River Town Box Set

by Grant C. Holland

  Alan killed time waiting for Wesley by researching the flowers of Mexico on his computer. He wanted to figure out the blossoms on Diego’s chest. Roses stretched up toward his shoulder, but Alan remembered other flowers that cascaded over Diego’s left pec. Alan knew they weren’t roses, but his memory was seven years old, and he didn’t know if the vision in his head was entirely accurate. He wanted to send a bouquet of flowers to the M-Trak offices. Alan was nearly settled on dahlias when he heard the buzz from Elaine.

  She said, “Mr. Tarrant is here. Should I send him in?”

  “I’ll meet him in the lobby.”

  As he approached, Alan read the concerned expression on Wesley Tarrant’s face. He was approaching age fifty, and his hairline receded significantly. It made the wrinkles in Wesley’s forehead readily apparent.

  The men shook hands, and without asking any other questions, Alan suggested that they step into the office to discuss any urgent issues.

  As Alan opened the door, Wesley said, “This isn’t a meeting that I wanted to have. Discussing difficult issues is never fun. I hope you had a good night last night and a pleasant morning before leaving for work.”

  Alan pushed the door shut and said, “Maybe I was right to be worried. Your mood sounds dire. Are you asking me to resign?”

  Wesley grabbed a chair and seated himself. He was a thin man and moved nimbly as he sat. “Oh, no, nothing like that. I’m sort of glad you jumped to that conclusion. Everything else will be better compared with that.”

  Instead of moving behind his desk, Alan decided to seat himself next to Wesley Tarrant. He glanced around his office and was acutely aware that it was still spartan in appearance. He made a personal note in his head to make changes soon as Diego suggested.

  Wesley said, “I’ve received a couple of complaints from our customer service department about our shipping practices.”

  Alan raised an eyebrow. “Were those forwarded to us? Elaine didn’t mention it. Everything that I’ve seen so far shows satisfaction up since I took over.”

  “Apparently, they only send you raw survey numbers. These were two specific written comments, and the department held onto them until they shared them with me.”

  Alan frowned. “What did we do? It must have been something big to justify this meeting.”

  “You recently approved a contract with a firm out of Red Wing called M-Trak, correct?”

  Alan sighed deeply. He knew what was coming next. He knew what the complaints were, and he wondered if Lewis was on a one-person rampage, or if he’d spread the word and inflamed more individuals. An image of peasants with pitchforks flashed through Alan’s mind. He said, “Yes, I did, and the contract will save us a significant amount of money.”

  “I assume you know that it is a Mexican-owned company.”

  “It’s owned by a permanent U.S. resident who was born in Mexico. He came here on an entrepreneur visa and fulfilled all of the qualifications to become a permanent resident. Is that what you wanted to know?”

  It felt good to defend Diego so forcefully. It sounded like the perfect little stump speech to give to anyone.

  Confusion reigned on Wesley’s face, and he began backtracking. “It’s not a company owned by someone outside the United States? The complaint implied that was the case. They asked why we were giving preference to foreign-owned companies over American companies. It sounds like the M-Trak owner might eventually become a U.S. citizen.”

  Alan nodded in agreement. “That’s quite possible. I haven’t asked him that question, but Diego is happy living here. His home is up in Red Wing. He left an unpleasant situation in Mexico to invest in our local economy.”

  A smile began to spread across Wesley’s face. “Do you know this man personally?”

  Alan swallowed hard before he replied. He knew there were so many things he could say about Diego, but he opted for a simple answer. “Yes, I do.”

  Wesley abruptly stood up from his chair. He said, “I think you know there could be some issues there, Alan. I suggest that we meet again soon. Thank you for your candor.”

  Alan stood as well and offered his hand. He held back a sigh and feared the worst would soon follow in the aftermath of their conversation. As they shook hands, Alan answered, “Yes, I agree, and I hope you have an outstanding day, Wesley.”

  Alan was surprised to hear a snicker. It was a crack in Wesley Tarrant’s all-business facade. “This is not the fun part of my job, so I’m expecting it to get better.” He pointed at the M-Trak truck model. “I do like that, but you need to make this office more welcoming. I suggest pictures on the wall or maybe a bookcase and a plant or two.”

  18

  Losing Business

  Diego gripped an unfolded sheet of white paper in his right hand as he approached Rhea’s desk. “Do you know anything about this?”

  “I try to make it my office policy to avoid reading your personal mail, so I think the answer is, ‘No.’”

  Diego shook the paper so that it rattled. “It’s from an office supply chain. It’s a letter from their President. He’s regretting to inform us.”

  “Cutting ties?”

  “Yes, but there is no information provided that would give us any idea why. I need to call Mr…” Diego held the paper closer to his face. “Erickson.”

  Rhea shrugged. “Perhaps they’ve changed their shipping plans, or it’s even possible they are considering closing down. Too many businesses have closed their doors in the last decade. I wouldn’t be happy to share that news in a letter to you.”

  “I hope you’re right,” grumbled Diego. The letter put him in a foul mood. He already lamented losing the emotional high from the date with Alan the night before. It only took seconds to order a big bouquet of roses for the object of his affection. The florist assured Diego that the blooms would arrive by 9:00 a.m.”

  “I did receive some good news just a few minutes ago,” said Rhea. “I hadn’t gotten around to contacting you yet.”

  Diego stopped before returning to his office. “I could use the good news. Don’t make me wait.”

  “Lexie Lester will be discharged from the hospital this afternoon. Her husband called me. She wanted to thank you for being there for them. I said that I’m sure that you would be happy to hear the excellent news.”

  Diego turned toward his office. “Thank you. I am happy, and I’ll stop by the hospital on my lunch hour. It’ll be good to see smiling faces.” He slammed the door of the office behind him and collapsed into his desk chair. The day was already exhausting, and it was barely past 9:00 a.m. Diego felt like he’d endured a week’s worth of internal turmoil in one morning.

  When he went to bed the night before, he could still taste Alan on his lips. The lips were soft, and Alan’s breath was sweet. It left Diego intoxicated. His head was in the clouds. He wanted to take Alan to bed, but he knew that he needed to proceed with care and move slowly. Diego didn’t know if his heart could handle Alan choosing to turn away.

  While punching the name of the office supply chain into his online address book, Diego tried to think through the questions to ask on the phone. He wanted to be polite but also indicate he was unhappy by the turn of the events. It wasn’t likely, but Diego always thought there was a chance to lure the customer back. It all depended on the reason for their departure.

  The company initially signed a direct contract, but after it expired, they used M-Trak as a shipper on an as-needed basis. Diego decided that it was possible he overlooked the need for constant customer service contact. He picked up the phone and called to speak with Andrew Erickson with apologies on his mind.

  Surprisingly, Diego detected nervousness in the man’s voice as soon as he knew who was speaking. Andrew said, “I’m sorry that we had to end our relationship. I do wish you the best.”

  “Is there something that I can make right to earn back your business, Mr. Erickson?” asked Diego.

  Diego counted to ten in the midst of the unusually long silence from the ot
her end. Finally, Andrew said, “No, I don’t think so. We need to make this change. I hope you understand.”

  Diego didn’t understand at all. In fact, he still had no information. Although he knew it was always best to stay positive and never be confrontational, he asked directly, “What did we do wrong?”

  Andrew’s speech was halting when he said, “It’s…um…it’s out of my hands. I was…told to make this change. Some…of my investors are selective about…our contracts.”

  Anger welled up inside Diego. He’d encountered a similar attitude before. It happened the first time just six weeks after M-Trak opened for business. Diego made cold calls, and the shipping manager of an agriculture supply company said no almost immediately after Diego began speaking. He called Diego later from his personal phone and explained the “difficulty” of hiring a Mexican-owned shipping company in southern Minnesota.

  With his right hand trembling, Diego said, “Thank you for speaking with me. If you need anything from us in the future or you are disappointed with the choice of another shipping agent, please don’t hesitate to speak with us. May we keep you on our mailing list?”

  An audible sigh of relief traveled through the phone line. “Yes, of course, and I wish M-Trak all the best. I will deliver positive comments if anyone asks about our experience.”

  Diego wanted to say, “You can challenge your bigoted investors, too,” but he knew that the new contract with Tar-Mor would more than make up for the loss of business with Mr. Erickson’s company.

  After hanging up the phone, Diego leaned back in his desk chair and closed his eyes. He chose to purchase the chair specifically for comfort and how it seemed to cradle his body in any pose. He closed his eyes and thought of cuddling up close to Alan. It didn’t take long for his thoughts to drift into the carnal realm. He imagined himself placing kisses down the center of Alan’s chest working his way lower until he tasted the sweetness of Alan’s other head.

  Diego’s hands reached inside his sports jacket, and he began to rub his chest. His nipples were firm poking into the cotton of his shirt as he thought about the taste of Alan’s lips and imagined the heady scent of his skin. His daydream was interrupted by a tone that indicated the arrival of a new personal email message.

  Opening his eyes and leaning forward, Diego pulled up his account. He grinned from ear to ear when he saw that the message was from Alan. It read:

  “Thank you so much for the roses. The office has such a delicious scent. Elaine and I have been enjoying it all morning long. When will you be in my area next?”

  Diego considered sending a quick message in response, but he decided that it would be too dull and wouldn’t come close to expressing his true feelings. An appropriate response required more thought. He knew that he had other work to do, but Diego dove head first into searching for the best online greeting card to accompany his return message.

  19

  A Dinner Invitation

  Desire and defiance combined to keep Diego constantly on Alan’s mind. He didn’t prepare for such powerful emotions bubbling away in his gut. Most of his life he placed a comfortable distance between himself and anything that could cause emotional upset or pain. It also kept away any ecstatic moments of joy.

  Somehow, Diego’s return to Alan’s life was breaking through all of those boundaries, and the forces attempting to keep them apart only succeeded in making the attraction stronger. To prove to himself that he wouldn’t give in to bullying, Alan called Diego at his office.

  “Alan? How’s the sexy gringo? I hope you received my message.”

  Diego’s voice acted like a comforting blanket. Alan didn’t know whether it was buried memories about surviving the gun battle with Diego at his side or the pleasing sound of his accent. Something about the conversation calmed the turmoil inside.

  “I’m doing well. Thank you for the flowers and the kind greeting card. You mentioned that you’re planning on being down in Zephyr this evening. Would you have dinner with me in Coldbrook Bend?”

  “Can I confess to subterfuge?” asked Diego.

  “You’re trying to secretly seduce me? It’s not as secret as you might think, and if you are, it’s working.”

  “Aha!” exclaimed Diego. “Yes, I didn’t have previous plans to be in your area, but I hoped my claims would win me company for dinner. Is there a good restaurant in your town?”

  “Yes, and I believe it comes with a resident hound dog.”

  Alan counted to ten as silence reigned over the phone connection. Diego finally asked, “Are you inviting me to your place?”

  “Yes, and please bring a bottle of wine. This time make it your choice.”

  “Pinot noir, the wine of romance,” purred Diego.

  Alan left work early and returned home by 3:00 p.m. Boomer didn’t greet him at the door. Alan was early. Boomer was a creature of habit. Alan called for the dog and heard the distinctive jingling sounds of collar tags from upstairs. When Boomer finally made it to the kitchen, he looked up at Alan with confusion in his eyes.

  On the thirty-minute walk with Boomer, Alan considered the options for dinner with Diego. At the worst, they could order out pizza and forego any cleanup in the kitchen. However. Alan wanted something more impressive. He tried to remember exactly what he had available to determine whether a quick grocery run was necessary.

  Although Alan served his dinner two hours early, Boomer didn’t hesitate to gobble it down. After he licked his bowl, he walked over to Alan to look up and request a treat with his bloodshot eyes.

  Alan pointed his finger and said, “Now, make sure you behave this evening. Give Diego his space. Tonight is an important evening for me. I want him to feel comfortable. No slobbering on his shoes or begging for his dinner.”

  Boomer whined in response. He wasn’t concerned about later in the evening. He was concerned about a treat.

  “Okay, yes you get a treat, but remember what I said, or you’ll have to spend the evening in the backyard.” Alan opened the cabinet door below the sink and pulled out a bone-shaped treat. Boomer dutifully took it from between Alan’s fingers and wandered off into the living room to enjoy his dessert.

  Alan confirmed that he had shrimp in the freezer, and he kept grits in the cupboard to make the dish he learned to cook at age thirteen when the military stationed his father in the south. He had lettuce for a fresh green salad and frozen green beans for another vegetable on the side.

  Alan exhaled knowing that he didn’t need a trip to the grocery store. Since the encounter with Lewis, he was doing his grocery shopping in Zephyr before returning home from work, but he didn’t think about stopping amid his rush to be home early. Before closing the refrigerator door, Alan checked to make sure he had eggs and bacon available for breakfast just in case.

  Diego arrived with perfect timing. Alan wasn’t yet cooking anything, but he had everything prepared and laid out in a perfect mise en place. The salad was tossed and ready with a quick custard for dessert setting up in the refrigerator.

  As Alan opened the front door, Diego thrust a bouquet of a dozen red roses into his arms. He carried a bottle of pinot noir in his opposite hand. Alan gasped, smiled, and took the roses saying, “You spoil me, Diego! Follow me to the kitchen so I can welcome you properly after I put these in some water.”

  Boomer stepped into Diego’s path angling for his own greeting. As Alan continued into the kitchen, Diego squatted down and rubbed Boomer’s head. He whispered, “I’m betting that the path to this man’s heart makes a stop at his handsome dog.”

  Boomer blinked his eyes in response and sighed with a moan of satisfaction. As Diego stood, Boomer ambled off to one of his beds placed near the living room sofa and curled up to take a nap.

  Alan busied himself putting a pot of water on the stovetop to boil. Diego walked up behind him, slipped his arms around Alan’s torso and planted a kiss on the side of his neck. He whispered, “Thank you for the invitation. I think we’ll both make this evening one to remember.”


  Alan placed the lid on the pot and turned around. “That’s why I invited you. I thought we needed to make some positive memories.”

  Diego sighed. “I’m worried about you. I almost decided to stay away, and I considered asking you to come to Red Wing. I don’t want to cause you any trouble here in your new hometown.”

  Alan shook his head as Diego spoke. “I won’t let them drag me down. In fact, it may only be one person. I moved here to live my own life and be part of a charming little town. I’m nowhere close to giving up.”

  Diego started to respond saying, “But…”

  Alan’s heated kiss drowned any additional words. Soon, Diego’s sports coat tumbled to the kitchen floor, and Alan’s fingers unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.

  As Alan kissed the side of Diego’s neck, Diego whispered, “The change. What happened?”

  “I can’t deny it anymore,” moaned Alan.

  “You’re coming to your senses?” asked Diego.

  Alan shook his head. “I already knew how I felt about you, but I wanted to deny it. I wanted to protect my job. I didn’t want to cause problems for you.” Alan leaned down to kiss Diego’s collarbone and pulled him close with an arm wrapped around his back.

  “I’ll keep you safe,” whispered Diego. Alan had never heard those words from anyone before. They tore an emotional gash into his heart that felt like it bore deep into his soul. A single tear rolled from his eye before he could stop it. “Is something wrong?” asked Diego as he stopped the flow of the tear with his fingertip.

  “Kiss me,” whispered Alan.

  20