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“Occasionally. The owners don’t want to sell, but periodically they’ll lease the space out. I get lucky and get rental time in late November, early December.”
The way he said it put my train of thought back on the tracks. “How long has it been empty?”
He gave his chin a solid rub. “Gosh, two, maybe three years?”
“Where did you run the workshops before?” As there was no way there was room in the flower shop.
“Use to run it out of Carl’s place up on Mountain Lane. He’d rent us the space on the main floor to use on condition the customers also ordered something. It was one-night mid-week, not the five we run now, but it was pricey. Oh, boy. One night there was two-thirds the cost of the full week here, so I reached out to Lexington, that’s the owners of this place,” he waved his hand around the workshop space, “and inquired. The rest they say is history.”
“And he or she holds onto the space for years? Seems like bad business, especially if they can’t sell.”
“For some, I s’pose but whatever. Ain’t my business because I get a monster of a deal when I need it.”
“I’ll bet.” I glanced around the space, taking it in, and imagining bigger and better ideas.
It was huge, and if a boutique was here, they had to have had a lot of products on display. I could imagine walls lined with tubes of lipstick, blush, mascara, and all the pretty things.
Like a bolt of lightning, I suddenly saw the space filled with hardware items like my dad sold, with a table in the middle for customers to work on small projects. Dad had always enjoyed helping a neighbour construct a birdhouse or having a few kids make their own toolboxes or tic-tac-toe games. Helping with those had been interesting, and a deep well of nostalgia filled me as I recalled all the fun we used to have. Working in the hardware store hadn’t been work for Dad, it was a passion. And reviewing tonight’s workshop, I had channelled that passion too. Suddenly the job wasn’t work; it was fun.
The rental space was roughly the same size as Gallagher’s, maybe a hair bigger, but Dad’s shop had also been in a bigger city, so if he hadn’t carried something, someone else did.
Was seeing this workshop space in a new light a sign of some sort? In a long list of impulsive things, leasing or renting or buying this space would be one of the most spontaneous things I’ve ever done. But could it be fun? Could I make it work?
It would be hard getting it all started, but I wasn’t beneath putting in the hours - if that’s what I truly wanted. The money was there, waiting for just the right thing, that’s what I’d promised Dad. For now, though, it was a thought, and before I let the idea run away, I needed to let it percolate a bit.
* * *
The most handsome angel to ever walk on the Earth knocked on my motel door at precisely five-thirty the next evening.
Steeling my breath, I opened the non-creaking door and invited him in.
“Hey, brew-tiful.”
It never failed to send a rush of warmth throughout my body at hearing him callmegorgeous.
“I love what you’ve done with the place. The door doesn’t squeak.” Glancing around with a solid nod he took off his toque and stuffed it into his pocket. “And… I see you tidied this time.”
“This timeI was actually expecting company.”
He stared over my shoulder and stalked to the kitchen sink. “No way! You weren’t kidding when you said you still had this.”
“Did you think I lied?”
He admired the mug, giving it a solid once over before he set it down on top of a stack of newspapers. “Nah, it’s not in you.” After staring at it for a few heartbeats, he wrapped his arms around my waist and tucked me perfectly into his arms. “Are you ready for tonight?”
“Since I have no idea what to expect, my expectations are low.”
“Oh?” He raised a brow.
“Then everything that happens will be perfect and magical.”
“Well, now you’re really raising the bar.” A light laugh made his eyes twinkle. “Perfect and magical aren’t two words normally associated with my dates.”
“They are when I look back upon ours.” I wasn’t prepared for the sweet expression growing full strength, but seeing it made my insides all tingly yet powerful. “And… besides, Nina said that’s where she met her true love.”
“You think you’ll meet your true love there?”
I shrugged and grinned, tipping my chin down. “Maybe, but I think I’ve already met him.”
