AllFreeNovel
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Tucker and Sage don’t need me as much anymore. Our parents, grandparents, and the rest of the family help them during the day.
I stay a couple more days to decide which building we’ll buy for our practice. I assume Derek and I will discuss it via video call. When I told him I’d see him by the building at nine, I didn’t mean it to be in person. I meant that I’d call him.
I should be annoyed, but instead, I run into his open arms.
“Missed you,” Derek says, not letting me go.
“We were supposed to talk over the phone.” I hug him back, taking in his sage and woodsy scent. I missed him a lot.
Which, as I discussed with Finnegan last week, shouldn’t be happening. I’m with Archer. Until they find a body or he comes back, I can’t let my heart fall for anyone. “Why are you here, D?”
“This is more than just choosing a logo or buying pens. And even then, you make me go to the store with you.” He sets me back on the ground, kissing my cheek. “You look good, Ms. Cooperson.”
I fix his dress shirt and smile. “You don’t look so bad, Dr. Farrow.”
He looks more than just good. Derek Farrow is handsome, confident, and charismatic.But you’re happily married to Archer, I remind myself.
Derek is just a friend. Do I like his company? I glance over at him, and I can’t help but smile. I do, and these past six weeks have been hell without him. There’s something about this guy that makes me feel at ease. I shouldn’t enjoy our time together but being with him is so easy.
“Where’s the realtor?” He looks around.
I shrug. “She said she’ll meet us here at ten.”
“Well, in the meantime, we can discuss this location. Are you sure you want us to buy here? There are too many businesses in the five-mile radius.”
“Businesses? What are we talking about?”
He points at the brick building where Decker Records is located. “At least five or six people have come out of there holding instruments. The building next to it is Colthurst Production. There’s some sort of school there… I googled it, and there’s a lot around. Is this sustainable?”
“Of course, it’s a great place.” I point at the record company. “That means we’re close to Decker Records, and some musicians might be willing to volunteer their time.Right behind us is the Decker Art Academy. This building just became available. Mom and I believe it’s a great location for the 0-18 practice here.” I tilt toward the academy. “My aunt can help if we’re close by. But there are other structures we can look at around the area if you’re not comfortable with it.”
“Who’ll buy this building if we don’t?”
“I got dibs, but someone in my family will get it. We Deckers like to work around each other and share resources.”
He scans the area. Pointing at my uncle’s building. It’s not too close, but anyone can see the glass and steel window with the HIB sign.
“That security company is for alarms and bodyguards, right?”
I nod. “I think so,” I feign ignorance. That’s the front, but there’s a subdivision that handles more than just security. They’re spies, agents… something in between. Uncle Mason calls it a high-security intelligence agency. “Does it matter that we’re close to it?”
He shrugs. “Will the children be comfortable here? Where do we want the facility for adults?”
“Personally, I think it’s a good location. There’s a house a few blocks from here that we can convert into a practice for adults.”
“A house?”
I frown. Maybe we should’ve discussed this before we contacted the realtor. “You don’t like the idea?”
“I’d rather have the house for the children and the building for the adults.”
“Why?”
“If there’s a backyard, I can expand the PT and OT programs.” He gives me a look. “We should consider that for the New York facility. I’m okay taking them to the park, but it’d be more practical if we have a space within the facility.”
“So, we’re looking for a house?”
He nods. “Let’s keep the building though.”
