by Bria Marche
“Well, Karen’s pretty sure you guys took off together, in her own mind anyway. Okay, I have to get back to work. Karen is in the office, working on the books, but she’s probably wondering where I went. When are you planning to come home?”
“I’m thinking to get everything wrapped up it may take a few weeks. Can you go up to Hunter and check things out?”
“Sure. Vic and I will take a drive over the weekend. We’ll make it a fun getaway for a couple of days—no worries. Talk to you soon, Mario. Good luck with the sale. I hope it goes through for you.”
Mario hung up, feeling worse than ever. Not only was Karen upset about the kiss, but she assumed Mario had left with Sarah that day, too. He looked at the clock and thought about the meeting. Then it clicked in his head and made sense. That was the same day I left to go to Slopes and meet with Billy and Brian. That was right after Sarah kissed me. I grabbed her arm and pulled her outside. I shut down my cell so she wouldn’t call me when I walked to Slopes. No wonder Karen thinks I left with her. Damn it. Everything is so screwed up.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Billy, Brian, and Mario climbed inside Billy’s Range Rover and drove the seven blocks to Telluride State Bank on the edge of town. They gathered in a large conference room, sitting at a table that could hold fourteen people. Four men sat there, dressed in suits and ties. Billy, Brian, and Mario were dressed casually. Two carafes of coffee and cups sat in the center of the table. Mario’s longtime accountant, Mike Butler, sat next to him with his own set of documents in his hands. Billy Mayberry and Brian Link had their banker and business accountant sandwiched between them on the other side of the table. Mario had met with Mike Butler the previous week to discuss the market value of Gravity and the amount of inventory being sold with the store and ski school. At the selling price they would present that day, minus Mario’s outstanding loan, he was still on target to net over two hundred thousand dollars—as long as they all agreed on the listing price. Mario was tense, and it felt as though ocean waves were rolling back and forth in his stomach. He didn’t have any other offers on the table, and Brian knew it. He had the advantage, and he wasn’t a longtime friend like Billy. Mario was certain Brian intended to play hardball with the offer. Worst-case scenario, Mario would give a little but wouldn’t drop the asking price more than 10 percent. If push came to shove, he would keep Gravity and let Sarah manage it while he put more feelers out, looking for the right buyer.
After two hours of discussion, papers found themselves scattered across the mahogany table. Billy, his accountant, and his banker were on board. Brian was on the fence with the price. He was the type of person who usually got his way simply because he bought properties that were in financial trouble. He was used to paying pennies on the dollar. Mario wasn’t having it. Brian’s initial offer was so low that Mario would have come out with very little profit at all.
They agreed to meet again on Friday. Either a final offer that was acceptable would be put on the table, or all parties would walk away without a sale. Everyone shook hands and left disappointed. Mario grabbed a ride with Mike Butler.
“Mike, this whole meeting was a waste of time. I don’t think Brian is the right person to invest in Gravity. He’s only looking for one thing, and that’s how much he can screw me over. He’s a hardass that usually buys deeply discounted properties because the owners are facing foreclosure or getting divorced. That isn’t my case. I deserve a profit like any other business owner. The books are straightened out, and the tax returns show Gravity is a strong business. I’m not going to give away the store or ski school.”
Mario walked to the inn, stopping at Gravity for a few minutes first since he had to pass the store anyway. He wanted to talk to the employees for a while and see how the day had gone. He felt he owed them his attention even though he was physically and emotionally exhausted.
He loved Telluride, and the store, and had enjoyed the years of hard work he’d put into it. Gravity had started just as a small ski school, but as time went by and profits soared, Mario had bought the building next door and added the store. He had history there, which included good times and bad. Billy was a good fit for Gravity and had been around during Mario’s lean days while he built the business. Billy understood. He’d been through the same process himself eight years earlier when he’d bought Slopes and turned a rundown side-street bar into a goldmine.
Mario needed to talk to Sarah. She understood him and his attachment to Gravity. He wanted her opinion since she didn’t have a business agenda. Her agenda was personal, but Mario knew how much Sarah cared about the store, too. She’d worked side by side with him every day as he’d built the business. She’d always loved working at Gravity—that is, until Mario had fired her eight months ago. Still, he needed to know if she really was serious about managing Gravity in case he wasn’t able to sell it. He wouldn’t be there working with her every day.
***
Brian left Slopes and headed home. Billy stepped into his office, closing the door behind him, and dialed Brad.
“Hey, dude. I told you I’d call back. Have you given my offer any thought?”
“Well, yeah,” Brad said. “I have, but are you guys buying Gravity? I don’t think I’d come back if Mario stayed in town. There’s too much bad blood between us if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I understand, but that’s something you and Mario will, or won’t ever, make peace with. That’s on you and Sarah. Anyway, I’m not sure how this is going to play out. I may have to make this deal without Brian. He’s definitely not making points, and Mario just might keep Gravity to spite him. His lowball offer didn’t go over very well today. I don’t think we’re on the same page, with the same vision. You know how it is with us local folks. We’re tight, and we care, personally. Mario is the same way. We’re meeting again Friday at the bank. If I can’t get Brian on board with a reasonable offer, I just might take out a second mortgage on Slopes and buy Gravity alone. I’ll get back to you Friday after the meeting. So, if Mario sells the business to me, you’ll definitely come back to Telluride. Is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s what I’m saying. Talk to you Friday.”
***
Mario made a light dinner with the sparse kitchen facilities in his room. A stovetop burner, pots, dishes, utensils, and the refrigerator seemed to be all that was necessary anyway. Tonight would be two grilled-cheese sandwiches and potato salad from the deli across the street. That suited him just fine. Six cold beers lined the door of the dorm-sized refrigerator, and a quart of spring water sat on the shelf. Munchies and a few bananas waited on the countertop to be eaten during the late-night TV shows he watched. Mario wasn’t good at sleeping lately. He had far too much on his mind.
***
Karen said good night to Max and settled into the guest bedroom. Friday, she planned to go home. The spring line of clothing and sports equipment filled Geared Up. The books were in order, the store was thriving, and business was brisk. More mountain bikes were being delivered the next day, and she needed to rearrange a few things inside the store to make room for them and the camping gear. Karen was sure Vic would come back for the weekend. No matter what, she didn’t want to be an imposition. Karen knew she had to face reality and get on with her life.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Damn it. No wonder I’m wide-awake. It’s only eight o’clock, for crap’s sake. Max must think I’m the most antisocial person alive. A phone call to Vic might help me get a grip. Vic always had good advice, plus being Mario’s sister, she had a vested interest in their relationship. Calling Mia, or Sasha, could be awkward at night when the guys were around, and Tina, being the eternal pessimist in the bunch, wasn’t the best person to talk to at the moment.
“Hey, sister,” Vic said when she picked up the phone. “How are you and Max holding up? He said he’s enjoying your company.”
“That’s a nice thing for him to say, seeing how I just barged in on you guys. Anyway, we’ve really got
the store looking good, and there’s a big delivery tomorrow. I think I’ll come home on Friday. I can’t stay here forever.”
“Why don’t you go back to Telluride?”
“Why the hell would I do that? Mario evidently doesn’t give a shit, plus he should be coming home in the next few days anyway.”
“Wrong on both counts,” Vic said. “Apparently, Max didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?” Karen was fully alert and sitting upright in bed. “Wait… will Max think I’m weird if I grab a bottle of wine and bring it back to the bedroom? I have to drink something while we talk.”
“Um, hello… I think Max knows us by now. Just go ahead, I’ll wait.”
“All right, I’m back. Max must be in the shower, thank God. I don’t look like an idiot after all. So, go ahead.”
“Okay, what I was saying is Max talked to Mario. Not about you guys, at least he swore he didn’t say anything about that. I’ll kill him if I find out differently. Anyway, Max said they were talking about the stores. I guess Mario wants us to go to Hunter for a few days to check up on things at the Summit.”
“Why would he ask you guys to do that if he’s coming home?”
“That’s my point. Mario told Max he was staying in Telluride for a while. He put Gravity up for sale, and he might stick around until it sells.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, damn it! Selling Gravity means he’s ending that chapter of his life, sooner or later, but staying there means he’s with Sarah until he leaves. I heard him talking to her over the phone, and he hired her back at Gravity. They’ll be working together every day.”
“He was talking to you and her at the same time? That is against every man-and-woman code on earth. What the hell is wrong with my brother? He’s such a jackass!”
“He didn’t know I could hear them talking, and he has no idea I even know her name. All he knows is I saw her kiss him.”
“So, go back and stake your claim before she digs in. Karen, you’ve got to get the idea of her being young and hot out of your head. Looks and youth only go so far. To sustain a relationship, there has to be substance, too.”
“Thanks a lot, Vic. So, you’re saying I don’t have looks or youth on my side, only substance? Don’t forget the advice you’re giving me is coming from Miss Insecurity herself.”
“I’m not insecure anymore. Max taught me to love my frizzy hair and big ass. Mario will do the same for you with the age thing. Don’t be so hung up on it. If Mario is really going to sell Gravity, then he’s done with Debbie Dreadlocks. Maybe he wants to prove he’s moved on, with you.”
“You really think so?” Karen asked. “You aren’t just pulling my chain?”
“Would I seriously do that to you? I love you and my dorky brother. You two make a great couple. Call Mario, and tell him you’re coming back to Telluride. I bet he’ll be over the moon.”
“Okay, I will. Thanks, Vic, I love you.” Karen checked the time again when she hung up. It was only seven thirty in Colorado. Another glass of wine, and I’m making the call. We’ll straighten everything out tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mario called Sarah and asked her to come to his room at the inn. He didn’t want to give her the wrong idea, but he also didn’t want people in town seeing them out together, thinking they were a couple again. Tongues would definitely start wagging in a small town like Telluride. Having her meet him at his room was a bad idea on so many levels, but he couldn’t think of a better one, and he needed to talk to her privately.
Sarah wasn’t working that night. At eight o’clock, Mario heard a knock at the door. He inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. He opened the door to let her in. There she was, looking hot and sexy, but Mario had known she would. That was her thing, looking good, and she was naturally beautiful anyway.
“Are you going to invite me in or stand there with your tongue on the floor?” Sarah giggled as she nudged her way around him. She carried a six-pack of Guinness in her left hand and a bottle of tequila in her right. Her purse was slung across her shoulder, pulling her the loose, embroidered peasant top down, exposing the thin strap of her black, lacy bra. It was dark outside, but she wore aviator sunglasses anyway. Sarah was quirky and smokin’ hot and was well aware of it.
She opened the tiny refrigerator and placed the Guinness on the wire rack then set the tequila on the table. “Cute place you’ve got here, Mario. Why don’t you show me around?”
“There’s nothing to show you. What you see is what you get.” Shit, that didn’t come out right.
“Really?” She smiled seductively at him and licked her lips. “I like the sound of that.”
“You know what I mean. Sit down. Do you want a beer?”
“Of course, but I’ll get them.”
Mario watched her every move as she reached into the cabinet above her head and grabbed two glasses. Her short top lifted, exposing her smooth back and sexy, toned stomach. She bent down to open the refrigerator. Her jeans were tight, faded and torn in the right places. The spikey boots she wore made her legs look a mile long. He inhaled and let it out slowly, again. He had to keep his focus on the conversation he needed to have tonight and nothing else. Of course, Sarah would have plans of her own.
***
Mario’s phone rang twice. He sat on the couch next to Sarah, ready to begin the conversation he had saved to memory. With his thoughts interrupted, Mario glanced at his phone, sitting on the end table by his left arm.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Sarah asked, inching a little closer to him.
“Um… no.” Mario frowned and hit End Call. He felt overwhelmed at the task ahead of him and saddened that he’d missed Karen’s call. Maybe she’ll leave a message. I hope she does.
“Why not, who was it?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Anyway, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea with me asking you over here. As far as I’m concerned, we’re friends. We’ll be employer and employee in a few days, too. That’s the best I can give you, so please don’t expect more. I appreciate your offer to work at Gravity again. God knows I need your help. Anyway, I wanted to keep you updated with what’s going on. My accountant and I had a meeting today with Billy, Brian, and their reps. I want Billy to buy Gravity, and he’s happy you’ll be working there and at Slopes. But I’m not sure if the sale is actually going to take place. Brian is being an ass about the price. I guess I can’t fault him for that—it’s the business he’s in. He isn’t emotionally attached to any of the businesses he buys. I’m not going to accept his offer. We have another meeting set up for Friday. If he doesn’t come through with an offer that’s reasonable, the deal is off the table. That’s where you come in. I want you to start on Saturday no matter what, but the reality is you might actually be in charge of running Gravity if I keep it. That would be the scenario until I find a buyer that gives me the price I want, but it could take a while. You offered to run Gravity if I kept it, but I need to know if you’re serious. It just might happen. Do you want a shot of tequila?” Mario got up, grabbed two shot glasses, and returned to the couch with the bottle. He set the glasses on the coffee table and poured.
“Is that the reason you asked me here, to talk about Gravity, nothing else?”
“Sarah, there is something else.” Mario handed her the shot glass and clinked his against hers. They slung them back, and he poured two more.
Sarah leaned into Mario and kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue deep into his mouth, giving him everything she had. He pulled away.
“Sarah, stop. Please don’t make this harder than it has to be. I want to work with you again, but only in a work relationship. I won’t be sex buddies with you.”
“Mario… why can’t we go back to the way it used to be? We had a good thing, a real relationship. We were in love.”
“Yeah… until we weren’t. You gave up on us, Sarah. I wanted to marry you, for God’s sake, and you threw it away. I don’t want
to talk about what-ifs. I don’t want to rehash this conversation over and over again either. That stage of our life is finished. If Brad didn’t leave town, you would still be with him. I told you I’m in love with someone else, and I want to make sure you understand that and take me seriously. We aren’t together anymore. I need to know if you’ll still be the manager even after what I just said. I don’t want to seem harsh, but seriously, this is something I need to know. It’s important.”
Tears flowed from Sarah’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “Can’t you just accept the fact that I made a mistake, Mario? Why won’t you stay in Telluride? We can run Gravity together like we used to.”
“That isn’t in the cards. I have two other stores in New York, but you’re well aware of that.”
“Is that where your woman is… in New York?”
“Yes.”
“I already gave my notice,” she said, “so I guess you’re stuck with me. I regret what I did to you. You know that, right? If we could only go back in time.”
“But we can’t. So, you’ll work at Gravity, no matter what? You’ll manage the store whether it’s me or Billy that owns it?”
“Yes, if that’s what makes you happy. I’ll start on Saturday like I promised.”
“Thank you, Sarah. You’ve always meant a lot to me, and I hope we can remain friends. I think that’s all I need to say. How about one more beer? After that, I’m going to call it a night.”
“Okay, if you insist. I can still joke around with you, though, and things like that, can’t I? I mean, at work we aren’t going to be stuffy and really formal, are we?”
“No, but there will be boundaries. I’m your friend but mostly your boss—just so we’re clear.”
***
Karen thought of trying Mario’s phone again to tell him she was returning to Telluride. Cell reception in the mountains was iffy at times. She assumed the call earlier was dropped because of a poor connection. Maybe I should just surprise him and show up at the store on Saturday. That would be more exciting. I don’t care about Sarah or how cute she is. I’m more mature and more of a woman than she’ll ever be. She’s just a hippie-dippie kid living day to day in a beautiful mountain town. It’s where she belongs, and Mario belongs with me.