by Ali Parker
“I believe you,” I said. “They’ll be wasting their time. I’m not selling, and I’m sure as hell not selling to people like that.”
“Are you sure?” Garret asked.
I wheeled around and glared at him. I was already angry enough. Garret doubting me only made things worse.
“I can’t believe you would even ask me that,” I snapped. “You, of all people, should know how much this shop means to me. The idea that I would sink so low as to sell it—”
“Okay, okay.” Garret held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I just got nervous when they showed up.”
“I don’t blame you.” I sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me who they were when they were here?”
“I thought maybe you called them,” Garret said, letting his eyes fall to the floor. “Which was stupid. I know.”
“Extremely stupid.”
I wasn’t mad at Garret. The shop’s finances were in dire straits. We both knew that. It wasn’t crazy for him to think I might sell. After all, my mother had brought it up a few nights earlier.
“I won’t ever sell,” I said, speaking more to myself than to Garret. “To anyone.”
“Good.” Garret nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Those assholes.” I shook my head. “They didn’t even have the decency to tell me the truth. God, I thought they were interested customers or something. I’m a fucking idiot.”
“No, you’re not.” Garret snapped. “That’s just how people like that do business. They’re ruthless.”
“Dickheads.”
“Exactly.”
I was still fuming when Garret went back inside the office. My head spun as I thought about my encounter with Declan and Samson. I hadn’t even asked why they were there. What was wrong with me? Of course, they weren’t there to check out the shop. They didn’t even have a bike with them.
I felt so stupid for buying into their routine. They probably practiced that a million times before. It was all an act and there I was, falling for all of it. Samson’s sweet, innocent personality. His interest in motorcycles and his anecdote about the new paint color , it was all fake.
And Declan.
When I thought about Declan, my stomach turned over. I thought he was just the strong, silent type, a real man who didn’t need to ramble on about trivial things to feel important. He barely said a word, and I thought it was sexy when really, he was just playing me too.
I spent the rest of the day scolding myself for being so stupid. When Garret and I closed the shop that night, I told myself to let it go. They didn’t matter anymore because I would never have to see Declan or Samson Gamble again. Ever.
Two days later, I got to the shop early. Too early. The sun hadn’t yet risen, but I was too wired to sleep. I unlocked the office and slipped into the back room. More bills were waiting for me on my dad’s old desk, and I knew I couldn’t ignore them any longer. If the Gamble brothers visit showed me anything, it was that things were way worse than I wanted to believe.
We were on people’s radar. The sharks were circling. It was only a matter of time before they became more aggressive. If it wasn’t Gamble Realty, it would be someone else. They would berate me and harass me until I had no choice but to give in.
I pulled the bills toward me and fired up my computer. As much as I wanted to avoid the monthly budget, I no longer had a choice. I gritted my teeth and got to work. My fingers flew over the calculator as I crunched the numbers over and over again.
No matter how many times I hit the equal sign, the answer was always the same. We just didn’t have the money anymore. Things were going from bad to worse, and I felt powerless to stop it.
I dropped my head into my hands and took a few breaths. There was always one option, but my father had made me swear I would never use it. I sat up and shook my head. My father wasn’t here, and it was the only thing I could do to keep the shop afloat.
Before I could think better of it, I logged into my personal savings account and transferred all the funds to the company account. It wasn’t enough to keep us going forever, but it would buy me some time.
After it was done, I felt sick to my stomach. I was disappointed in myself, and I was angry with the situation.
To take my mind off things, I looked up the Gamble Realty page. I didn’t know why I did it. Something inside of me forced my hand, but soon enough, I was perusing the website and getting angrier by the second.
“They bought out Grace’s,” I said to myself.
There was an entire page on the website devoted to the resale of Grace’s Antiques. I read it through three times, letting my anger build with each sentence. Those jackasses took advantage of Grace, and now, they wanted to do the same thing to me.
Without thinking, I jumped to my feet and stormed out of the back room. Garret was standing behind the front counter. He jumped when he saw me.
“What are you doing here so early?” he asked. “I didn’t see your bike out front.”
“I parked around back,” I said. “I’ll be back later, okay? There’s something I need to do.”
I took a few steps toward the front door, but Garret hurried after me and grabbed my arm. I spun around to face him. I was so angry that it didn’t matter who I argued with, I was just ready for a fight.
“Where are you going?” Garret asked gently.
“To Gamble Realty,” I said.
“Why?” Garret’s eyebrows drew together.
“Because I want to make sure they stay the hell away from my business,” I said. “This shop is mine, and no one is going to take it away from me. I won’t let them do to me what they did to Grace Bowman. I just won’t.”
“Okay, but -”
I didn’t wait for Garret to finish. I spun on my heel and marched out of the shop. My rage fueled me all the way to the Gamble Realty office.
9
Declan
Alexandria Tanner. Her name played over and over in my head for two days. After we left the shop, I did my best to forget about her. After all, I didn’t know her. She was just a business owner whose shop I wanted to buy. She was no different from the Franks of the world, and yet, she felt different from anyone I’d ever met.
The day after Samson and I visited Tanner Bikes, I did more research. I pulled out the file Barry had given us and searched the internet. Alex’s Facebook popped up immediately. She was as gorgeous in her pictures as she was in real life. I found out her full name. Alexandria Tanner. Alex Tanner. Alex.
My mind spun around my memory of her, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I sat at my desk later that week, pouring over the file from Frank’s fish restaurant. Every few seconds, I thought about Alex and her green eyes. I remembered her tattoo, peeking out over her tightly fitted jeans. I swallowed and closed my eyes, pushing Frank’s file away from me as I did.
It was no use. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t shake this woman.
“Hey,” Samson said, poking his head in my office. “Got a second?”
“Sure.” I nodded and gestured for him to come inside.
“I was thinking about Tanner Bikes,” he said. “And, I think we need to get back there soon. If we don’t move quickly, someone else is bound to make an offer.”
“You heard what Barry said,” I told him. “Alex isn’t interested in selling yet. We have time.”
“Maybe,” Samson said. “I just don’t want to lose it.”
“I hear you,” I said. “But right now, we need to focus on Frank’s place.”
“The fish restaurant?” Samson asked with a groan. “Come on, we both hated that place.”
“Of course, we did,” I said. “It was a shit hole, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t buy it. You and I both know we could fix that place up and make a fortune off it.”
Samson shook his head and fell into his usual chair. He looked at me with his usual puppy dog expression. I rolled my eyes and scoffed. It was typical of Samson to set his sights on one thing
and then lose track of everything else.
“We can’t stop working just for the repair shop,” I said. “You know that, Sammy.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, though I wasn’t. “You know I’m right, though.”
“I want the shop,” Samson said defiantly.
“You sound like a spoiled child right now.”
“I am a spoiled child,” Samson said. “Or have you forgotten?”
“Forgotten what? Our childhood?” I scoffed. “How could I?”
“Just promise me we’ll get it,” Samson said. “I can’t think about anything else until you promise me we’ll get Tanner Bikes.”
“You know I can’t promise that,” I said. “Nothing’s a sure thing until the papers are signed.
“And yet, you act like Frank’s is,” Samson argued.
“That’s different,” I said.
“Why?” Samson demanded. “Why is it different?”
“Because.” I sighed. “Alex’s last name is Tanner. The shop is obviously connected to her family, and you know how emotional people get over family businesses. If she doesn’t want to sell, then we can’t make her.”
“But, we can make Frank?” Samson asked.
“Yes,” I said. “We can.”
“I don’t understand,” Samson said.
“You never do.”
“Quit being a dick, and explain it to me.”
“Fine.” I leaned back in my chair. “With Frank, he’s holding onto that place for no reason other than his own stupid pride. He knows he failed. He knows he can’t crawl out of the hole he’s in. He’s just not ready to admit that. When he finally is, we’ll be right there waiting. An offer already on the table.”
“And Alex?” Samson asked.
“No amount of money can persuade someone to sell something they truly love,” I said. “It was written all over Alex’s face that day at the shop. She loves that place. She’s connected to it. Deeply.”
“So, you’re saying she’ll never sell?” Samson asked,
“I think she’ll have to sell,” I said. “But, she’ll wait until the last possible second and then, when she’s tried everything else, that’s when she’ll sell.”
“Which is why we should make her an offer now.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Which is why we should focus our attention on Frank. We can push him. We can make that sale without much effort. Alex will take longer. We should go to Frank’s today.”
“And deal with Tanner Bikes later,” Samson said.
“Exactly.”
“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Samson said, slowly rising from his chair.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because the owner of Tanner Bikes is right there.”
Samson pointed behind me. I spun around and jumped out of my chair. Through the window behind my desk, I could see Alex marching down the hall. She rounded the corner and disappeared. A second later, I saw her approaching my office with a determined look on her face.
She stepped into the office and stood with her shoulders squared. Her dark hair was brushed out and pulled back in an elegant ponytail. She was wearing a pair of jeans that showed no signs of grease. Her blouse revealed just a small amount of cleavage. Her clothes were casual, but on her, they looked practically royal.
“Alex,” I said. “How can we help you?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she hissed.
“Um.” I glanced at Samson. “What are you—?”
“I can’t believe you two had the audacity to waltz into my shop like that,” she said.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” she asked. She turned her glare on Samson. “You pretended to be interested customers. All for what? To coerce me into thinking you were nice guys?”
“Alex, listen,” Samson began.
“No.” she snapped. “I’m not listening to a word you have to say. How dare you come to my shop? How dare you be so duplicitous and vile?”
“We were doing our job,” I said simply. “I’m sorry if that upset you.”
“You lied,” she said.
“Did we?” I asked.
Anger shot out of her eyes. I almost cowered, but I held my ground and remained on my feet. If I thought she was sexy before, it was nothing compared to the way she looked with fiery rage in her eyes.
Despite her anger, or maybe because of it, she was gorgeous. Her presence took over the room, making everything around her look somehow smaller.
“I know exactly what you two do,” she said. “You prey on vulnerable people. You wait until someone is at their lowest, and then, you pounce. You buy their business out from under them without a second thought. You’re heartless.”
“We—” Samson said.
Alex glared at him, and he quickly shut up. She looked from him to me and then back again, shaking her head as if she’d never met anyone she hated more than us.
“I came here to tell you to stay away from my shop,” she said. “I’m not interested in selling, okay? You’re wasting your time.”
“How are things going?” I asked. “Financially?”
“Something tells me you already know the answer to that question.” Alex spit her words ruthlessly. “It doesn’t matter how bad things get, okay? I will never sell that shop, especially not to someone like you.”
“You don’t even know me,” I said.
“I know enough,” she said.
“You do?” I raised my eyebrows. There was something about arguing with her that helped me find my voice. At the shop, I could barely string two words together but now, it was like my brain had finally clicked back on.
“You’re a piece of shit,” she said. “Anyone who does what you do is a piece of shit. I never want to see either of you near my shop again, is that clear?”
“We just want to—” Samson began.
“Stay the hell away,” she said firmly. “The shop is not for sale.”
With that, she spun on her heel and marched out of the office. I watched her round the corner and disappear from view. She reappeared outside my window for a split second before she reached the elevator and stepped inside.
“That was intense,” Samson said. “I can’t believe she came all the way down here just to yell at us.”
“I can,” I said. “I told you before, it’s all emotional with her.”
“How did she even find out about us?” Samson asked.
“Garret,” I said simply.
“Oh, yeah.” Samson’s eyes widened. “I forgot he knew who we were.”
“Yup,” I said. “I’m sure he told her the second we left.”
“Then, why did she wait until now to confront us? We were there two days ago.”
I shrugged. “No idea.”
“Well,” Samson said. “What do we do now?”
“Not much to do,” I said. “She’s a spitfire. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s passionate and strong.”
“You want her.”
I jerked my head up to meet Samson’s gaze. He was grinning at me with a sly glint in his eyes. I just shook my head and looked away.
“Admit it,” he said. “You want her. You’re totally into her.”
“I don’t even know her,” I said defensively.
“So?” Samson laughed. “Like that matters.”
“It’s business, Samson,” I said. “We’re working. This is my job, Sam.”
“Will you just admit it?” Samson demanded.
“There’s nothing to admit,” I said. “I was only saying that she’s strong. She seems pretty determined not to sell to us. Right now, there’s nothing we can do to change that. So, we need to focus our attention elsewhere.”
“On Frank’s place?” Samson rolled his eyes.
“For now,” I said. “We can talk about Tanner Bikes again later, but, for now, let’s just get Frank to sell, all right?”
“Fine,” Samson said. “But I know I’m right. You want her.”
“Samson,” I warned.
“I don’t blame you,” Samson said. “She’s hot.”
I didn’t say anything. Samson wasn’t wrong. Alex was hot, but she was so much more than that. The way her green eyes lit up with fire when she spoke, the subtle curves of her body, the way her dark hair fell smoothly down her back. Everything about her drew me in. I would have given anything to argue with her one more time.
“Hey,” Samson said. “You okay in there?”
He waved his hand in front of my face. I blinked and shook myself. Daydreaming about Alex was no use. She was gone, and chances were, I would never see her again.
“I knew it.” Samson chuckled. “You can’t stop thinking about her, can you?”
“She’s attractive,” I said. “But I assure you, I can absolutely stop thinking about her. Let’s get to work, all right?”
“Whatever you say.” Samson chuckled again before sitting back down.
I followed his lead. I plopped down in my chair and pulled myself up to my desk. My computer clicked to life, and I went to work drafting a proposal for Frank.
My fingers tapped away, but I barely knew what I was doing. I was too busy replaying Alex’s tirade in my mind. I could still see her mouth as she yelled at me, her back as she marched away from us. She spun a web of thoughts through my mind.
By the time I finished the proposal for Frank, the day was almost over. I printed out the document and sent it to our legal department for approval. With a groan, I pushed away from my desk and stretched my legs.
“Heading home?” Samson asked.
I nodded. “I need to pick up Mila.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I nodded again and headed toward the door. It wasn’t often that Samson was right about something, but when it came to Alex, he was dead-on. I could not stop thinking about her.
10
Alex
My body was alive with rage. I stormed away from the Gamble Realty office, not slowing down until I reached my bike. I climbed on and kicked it to life. It wasn’t until I sped out of the parking lot that I began to calm down. Anger still dominated my emotions, but it didn’t feel as intense.