“Ma’am, I mean Abigail, while you were outside Bruin Brothers Construction called.They would like to meet with you before continuing the contract the previous owner had.”
“Oh really?Ugh, they were one of Bill’s most reliable contracts.Did they say why?”
“Just that they want to see if it’s a good fit.The person mentioned they’re also looking into other companies as well, to be thorough.”
Irritation trickles down my spine, even though I know they’re being smart business folk.
I send Chase home at 5 and close up the office just before 6.Main Street Cocktail Lounge is just a few doors away, next to the hardware store.Dinah and Alona are already at the bar waiting for me.
“Boss Lady!”Alona announces, waving her hand like there was a wand in it.
Dinah hugs me, then steps away and asks, “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, just that one of the previous owner’s most reliable clients may not want to continue the contract with me.I have to meet with them.”
“Who is it?”
“Bruin Brothers Construction.Ever hear of them?”
“Actually, yes,” Dinah responds, “They did some work on the farm.They did good work.”
I order a Manhattan from the bartender and turn back to my friends.
“Did you meet the owners or anything?”
“No, but I heard they are bear shifters.That’s pretty damn sexy.”
“Oh, yum,” Alona pipes in.
I laugh, shaking my head.
“I don’t have any room for men, sexy bear shifters or not.I hope they’re cool and not misogynistic pigs.”
My drink arrives and the ladies toast to my first day.
“Here’s to a wonderful start to your business, hot shifters, and zero sexist assholes!”Alona says with a wicked grin before we clink glasses.
3
Barrett
Walking to my office,I pop into Bernie’s first.
“Hey, we need to go check out that job site today.What time works for…” I stop when I see that he’s on the phone.
He puts a finger up, asking me to wait, so I slump down onto his leather couch.I scroll on my social media app, liking friends’ random posts until an advertisement stops me.
The ad on my timeline is for Bellrose Landscaping.I’m pretty sure that’s who bought Bill’s company.I watch the video, which shows a variety of landscaping shots.Solid work if I am honest with myself.And the ad ends on the owner, Abigail Bellrose, smiling at the camera and giving the viewer an ask to call her for their landscaping needs.
Rewinding to the end, I watch this Abigail again.She’s an absolute knockout.Her wavy, long hair is a shiny silver and her blue eyes pierce the video screen.When her full, red lips break into a smile, I feel my lower half wake up.
“Earth to Barrett.”
I look up at my brother standing over me with an obnoxious smile on his face.
“Jeez, I said your name like five times.What’s that you’re lost in?”
Before I react, Bernie grabs my phone out of my hands.
