Everything had happened so fast Nevis felt almost breathless. She hadn’t even met Bronx a couple of days ago, and now she’d agreed to stay with them and help set up a branch of the Hot Springs Wolf Pack transportation business with them.
And possibly mate them as well.
Fucking hell. I think I need my head read. I must have been insane to agree to this. I don’t even know these men.
Chapter Three
Bronx called Trenton. He could hear the helicopter blades whirring in the background of the call.
“We’re not quite finished here yet. I should be there in forty to fifty minutes though.”
“That’s not a problem. We’ll see you then.”
Mike dropped them off at Pine Corner Plaza and pointed to the road they’d need to take them back to their property for Trenton to pick them up. Bronx waved Nevis to enter the hotel first then followed York into the reception area. It wasn’t a tiny country hotel, but it wasn’t like one in a major city either. It was only two stories high and he guessed it would have less than fifty rooms.
“Help ya?” asked a gum-chewing older man doing a crossword puzzle.
“Hi, I’m Bronx. My partners and I have just acquired the old warehouse on the edge of town and we’ll be setting up a branch of Hot Springs Transportation there. We’ll need rooms for a few days until the trailer there is ready for us to move into.”
“Transportation, eh? Well likely y’all have no trouble getting the furnishings delivered. You want I can give you the number for Jen’s Cleaning? She’ll have the place looking good before the cat can lick her ear.”
“Mike already gave us her number, thank you. I’ll contact her as soon as we’re done here.”
The old man nodded and waggled the computer mouse before tapping on a few keys. “I’ll put you on the ground floor. If you’re gonna be in and out all day you won’t want to be walking up and down the stairs all the time.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate it. The place we’ve just come from has no elevator and it’s hell carrying luggage up and down all the time.” Bronx remembered he hadn’t contacted anyone about an elevator for the hot springs building yet and made a mental note to do that while he waited for Trenton to return for them.
“How many car parking spaces you need? Three?”
Bronx hadn’t even thought of that. “We came by helicopter today but we’ll need to buy a couple of cars I guess. Say three, and I’ll let you know.”
“If you came by ’copter how you getting home?”
“We’ll walk back to the warehouse and the pilot will pick us up there.”
“I’ll drive you there. I’ve always wanted to see one of them things up close. James!”
The last word was a positive shriek. Bronx had to stop himself taking a couple of steps back from the desk. A teenage boy stuck his head around the door.
“What, Grandpa?”
“Mind the desk. I gotta give these folks a ride to their helicopter.”
“Helicopter? Can I come, too?”
“Who’ll mind the desk?”
“Mom!”
This time Bronx was half expecting the yell and it didn’t seem to pierce his eardrums so much. He had to hide his smile though when “Mom” expressed an interest in seeing the chopper as well and a lively argument ensued until the two males outvoted her.
“Stand at your doorway and I’ll ask the pilot to overfly the town,” he said to the woman.
The moment they climbed into Grandpa’s truck, the kid pulled his cell phone out of his jeans pocket and started texting like crazy. Bronx got the idea half the town would be standing in the street by the time Trenton arrived. If Andorra was flying it he hoped like hell she’d be able to put on a good show for the people. Or perhaps he’d better suggest to Trenton he do the flying? Yeah, that might be smarter. It was pretty much a free advertisement for Hot Springs Transportation, after all.
As Mike had promised, it only took a few minutes to reach their new property. Once they arrived Bronx said, “Nevis, can you talk to Jen’s Cleaning, please?”
“Sure. Do you want the warehouse swept and the windows there washed as well?”
“Actually that’s a good idea. Thanks.”
“York, can you please find out about security fences. There might be a company here in town we can use. I need to talk to Trenton.”
He waited until York nodded, then moved aside from the group of them all standing in the parking lot at the warehouse, and called Trenton again.
“Don’t be impatient. We’re only five minutes away.”
“That’s fine. I just wanted to tell you that about half the town wants to see the helicopter. Can you overfly the town please, maybe put on a bit of a display? It’s all good advertising for the company.”
“What? Now you think I’m a one-man stunt pilot show?”
“Thanks, Trenton. I appreciate it.”
“Sure you do.”
When he walked back to the group, Nevis said, “Jen’s coming herself with her best team the day after tomorrow.”
“And the fence people will drop by tomorrow afternoon to quote for the work,” added York.
Bronx grinned at them both. Everything was coming together really well. His new life was about to begin. Originally he’d thought to do most of the simple physical labor himself, but it made much more sense to use the local businesspeople. It gave him a chance to talk to them, to get to know them, and to make friends. Also, it meant far more people would be aware the new transportation company had set up a branch in town, because of word of mouth from all those companies he’d contacted. Every member of Jen’s cleaning crew would tell their friends they’d worked on the trailer, he was sure of that.
“Can you both get packed this evening so we can move in tomorrow morning?” he asked York and Nevis.
“I’ve only got a couple of suitcases at the hot springs. All my things are in storage because I ended the lease on my apartment when I stopped work,” said Nevis.
“I’ll go get your belongings as soon as I pick up the truck from the Flinders Branch. It’ll be our first job. Then I’ll collect all my own things,” he promised.
“You can help me carry all my stuff up the stairs to the helicopter,” said York.
“Oh gods, those stairs!” groaned Bronx.
Everyone laughed but he ignored them. He was too busy calling the elevator company.
* * * *
York guessed Bronx had asked Trenton to do some fancy flying to entertain the people of Pine Corner, so he was looking up at the sky when the helicopter first came into sight. It wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t been watching because the boy from the motel gave a great shout and pointed to it anyway. Trenton flew high over the town, then dropped lower circling around, and finally came down along the main street so low he had to lift up again to pass by the church. He circled back once again and hovered really close to the ground outside the elementary school, before rising again and landing at the warehouse.
Of course York couldn’t see him all the time, but he knew every move Trenton made as the boy was talking to his friends on speaker phone on his cell, and even the old man had a cell phone and was talking to “Mom” back at the hotel, who was giving him all the details.
Nevis whispered in his ear, “I don’t think there’ll be anyone within a hundred miles of Pine Corner who doesn’t know we’re establishing a branch here now.”
“Yes. You can’t buy publicity like this. Everyone will be talking about us. We need to get our truck really fast and start work now.”
“It’s a girl! The pilot’s a girl!” shrieked the teenager into his cell phone, racing toward the helicopter and taking photos of Andorra in the pilot’s seat.
Bronx grabbed the boy’s arm and held on tightly. “Don’t get too close to the propellers.”
The kid nodded but never stopped videoing the pilots stepping out of the helicopter and the machine itself.
Nevis ran across and hugged Andorra. York wan
ted to congratulate her as well. She hadn’t been flying very long and even if Trenton had helped her, she was a damn fast learner. He also guessed that her latest landing would be uploaded onto YouTube any minute now for all the teenager’s friends to see.
Trenton patiently let the old man and his grandson look inside the cabin of the helicopter, then he waved at the rest of them to get aboard. Bronx shook everyone’s hand and they took off again. Once again Andorra was doing the flying and she flew slowly and low over the town before rising higher and heading for Hot Springs Mountain.
All York’s possessions were at the mountain, but they’d need to go get Nevis’s property, which was in storage, and Bronx’s things. York supposed they’d put what they didn’t need in the warehouse and swap things around if they found something wasn’t working out for them.
York lifted Bronx’s ear protector and spoke right into his ear. “I hope you’ve got a large bed.”
Bronx grinned at him. “Maybe we should just buy one new. What are those really large beds called? California King Size? We could get one of them.”
York had checked with Mike, the realtor, to make sure there was excellent, fast Internet available on site. He simply couldn’t work remotely from the mountain without it. He’d Googled a few things on his cell phone while they were there and it’d worked fine so he felt pretty confident about it.
When they got back to the mountain, Bronx started talking to Trenton about taking them and York’s luggage back to Pine Corner in the morning, and Nevis grabbed Andorra to congratulate her on her flying. York found himself half listening to both conversations wanting to know the outcomes of both discussions. Also, despite a delicious breakfast and a calorie-laden midday snack, he was hungry again. They likely needed to talk about who would do what once they were living together. Would they take turns doing laundry and cooking meals? And when would they take the road trip to collect Nevis and Bronx’s things? Should he stay behind at the site while the others did that? Or would just Bronx go? No, that wouldn’t work. Nevis would have to sign for her own furniture.
York realized he didn’t want to be left behind. He wanted to go with them too. It wasn’t logical. He supposed someone should remain their new property, be there to answer any questions from potential clients. But he wanted to be with the others. He wouldn’t even mind having a few lessons on how to drive the truck. He knew they had a lot of gears. But apart from that, surely driving one couldn’t be too difficult. He’d driven a stick shift for years, so he did have the necessary skills. Well, probably he did.
He tapped Nevis on the shoulder. “We three need to talk. How about I go grab a couple of pizzas and you both wait for me here in the roof garden? What kind of pizza do you want?”
“I don’t mind. No anchovies and no olives though.”
He nodded and headed for the stairs, running down three flights and making his way to the food area of the building. It was a bit late for lunch but he knew the chefs would still be there. He also knew Bronx would eat just about anything, so if they were running low on some ingredients it didn’t really matter.
He chose a pepperoni and parmesan cheese pizza, a chicken and cherry tomato pizza with garlic prawns, and one with the lot—except anchovies and olives. There had to be something there she’d like. As he ran back up the stairs to the roof, he began to understand why Bronx and Raleigh constantly complained about the lack of an elevator. Oh, well, his new job didn’t involve stairs so it was all good.
The garden occupied maybe a quarter of the roof of the building, tucked in the corner by the door to the stairs. A veritable forest of small trees, flowering shrubs, and flowers were in raised garden beds, and people often sat on the flat wooden plant boxes to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. By the time he arrived back with the food, Nevis and Bronx were sitting on one such wooden plant box, looking out over the metal railing at the mountain surrounding them.
“I’ll miss the scenery here,” said Nevis.
“We’ll find other scenic places in our new home,” replied Bronx grabbing one of the boxes of pizza.
“I probably shouldn’t be eating anything after that pastry.” Nevertheless Nevis chose a slice of chicken pizza.
“If you come to bed with us tonight, I’m sure we’ll find some fun ways of burning off the calories,” said York.
She shook her head at him. “I have to pack up all my stuff, remember.”
Yes. He had to pack as well and he was certain it was going to take him way longer than it’d take her.
“When are you and Chandler, the mechanic, going to Flinders to pick up our B-Train, Bronx?”
“I’m thinking two days after tomorrow. Trenton will take us to the site tomorrow. If we meet him up here at nine, it’ll take a little while to load and unload all our gear. Then we need to buy a couple of cars and be back at the site for the fencing people. The next day the cleaners are coming. So the day after that I can drive one of our cars to Flinders with Chandler, and I’ll come back in the truck while Chandler drives our car back.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I think we should buy a minivan and a small car. We can use the minivan to pick up parcels and small loads instead of having to buy a utility trailer or bring out the big truck. The small car will be for running around town to meet clients and do chores. We can take the small car to Flinders and put it on the truck to bring it back. Chandler could fly back to the mountain while we come home via my storage unit and your apartment, Bronx, and collect everything in one trip,” said Nevis.
“That’s an excellent idea, Nevis.” Damn this woman was smart. He’d never have thought of that in a million years.
Bronx was staring at her too, admiration on his face. “I wonder if there’s a sign writer in town who could paint the company logo on the vehicles for us?”
“I bet there is. It’s not a big town, but it’s not too small either. Actually, I’m starting to think it’s just about the perfect size. Big enough to have all the major facilities, yet small enough we can get to know people,” added York.
“After Andorra and Trenton’s stunt with the helicopter today everyone will know who we are at any rate.” Nevis giggled.
“Hell, yes.” Bronx grabbed the last slice of pizza from the box and bit into it.
York sighed. I was going to eat that piece of pie.
* * * *
Nevis looked around her room. All the closets and drawers were empty. She’d checked everything twice already. She’d arrived with two suitcases full of things and that was how she was leaving. But she’d also arrived weighed down with stress, and unsure of her future. Just wanting to step out of the world and get her head on straight. To find some serenity, peace, and purpose again. Well that she’d done and in spades. She’d found two delicious men who wanted to be with her. Men who’d kissed and fingered her to two shattering climaxes in the hot spring. And men who she was now about to live with in a town small enough she couldn’t disappear if she decided they didn’t suit her after all. It really would be a test for all of them to make the relationship work. Otherwise she’d have to leave the area completely. But then, that was pretty much what she’d done when she’d packed up her apartment to come here to the hot springs in the first place.
She was ready now for a new beginning. A fresh start in life with two men to be at her side, and a whole new business to focus on. Undoubtedly she’d go back to working in speech therapy once the transportation company was on its feet, but she was more than happy to be their Girl Friday until they were organized enough not to need her. She was looking forward to finding her way around town and meeting people, and to helping out in the office. Even making coffee for potential clients. Although she’d put on far too much weight if she started taking them to the French bakery. Perhaps Mike had been a skinny young man before he started using the place as his office away from the office.
She giggled. Then stopped. That was twice in two days she’d been giggling. When she came here she could hardly even crack a sm
ile. She really must be ready for this new venture even though it came with two almost unknown men. No, that wasn’t fair. York wasn’t unknown. She’d been playing cards with him every week for months. But Bronx, him she didn’t know a whole lot about. Ah well, she’d have a road trip to learn more about them both as they brought her furniture and all Bronx’s things back to the warehouse. Then they’d have to look at and measure everything, to decide what to use and what to discard. She wasn’t emotionally attached to her furnishings. She’d be happy enough to donate what they didn’t need to a charity. Or sell it on eBay. Whatever.
Just then someone knocked on her door. She opened it to find Bronx. “What would you like me to carry for you?” he asked.
“Don’t you have your own luggage to worry about?”
“Only one suitcase and I’ve already taken it up to the roof. When I arrived it was packed with things I was bringing here to show Kingston, so it’s not heavy anymore. Now, where’s your luggage?”
“It’s just these two suitcases. Thank you.” She put the strap of her laptop over her shoulder, snatched up her purse and walked to the door.
“You came here for three months with just two suitcases?”
“Almost four months. That’s right.”
“Wow. How big is your storage locker then?”
She shut the door behind him and followed him along the corridor and up the stairs. “I only had a one-bedroom apartment, so not that huge. What about your apartment?”
“Mine’s two bedroom, but one room was set up as an office. Most of that furniture will likely become our office furniture I guess. There’s probably a fair bit of stuff to throw away, and old files to shred. I’ll bring it all to Pine Corner and do that when I’m not busy in the office.”
Despite carrying both her cases he kept talking as they went up the stairs to the roof. He’s actually pretty fit as well as big.
Undone by Her Two Masters [The Wolf Masters 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 4