Chapter 28
Logan
On Wednesday, I’m back on the road to Nashville to pick up the seats. I have to get them back to my shop and in the car after the paint’s done before I turn around and drive my truck and trailer back down this same road to deliver the Olds 442 to Boone Thrasher.
The miles don’t matter, though, only the final product does. With my eyes fixed on the road, I let my mind wander a little in the quiet of the truck about how much this one job could change things for me.
Getting my shop on the map is all it takes. High-end restorations carry a hefty enough price tag that I might be able to expand and hire a few more guys.
There’s a kid at the trade school one town over who called yesterday morning to see if I’d consider taking him on part time, and it sucked to say that I couldn’t just yet, but to give me a few months and check back.
For me, owning a business isn’t just about making money and being respectable, it’s about how I can use my business to help the people in the community too. I need to hire someone to deal with clients and paperwork, but I’ve been holding off until I know I won’t have to let someone go as quick as I hire them. I also need a few more techs to deal with a heavier volume of cars and to shorten our turnaround time. Hell, I’d even love to have my own paint shop someday so I could keep that piece of the work in-house and have more control over it.
My dreams are big, but right now, I gotta focus on what’s possible.
Then there’s Banner.
The woman inherits $30 million and barely even mentions it beyond calls with a lawyer and a financial adviser here and there. Maybe that’s the difference between people who’ve always had money and people who haven’t. Sure, her parents cut her off when she was in college, but maybe it’s something that’s ingrained in you. I’ve never had it, so I can’t say.
I should be relieved that Banner’s attitude hasn’t changed since she got that money. I mean, shit, if anyone in Gold Haven won the lottery tomorrow, which is essentially what she did, they’d be driving a brand-new car and flashing it all over town. Banner’s still driving the rental car Holly and Creighton leased for her.
Speaking of which, my woman needs better wheels than a Toyota Camry, but it’s not something she’s ever complained about.
Banner is a surprise on every level. The way she’s adapted to living here is nothing short of a miracle. There’s no Starbucks on every corner, and no sushi unless you eat the fish raw you caught yourself, which I wouldn’t recommend. Other than a comment here and there about something she misses in New York, Banner seems to be settling in well.
It pisses me off that some of the women in this town have given her hell, but after the bowling alley incident with Tricia and the box of dicks with Emmy, I’m hoping it’s over. Banner’s made friends with Julianne and Nicole, but she could use a few more, especially if I’m going to ask her to make Gold Haven her permanent home, preferably by moving in to my place.
I know what it’s like to be an outsider here, and there were plenty of times I questioned my decision to come back rather than make a new start somewhere else. Banner doesn’t have the roots that I do. She just has me.
Am I enough to keep her here?
For the rest of my drive, I rack my brain about how I can make Gold Haven out to be the best choice for her. Banner could go anywhere, but I want her tied here.
I put my thoughts on hold when I drive into the lot of Pro Interiors and park my truck near the door.
When I dropped the seats off on Monday, I headed home as quickly as possible. Today, I need to go over all the work to make sure it’s exactly what I want for Boone’s car. The guys here know who the end customer is, so I’m hoping they did a top-notch job.
The owner wasn’t here last time, so when I approach the counter and see a different man with dark hair pulled into a short knot behind his head, I wonder if I’m finally going to meet him.
“Can I help you?” the man asks when I walk in.
“Logan Brantley. Here to pick up the interior pieces for the Olds 442 I’m redoing for Boone Thrasher.”
His eyes light with recognition. He’s definitely heard of me.
“You’re the one who got his ass saved with a bunch of favors being pulled in. I’m Del. This is my place.”
I’m not a fan of how he describes me, even though it’s the truth. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Sweet design, brother. You’re lucky we were able to pull it off. I had people pulling all-nighters on it since you brought it in.”
“I appreciate that. This is a big project for me, and my normal person couldn’t handle it.”
The man laughs. “Oh, I heard the whole story. Bowling fight and some injured female pride.”
I jerk my head back in shock.Banner. “I guess you don’t need me to explain then.”
“I don’t pull out all the stops in this place for no reason. Sounds like you’ve got your hands full with that woman. She must be a good one, because she made sure your ass was covered.”