Alex glanced at him, surprised. “The plan is to have a massive marketing push for the community center Bernie, Del, and Bur built, starting a month before the center is to open. It’s opening on August thirteenth, to be precise. It’s only the beginning of June. They just started putting in the interior items for the center. I wanted pictures of the various rooms already set up on some of the items.”
“We got the pictures you wanted. Eric convinced them to set up a few of the rooms right away so he could get pictures. I was there, and I swear, I don’t know how the hell he did it. That boy can talk fast.” Dustin shook his head.
Alex sat back in his chair. “Eric got Sheldon to move up his time frame for setting up rooms in the center?” Alex grinned. “For that alone, I’m giving him a bonus.”
“I already planned on us doing that. Just waiting to discuss with you how much. The look on Sheldon’s face after he agreed was priceless. I don’t think he planned on doing it.” Dustin chuckled.
“Good for Eric. I want you and Eric to fill me in on what you all di—” The phone on his desk buzzed, interrupting him. Alex lifted his finger, signaling Dustin to give him a minute. “Yes, Susan.”
“You have a visitor.”
Alex frowned, glanced at the time, and then replied, “I’ll be right out.” He released the button, then focused on Dustin. “Eric left for lunch earlier. I’m going to head out too, and we can meet up after lunch.”
Dustin stood, nodding. Alex rose and shrugged into his jacket, then straightened his tie before joining Dustin at the other side of his desk. They strolled out of his office together, then parted ways as Dustin went to his office across the hall. As Alex went down the hall, he smiled at the comfortable office space. He was still getting used to working in an office. When he was in Rhode Island, he had worked out of his home and usually went to his clients’ offices. Since moving to Mapson, he’d decided to take on more clients and go after larger corporations, which meant taking on a business partner and opening offices that would house Creative Edge, their marketing firm. A lot had changed since he came to Mapson.
Alex exited into the reception area and stopped when he saw the man leaning against the desk, waiting for him.
Leslie straightened and strolled toward him with a deceptively lazy gait. “This is the time you usually go to lunch. I’m here to take you.”
“I really need to have a talk with Robin about telling you my business,” Alex retorted.
“He didn’t know he was telling me. I’m good at getting information out of people without them even knowing it.” Leslie hooked his thumbs into the loops of his jeans.
Alex stared, wondering how he could get out of going to lunch. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours yet, and he hadn’t had time to prepare what he would say to Leslie.
Leslie studied him and could see indecision on his face. “Just lunch, nothing fancy. I’ll drive and take you to my garage, and we’ll eat lunch my brother will deliver to us. Then I’ll bring you back to work. Oh, I did call and ask Robert what kind of sandwiches you enjoy. Come have lunch with me, Alex.” Leslie held out his hand.
Alex studied his long, elegant-looking fingers, then laced his between them. The calluses on Leslie’s hand rubbed on his as Leslie led him out the door.
Chapter Three
TEN MINUTES later, Alex followed Leslie into Hannigan’s—his garage.
“I’m taking you through the work area instead of through the office entrance. This is where the magic happens.” Leslie gestured around and beckoned for him to follow.
Alex walked beside him as Leslie gave him the tour and introduced him to the rest of his employees. The size of Leslie’s business was impressive, and most of what he described Alex didn’t understand. Leslie’s voice revealed his pride as he spoke of his business.
“Leslie!” Terry called from across the garage.
“Give me a sec.” Leslie moved over to join Terry beside the car he was working on.
They were too far away for Alex to hear what they were saying. Turning his attention back to the rest of the garage, Alex watched all the activity going on around him, and what came to mind was organized chaos. Leslie employed over seventy full-time people and some part-timers who worked in the actual garage. The office staff made up another fifteen people. The building was massive enough that every mechanic who worked there had their own work area, consisting of their individual tools, work counters, and cabinets for parts, and numerous other items Alex didn’t recognize. Between the individual work areas was a black track, which Leslie had explained was always kept clear and used to drive whatever transportation needed to be moved in or out. Hannigan’s handled many types of vehicles.
“Sorry about that,” Leslie said, returning to his side.
“No problem.”
Leslie continued walking, and Alex followed. Leslie stopped in front of an area.
“This is my space.”
It was the largest space, and Alex could see it was set up as his garage now was with tools set in the specific way Leslie seemed to like them to be. “You really are particular about your work space.” He chuckled.
“I’m sure your office at work is set up how you want it.”
Alex couldn’t disagree, because it was.
“Lunch should be here by now. We’ll eat in my office.” Leslie went to a door at the back of his work area and opened it.
Alex went through the open doorway and realized it wasn’t a hall as he’d assumed, but led directly into what had to be Leslie’s office.
“My other space, go ahead and look around.” Leslie gestured but didn’t move from where he stood.
Curiously, Alex explored the office. The bookcases were filled with manuals and paper. The desk was an executive setup complete with credenza, hutch, and file drawers. An entertainment center was positioned so it could be viewed from the desk or sitting area, which had couches, chairs, and a center table. There was also a round table with chairs close between the sitting area and entertainment center. Even with the large size of the furniture, the office had lots of space. Alex heard the door open behind him and glanced toward it just as someone came in.
“Why are you delivering my lunch?” Leslie grabbed the bag of food from his brother Mackenzie.
“I own Bacchus Sloan and can do anything I want. Maybe I just wanted to see my big brother.” Mackenzie wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
Alex was surprised. He’d assumed Mackenzie was older.
“Why is it you only call yourself little brother when you’re up to mischief?” Leslie placed the bag on the table and started unpacking it.
“Because it works in limited use. Hey, Alex.” Mackenzie waved.
“Afternoon, Mackenzie. It’s nice of you to bring our lunch by. How much is my share?” Alex pulled out his wallet.
“Put your money away, Hayes,” Leslie snapped.
“Don’t mind him.” Mackenzie pushed Leslie on the shoulder. “He gets cranky when he’s hungry. If you want him to be nice… well, nice might be a stretch. He’s sort of moody. More like to make him sort of civil, you just feed him. He’s really a good guy.”
“Are you telling me all this for a reason? A bet, perhaps?” Alex asked.
Their group’s tendency to bet on matchups had become a common thing. So far Ramirez had been the winner, and everyone wanted to break his streak.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Mackenzie smiled an innocent smile similar to Leslie’s.
“Yeah, right. What’s the bet this time?”
“There is no bet,” the Hannigan brothers said together.
“I don’t believe you.”
Leslie shrugged, not replying as he folded the now-empty bag and placed it on a chair.
“There is no bet. I promise.” Mackenzie lifted his hand, palm up, then lowered it. “No one would be stupid enough to bet on anything to do with Leslie, especially Ramirez.”
“Why?” Alex studied Leslie, noting the slight smile on his lips.
“Hey, she found you under a bush. At least that’s what I thought, because I swear I didn’t want another sibling. I already had a sister and three brothers and didn’t need another.” Leslie poked at Mackenzie’s side.
“Well, you got me and two more sisters, so there.”
Alex did the math. “Wait. There are eight of you? I’ve only met three… well, actually four, counting Leslie.”
“The rest of them don’t live in Mapson. You’ll meet them when they come for holidays or some family get-together. I’ve got to get back to the restaurant.” Mackenzie waved and left.
Alex frowned at Mackenzie’s assumption he would be around.
“Stop thinking so hard and come eat. Mackenzie was in a good mood. He even got caramel cookies from Kenton.” Leslie sat at the table and opened the wrapper of his sandwich. “Mackenzie lied about why there is no bet.” The same slight smile was on his lips.
Alex joined him, opening his own sandwich. “Why isn’t there a bet?”
Leslie took a bite of his sandwich before answering. “All my friends know I was born lucky.”
Alex snorted.
“It’s true. As Mama is always telling me, ‘Leslie, you are my unique child.’” Leslie chuckled. “Now, we all know she tells that to all of us, since she doesn’t have favorites, but she has a different reason for why each of us is special. What about your family? Tell me about them.”
Alex lowered his sandwich at the abrupt change of topic. “My parents and sister died in a car crash when I was nineteen. I have some cousins, but we’re not close. Robin and his family became my family then.” He smiled. “They tend to be even bossier than our poker crew family.”
“Really? Wow, that is… a frightening thing to even contemplate.” Leslie covered Alex’s hand with his. “I’m sorry about your family.” He lifted his hand, reaching for his drink. “Anyway, back to why Mama said I was special. She would say, in that sweet tone of hers that made us want to confess all our sins, even those we didn’t have, ‘Leslie, you’re my unique child. You can take things apart, and yet somehow convince the owner that it was their idea or for their own good. I swear, son, you’re going to get your butt kicked when you do that to the wrong person.’” Leslie grinned. “It hasn’t happened yet, and to make sure it never does, my mama taught me to fight dirty.”
“It sounds like you got your penchant for trouble from your mother.” Alex laughed, imagining a little Leslie getting into mischief. “You were taking things apart when you were a kid?”
“I was about nine when I took apart my dad’s car.”
“No way.”
“Yes, but I did it because Mackenzie, Ramirez, and the Rodriguezes dared me to do it. Anyway, it was my dad’s fault; he taught me how. I just did what he showed me to. He wasn’t even mad. He was proud, strutting around the neighborhood, telling all the neighbors about his genius mechanic in the making. They were all in awe of my talent but warned Dad to keep me away from their cars. He just told them I would put them back together,” Leslie grinned. “Which I did. The next year I spent taking apart each and every car I could find of our family and friends. The cars ran better when I finished too.”
“You were a precocious child.”
“I was a brat and pitched a fit when I thought they were not treating their cars correctly.”
Alex sipped his soda. “That hasn’t changed. Do you take after your dad? Is your dad a mechanic too?”
“We all take after him in some way. Sometimes he’s a mechanic and comes in and works here. Other times, he’s a chef and goes to Mackenzie. Or if he feels like being a dog trainer and breeder, he goes to my little sis. Even a businessman, and then he sits in on meetings with my older brother. When he drops by any of our businesses, he’ll be what we are. My dad is a unique man too. Mama says that’s why she married him and has such unique children.”
They chuckled. Leslie continued his stories of his family and his life, also drawing some info out about Alex. From the corner of his eye, Alex saw something. He glanced toward Leslie’s desk and saw a fur-covered nose poke out from under it, then disappear.
“Leslie, do you have a dog?”
“Yes. How’d—” He looked toward the desk. “I forgot he was hiding under there. Come out, Cuda. It’s safe for now.”
“What breed of dog is he? Why is he hiding?” Alex stared as the regal-looking dog came toward them.
The dog’s long coat looked silky, with a slight wavy texture, and was a rich, deep gold with white.
“He’s a Borzoi and he’s hiding from my sister. The one I mentioned who is a dog trainer and breeder. She enters the dogs in shows and races. She gave Cuda to me and comes sometimes to take him to shows.” Leslie lowered his voice. “He doesn’t think I know, but he only acts like he doesn’t like it. He actually does.” He spoke normally again. “So we hide him out here so she can’t find him.”
Cuda woofed and put his head on Alex’s knee. Alex petted him.
“The desk is not a very good hiding place. She could just look under it.”
“Oh no. Since the Herman incident, she’d never go under the desk again.”
“Herman? Is he another dog?” Alex glanced at Leslie. “From that grin, I don’t think he is.”
“Nope. He’s an iguana.”
“A what?”
“You don’t know what an iguana is? Come on. I’ll show you.” Leslie stood.
Alex stood too. Cuda walked by his side as they went to another door, and Leslie opened it, gesturing to him. Alex stepped out into the back area of the shop.
“How many exits do you have to your office? It seems as if doorways pop up all over the place.”
“Just four—to the shop, back area, employee parking area, and the hall leading to the front of the office.” Leslie put his hands into the back of his jeans, leading Alex across the lot. He stopped before a structure at the back end, then grinned. “Mr. Smarty Pants, I’m going to introduce you to Herman, but there are a few others you have to meet first. Cuda, you stay here. Avril is still mad at you.”
Cuda lowered his body, lying on the ground, and Alex could swear the dog looked sorrowful.
“I’m not the one you need to say sorry to.” Leslie squatted, rubbing Cuda.
“Why is he called Cuda?”
“It’s the first car I took apart when I was nine.”
“Your dad’s car was a Barracuda.”
“A 1967 one.”
“And he wasn’t mad you took it apart?”
“I put it back together.” Leslie rose, opened the door, and entered.
Alex went behind him, then stopped at the foliage in the building. Leslie gave him the tour, pointing out the residents. The parrots were named Stella, Andy, and Kiki, while the tortoise and cockatoo were Hal and Jives, respectively. The rabbits didn’t have names because they tended to multiply too often and got adopted eventually. Alex noted there were different areas for each animal and the temperature seemed to change, too, but there were no cages.
“Leslie, is there a reason you have a pet… I don’t even know what to call this place. Why is this here?” Alex gestured to the space around them.
“They were here first. About six years ago, the pet store they lived in burned down, but these guys and a few other pets survived. The plan was we would house them temporarily while the owner rebuilt the shop, but then he decided he didn’t want to. So I bought the land to expand my business and made these guys a place to live so they wouldn’t be displaced. Although we don’t sell them, people know they can come and adopt one of these guys if they want to.” Leslie paused. “Well, except for Herman. People have tried to adopt her, but she always finds her way back here. She’s sneaky and can get in and out of this place, but I can’t figure out how.” Leslie shook his head. “She also got out and got herself pregnant. Her babies went quick.”
“Herman is a she?”
“
Yeah. I named her before I knew she was female. I didn’t know anything about iguanas. It was a big surprise when she became pregnant.” Leslie gestured behind Alex. “Alex, meet Herman.”
Alex turned, then forgot how to breathe. The iguana, which looked like a lizard, was huge. She sat on the branch watching them, then flicked her tongue.
“She likes you.”
“How can you tell?” Alex took a cautious step back.
“If she didn’t, she would have gone into the tree and hidden.”
Alex remembered what Leslie had said earlier. “She was under your desk, and your sister went under it.”
“Yeah. Herman likes her, too, but Herman scared the crap out of her. She’s frightening in the dark.”
Alex could bet she was. He glanced around at the animal sanctuary, then at Leslie.
“You know, your mother was correct. You are a unique man, Leslie.”
“My mama’s going to like you, Alex. My dad will too.”
Alex frowned. He didn’t have any intention of meeting Leslie’s mother—or his father, for that matter.
“Let me take you back to work.” Leslie stepped over a tortoise and headed back to the door.
Alex did the same, chuckling as he went. Outside, Cuda waited for them.
“Cuda, Avril is coming. Hide.” Leslie was staring at an approaching car.
Cuda took off running around the side of the building. Alex watched the black RAV4 pull into the lot and drive toward them. The car stopped and the window lowered. Leslie’s sister had similar features to Leslie and Mackenzie.
“Hey, Alex. Nice to see you again.” She focused on her brother. “Don’t think I didn’t see Cuda running to hide from me. I told you I was coming for him. Why do we have to go through this every time I do?”
“It’s entertaining to me,” Leslie replied.
“Go get him.” Avril turned off the engine and exited the car.
“Find him yourself, Avril. Come on, Alex.”
“I can wait for you to get him for her,” Alex offered.
Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles) Page 65