“Listen, pal, I wanted to talk to you.I’ve decided to sell the lumberyard.It’s time for me to retire.”
Retire from what?He doesn’t do anything around here.
“Good for you,” I say evenly.
“So, I need some reports run.Just the numbers.I need them to show potential parties.”
“Well, maybe I could buy it.”
“You?”he laughs.
I grind my teeth together.Trevor is an idiot.I’m the reason this place is doing well.I handle everything around here.If it weren’t for me, Trevor would’ve run this place into the ground by now.
“Yeah, me.How much?”I ask him.
“I’ll be asking five million for it.”
I lean back in my chair.Damn.I’ve been saving for years, but I’m nowhere near that number.If I could get him down to maybe one million, I could do it.I know Trevor would never go for that, though.
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do,” I say coolly.
Trevor laughs.“Whatever you say.”
He hangs up a second later, and I toss my phone onto my desk angrily.
What the hell am I going to do now?I could hope that the new owner keeps me on as the manager, I guess, but there’s no guarantee that will happen.
I’ll just have to wait and see.Maybe no one will be interested in this small lumberyard in the middle of nowhere.
With that settled, I get back to work.I’m a lot less distracted now, so I manage to get stuff done.At quitting time, I practically leap to my feet and bolt out to my truck.I need to shower and change before I head into town to get my girl.
FIVE
Jem
Well,I’m running late for my very first date.
I was so distracted setting up some new inventory that I lost track of time, and now here I am, running down the sidewalk to my little apartment.
I had such big plans, too.I was going to come home early, take a shower, and maybe even put on some makeup so I’d be all polished and put together by the time Rune came to pick me up.Instead, I’ll be lucky if I’m not a sweaty mess by the time he arrives.
I rush around the corner and curse when I see Rune standing outside my place.He’s frowning up at my apartment, and I brush my hair back as I hurry to his side.
“Hey!Hi, sorry,” I pant as I skid to a stop in front of him.
“Hey, I was starting to think that I had the wrong place,” he says.
“Nope!I’m just running late.Do you mind if I just run upstairs to freshen up?I’m so sorry about this.”
“It’s no problem,” he assures me.“Take your time.”
I jog upstairs and let myself into my place, making a beeline for my bedroom as I tug my shirt over my head.I hop in the shower, rinse off quickly, then speed through drying off and getting dressed.Ten minutes later, I’m headed back downstairs and out to Rune.
He’s leaning against his truck, and he looks like a freaking model.My body heats as I take him in.He’s wearing dark-washed jeans that cling to his thick thighs.The dark green Henley shirt clings to his arms and chest.
He opens the passenger door for me.“Ready to go?”
“Yeah.Where are we going?”I ask as I hop into his truck.