“Apparently the former owner recently did some sprucing up, painted the walls, refinished the floors, and replaced all the bathroom fixtures.”
“In October. Mrs. Ayers told me to consider it my wedding gift. She died right before Thanksgiving. Doesn’t it take time for an inheritance to get settled? How could Johnny sell the building so fast?” Hope entered her eyes. “Maybe the sale wasn’t legal. You might have caught a break if that’s the case, Tucker. You’ll do better at the other end of Main Street. This isn’t a good location for foot traffic. It’s the slow end of the street. Tourists don’t come down this far except on the weekends when Marktplatz is open.”
Tucker didn’t believe there was anything wrong with the paperwork. “What is it you wanted to do with this space?”
“I plan to create a wedding district, encompassing the entire U around the courtyard. A bakery. Photography studio. Invitation design and paper shop. A jeweler. Lingerie store. I plan to use the courtyard for vendor showcases. Maisy might move her flower shop once her lease is up or else open a small space that focuses only on wedding floral.”
Tucker gazed out of the display window that faced the courtyard and focused on the Cinderella bride display in the window facing his. He could picture what she was describing. The idea made a lot of sense too.
“So.” Gillian licked her lips and squared her shoulders. “You see, Tucker, while I appreciate your unusual expertise, Get Grubby just doesn’t fit. What has been unpacked can be repacked. I’m sure we can find you a location for your storefront much more suitable to your needs.”
“This location is perfect for us. It’s gonna be more than a retail storefront. We plan to go beyond selling hand axes and knives. We’re turning the upstairs into a classroom.”
“Weapons? You’re going to sell weapons?”
Tucker rolled his eyes. “Tools and teaching. This building is a great spot for us. There’s plenty of parking. The courtyard gives us a place for some outdoor demonstrations.”
“Outdoor demonstrations? What kind of outdoor demonstrations?”
“What kind do you think?” he asked, exasperated by the appalled expression on her face. “I’m going to string up a dead deer and teach my students to dress it. We’ll have your dresses on your side of the courtyard and my kind of dressing on mine.”
The woman actually went pale, and he hastened to say, “I’m kidding, Gillian. I’m talking about fire starting. It’s—”
“You can’t start a fire in the courtyard! These buildings are all made of wood! I’m sure that’s against zoning regulations.”
“It’s not. We checked.”
“Well, I’ll go to the town council and have some passed.”
“I don’t think it works that way. Look, we’re not fools. Our main purpose is to teach skills, the number one of which is safety. We’re not going to set your little shop on fire.”
Insult flared in her eyes, and she sucked in a breath. “My little shop? My little shop!”
“My unusual expertise,” he countered. Damn, but the woman got under his skin in more ways than one. Didn’t he deserve a little respect?
After all, hadn’t he played knight in shining armor and rescued her from a bad situation last fall? Hadn’t he kept his mouth shut when it became apparent that she didn’t want news of their meeting to go public? Hadn’t he stayed by her side when Jeremy deserted her at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
Okay, maybe he shouldn’t have kissed her again, but he was only human. A male human. And she attracted him like a buck to a mineral lick.
“What’s your price?” she asked abruptly.
“Excuse me?”
“Every person has a price. What’s yours? I want this property. What will it take for me to get it?”
A dozen different thoughts flashed through his mind. A dozen different suggestions hovered on his tongue. None of them were appropriate. He cleared his throat. “Gillian, I don’t think it’s—”
“Think!” she interrupted. “That’s the word that needs to concern you before you say anything. Now, while you’re doing that, why don’t you show me what you’ve done upstairs?”
Without waiting for his response, she headed for the staircase. Tucker started after her, only not too fast. He wasn’t stupid. Watching her climb stairs was a bigger treat than his double-dip cone, and enjoying it somewhat soothed his ruffled feathers.
Beyond placing the furniture for his office, they’d done little more than haul a handful of boxes upstairs since the tables ordered for the classroom had yet to arrive. Gillian went straight to the spacious corner room that would serve as Tucker’s office. “I love the light in here,” she murmured when he joined her. “Four windows. East and north facing, so it doesn’t fight the western sun.” She glanced up. “I’d thought to raise the ceiling. The lines of the attic are fabulous.”
Distracted by the idea, Tucker considered it. “I’m partial to high ceilings myself.”
She pinned him with a keen-eyed gaze. “But you live in an Airstream trailer.”
“Technically, yes. I prefer to sleep under the stars. For the most part, that’s what I’ve been doing in the canyon.”
“It’s the middle of winter.”
He shrugged. “You can usually find a protected spot in Enchanted Canyon. So, what exactly were you going to do with all this space?”
The gleam of hope that entered her eyes made Tucker regret his question the moment he asked it. She launched into a detailed description beginning with his office, expanding to her plans for subdividing the classroom space, and then creating a client conference room and showroom downstairs. “It’ll be like a home builder’s design center. I’ll have the ground floor divided up into areas showcasing the basic vendor categories—photography, music, catering, linens, etcetera. For example, I’ll have sizable samples of linens displayed similarly to the way upscale furniture stores display upholstery selections. But the centerpiece of the space will be—wait.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Come downstairs. It’ll be easier to explain.”
Once again, Gillian headed for the staircase, and Tucker followed along, closer behind her this time. She’d taken four steps down when the sound of male laughter exploded from below. Then Tucker heard good ol’ Jeremy say, “I think you’ll be very successful here, Boone. I’m delighted I could help y’all get this building.”
Gillian missed a step and tripped. Ever the hero, Tucker reached out and broke her fall. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything about the shattering of her heart.
Chapter Eight
Gillian would recognize Jeremy’s business laugh anywhere. It was just a tiny bit too jovial, although she doubted anyone else ever picked up on it. Jeremy was good with people, charming and sincere. He sounded sincere when he said, “I think you’ll be very successful here, Boone.”
Here. Surely, Jeremy meant in Redemption. Not in this building. Not in their building. What was he doing here?
“I’m delighted I could help y’all get this building.”