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She nods, so I turn back to the door, pulling it halfway open before she stops me again. “Wait, how will you get a hold of me?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I look her straight in the eye. “I know where to find you.” Then, I throw her a wink, because I know it drives her crazy (and not even the good crazy, like the kind that makes you want to lock up all your sharp knives) and head out the door, a little extra bounce in my step.
I knew running into Harper Grayson was going to be entertaining, but I didn’t think I’d enjoy it this much.
A smile breaks out across my face as I walk the short distance to my family’s hardware store. Pulling open the old, heavy door, whistling a happy little tune, I bypass the front counter and head down the hall to my dad’s office.
“What has you in such a good mood?” he asks, a knowing smile on his own face.
“Nothing, old man,” I reply, sitting down in the chair and putting my feet up on his desk just to aggravate him.
Dad takes a swipe at my boots. “Next month you can put your filthy boots all over this desk, but until then, back off. It’s still mine.”
I laugh, putting my feet down on the floor. “Tell Mom, Harper says thanks for the sandwich.”
Dad wrinkles his eyebrows. “I don’t recall Mom making Harper a sandwich. I thought I brought that in for you.”
I shrug. “You said she spilled her coffee, so I grabbed her a new one and dropped off my sandwich. When you said she works there by herself most days, I figured she might not have time to go out and grab lunch.”
“Mmmhmm, that all that’s about?” Dad asks, his smile turning all-knowing.
“That and I looked at her computer, since you already offered up my services. It’s fucked, by the way. I’ll pick her up a new one when I go to Harriston later to sign those papers.”
Dad watches me, eventually nodding. I’m not sure what he sees in front of him and I don’t ask. Some things are better left unsaid. “Anyway, I’m going to head up front and start to transfer the inventory to the new system. Dale should still be able to use the old system while it’s importing into the new.”
“Sounds good. Let me know if you need anything,” Dad says, turning his attention back to the stack of papers in front of him.
I make my way up to the front, ready to refamiliarize myself with the business I grew up in. When I was young, it was my grandpa who owned the hardware store, then eventually my dad. Now, it’s my turn. Dad plans to retire within the next month, which means I have mere weeks to learn everything I can about running a successful business. I have plans for it, some of which I’ve already run past him. That’s why I’m off to Harriston this afternoon. To get the ball rolling on the biggest project of them all.
Purchase the small building between Harper’s store and ours.
It’s perfect for the expansion I’ve been envisioning for Douglas Hardware since I got my papers to leave the Army, anticipating the return home. After fourteen years, I was finally saying goodbye to that part of my life, ready to step into this role at the helm of my family’s business. It’s a great space that’ll add just enough room for the extra inventory lines I’ve wanted to carry.
Nothing’s going to stand in my way of making this place bigger and better.
Nothing.
* * *
I knock on her door, some boy band shit filtering through the open front door. A dog starts to bark instantly, heavy pads scrape along hardwood floors. “Who’s here?” Harper asks her dog in one of those voices all women use to talk to babies and puppies.
“Oh, it’s you,” she grumbles as she reaches the front door. She’s probably looking at me through her screen door, but I don’t notice. The only thing I notice is the way her tight white tank top molds to her voluptuous tits. “My eyes are up here,” she deadpans, crossing her arms over her chest to shield them from my eyes.
Joke’s on her, though. She only pushes them up higher.
“Eat him, Snuggles,” she says to the dog at her ankles.
“But if your dog eats me, who will get your new computer up and running for you?” I ask, bringing the bag up and shaking it.
Harper sighs, rolls her eyes, and opens the screen door. As soon as I step through the entryway, the owner of the deep bark jumps at me, excitedly, tongue hanging from his open mouth. “Down, Snuggles.”
“Snuggles?” I ask, glancing her way as she closes the door behind me.
She crosses her arms again defiantly; basically ensuring I’m going to have wet dreams about her and her magnificent tits later tonight. “So?”
Glancing down at the dog, I pet his floppy head, drool streaming from his happy little face. “He’s awfully ugly to be a Snuggles.” Harper gasps. Snuggles whimpers, as if he understood me.
“You’re mean. I can’t believe you said that. Besides, Snuggles is a lady,” she baby-talks, bending down and giving her dog some love. The dog wags her butt before leaning forward and licking her owner’s face.
