing to lose."

"Exactly." I nodded.

Archer looked at his watch. "I'm starving. We've been going all day. What are you guys in the mood for? I'll order."

"I could go for some pizza," Murray suggested.

"Sounds good to me," I agreed, feeling a wave of exhaustion hit me. The adrenaline that had been driving me all day was starting to ebb away, leaving me feeling drained yet satisfied with our progress. We'd been going full speed ahead for a week.

Archer placed an order to one of my favorite pizza joints, placing a large order for an assortment of pizzas and sides.

"Thirty minutes," Archer said and put his phone down. He shifted back to business mode. "Did we get confirmation from that corn dog food truck?"

I flipped through my notes. "Not yet."

"Then we'll scratch them off the list," he said. "I'm not chasing them. If they don't want the money, that's on them."

"I think we have plenty of other food vendors," I told him. "Corn dogs would have been nice for the kids but not necessary."

Murray was flipping through the pages of notes. "Damn, you guys really went all out," he said. "This is like a fair. You're going to make a huge impact. There is no way this deal happens without a lot of controversy."

"Good," Archer said. "That's the idea. The more people that know about what the plans are, the bigger the uproar. We'll shame the library owner for selling it and shame Hunt Properties to keep them from wanting to buy it. We'll make it impossible for them to move forward. Their reputation is going to take a hit. No other company is going to want to touch it after this debacle."

I glanced at Archer, impressed by his determination and strategic thinking. He was going to be a fierce asset in his father's business. "Dang, you're more than just a pretty face," I joked.

He winked. "Don't tell anyone."

"I have to say, I'm proud of what you've accomplished so far," Murray said. "This is going to be one hell of an event."

It was just after nine o'clock when the food showed up. We were all starving. We dug into the pizza with gusto. I dipped my breadstick in the ranch and took a big bite.

"I didn't realize how hungry I was until this minute," I said with a laugh. "Please don't think I'm a pig."

"Eat," Archer ordered. "No one is judging you."

"Dad has been talking more about you being back," Murray said.

"I was never in," Archer replied.

"You know what I mean," he said. "He's been talking about his two sons taking over the full operation of the business. He wants to do this thing."

Archer's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? I haven't heard anything more from him. I thought he changed his mind. Then again, I've been busy."

"It's not just idle chit chat anymore," Murray said. "He's making plans. I think you're in."

Archer took another bite, mulling it over. We had not talked about him working for his dad since he first mentioned it. I assumed it was a sore subject. And we'd been busy with the fundraiser. After chewing the bite, he looked at his brother. "Mom hasn't blown a gasket yet?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

My attention went to Murray. Now, it was his turn to debate his answer. It was strange to sit with the two brothers. They were a lot alike, but they were also very different. Murray was the straight and orderly type, while Archer was a little more reckless.

"They don't talk about it," he said quietly. "In fact, they don't talk much at all these days, to be honest. Dad's always in one room working, and Mom's either redecorating and renovating a room of the house with contractors or she's out shopping. They're disconnected."

I felt bad for all of them. Archer felt guilty. I could see it in his eyes. I understood some of the dynamics of their family and why it was such a crappy situation.

I reached out and placed a hand on his arm, offering him a small smile of encouragement. "I'm sure it'll all work out," I said softly.

It was another burden for Archer to bear, another weight added to the already heavy load he carried on his shoulders.

"It's not your fault," Murray said, clearly picking up on the situation. "They've been drifting apart for years."

"I'm sure my going to prison didn't help matters," Archer said. "Dad wanted to back me up and Mom wanted to disown me. I know it caused problems."

"Mom will come around," he insisted.

Archer blew out a breath and tossed his pizza crust on the plate before reaching for another slice. "Just add that to the long list of things I'm responsible for."

"You cannot possibly be responsible for your parents' marriage being successful or breaking apart," I told him.

"Thanks, but I'm going to go ahead and consider myself responsible."

"That's not necessary and you know it," Murray said.

Thankfully, the conversation shifted back to the fundraiser. While we ate, we reviewed the schedule of things we needed to get done. We opened the dessert pizza while Murray and Archer talked about some of the people they knew from their younger years that would be attending the fundraiser. I listened to them talk, finding myself drawn to Archer more than ever. It was strange to think of him as a guy that mingled with the rich and powerful.

"Hello?" Karen called out.

"Kitchen," I replied, checking the time. It was after midnight. We had gotten so involved in talking and working I didn't realize how late it was.

Rylee and Karen walked into the kitchen. "Hey, what do you have here?" Rylee asked.

"Help yourself," Murray said. "I'm Murray, Gene's younger brother."

"Who's Gene?" Rylee asked as she snatched a slice.

Archer lifted his hand. "That'd be me. Don't ask."

Murray was checking Rylee out, which wasn't a surprise. She was dressed for her shift at the bar. She knew how to maximize tips and dressed to impress and incite drooling. Her outfit exuded confidence and sexiness. It was all about looking but not touching and the guys really liked to look. Tonight, she was wearing a cropped shirt, her push-up bra that gave her more cleavage than usual, and skin-tight black pants. Her makeup was dark and heavy, giving her that edge the guys loved. I couldn't help but find the contrast between Murray's sudden nervousness and Rylee's boldness amusing. It was as if they were from two different worlds colliding under one roof. He liked her. Or he liked looking at her. It was hard to say.

"Have a seat," Murray said, gesturing to a chair. "We've got plenty of leftovers."

Rylee flashed Murray a flirtatious smile. She took a seat, crossing her legs in a way that drew even more attention to them. "Thanks," she said, leaning back comfortably. "I'm starving."

"Karen, do you want to sit down?" I asked.

"No, thanks, I need to get to bed. Have a good night."

"So, what are you guys doing?" Rylee asked.

"We're discussing the fundraiser for the library," Archer answered.

"Ah, yes." She nodded.

"We should probably get out of here," Archer said. "We've got an early morning."

They both got to their feet. "It was nice to meet you, Rylee," Murray said.

"You too," Rylee said as she reached for another slice of pizza.

Murray waited in the car while Archer lingered on the porch, stealing kisses and whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I couldn't help but smile at his affectionate gestures. "You're a tease," I said.

"Trust me, I'm no tease. Given the chance, I would be happy to follow through."

I laughed and playfully pushed him away. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow," he murmured with his lips sliding over my ear. "I'll be here to pick you up at the crack of dawn. We've got a busy day tomorrow."

I nodded eagerly. "I'll be waiting for you," I promised. It had been a long week of planning. Tomorrow, we would put on the best fundraiser we could. It was hard to measure success, but I at least knew we had done everything we could.

"What if you came and stayed with me for a couple of nights after the fundraiser?" he suggested, his tone playful. "Just me, you, the hot tub, pool, and good food."

The idea sounded tempting, a chance to relax and unwind in his company after the whirlwind of the past week. "That sounds like a very good idea," I replied, a smile spreading across my lips. "It's a plan."

He pressed a final kiss to my forehead before reluctantly pulling away. "See you tomorrow," he said.

"I can't wait." I waved at Murray, who was sitting in the car patiently waiting.

I walked back inside and closed the door, taking a deep breath. The fundraiser had consumed so much of our time and energy, but now it was finally here. Tomorrow would be a day filled with hustle and bustle.

And it could save the library I loved