“Thanks.” He sat down, poured himself a cup and started digging through the bagels.
“Remy was just telling me about how he used to come here as a kid,” Noelle told him.
“I remember,” Dwayne said, smiling. “It was a big deal when you got drafted and mentioned learning to skate in Garland Grove.”
I smiled. “I have good memories here.”
“But now you want to sell it.”
“Wow, the rumor mill is busy here.” I met his gaze. “But I honestly haven’t decided anything yet.
“I work two jobs, Mr. Knight, and I need both of them to support my family.” Dwayne didn’t blink.
I nodded. “I get it, and I’m serious when I say I don’t want to hurt anyone no matter what I decide. The truth of the matter is that I don’t have time to run a hockey arena in Garland Grove, so if I don’t sell it, I need a trusted staff in place. And I don’t see much staff at all.”
“I don’t know much about the finances,” Dwayne said, scratching his salt-and-pepper goatee. “But my understanding is that this place doesn’t turn enough of a profit to pay anyone else full-time, like a manager or whatever.”
I frowned. “But who does the money go to now?”
Dwayne shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you.”
“I’ll get in touch with my attorney,” I said. “This is information I need. In the meantime, tell me what you need to make your lives easier here.”
The suggestions and ideas started coming and kept coming, and I felt bad that they’d operated with the bare minimum of supplies, staff, and amenities for so long. It was amazing the arena was able to continue offering hockey programs and open skating with this level of disorganization. Somehow, whether I sold it or kept it, I needed to find a way to help these people. Not because I had to, but because I suddenly really wanted to.
Chapter Four
Noelle
* * *
I’d been prepared to fight for the arena, my job, and anything else that came up, but there didn’t seem to be anything to fight for. Remy wasn’t at all what I’d been expecting based on his gruff exterior, and all the arguments I’d prepared had been unnecessary. He seemed attentive, interested, and in no hurry to make a decision about selling the arena. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t, but it meant I had a chance to talk him out of it.
Despite my personal financial situation, the last thing I wanted to do was leave Garland Grove and move to Vancouver. Sure, I’d probably be able to get a job there, but I loved working at the arena and the idea of sitting behind a desk all day sounded awful. If I got the job at the high school, I’d work there Monday through Friday during the day and run the concession stand a few nights during the week and on weekends. With both jobs, I’d be okay, and I’d still be around hockey and the ice arena I loved.
I’d played hockey in high school and continued to play until a few years ago. Hockey was expensive and I didn’t have enough money for a roof over my head, much less a hobby like that. Sometimes I missed it, but mostly I put one foot in front of the other and tried to focus on the future. And right now, my future was dependent upon convincing Remy Knight not to sell the arena.
“We keep it pretty simple back here,” I told him as I showed him the concession stand. “I do hotdogs on the weekends or when school’s out, but the rest of the time it’s mostly soda, candy, and popcorn.
“So on a busy night, how much do you bring in?” he asked, leaning against the counter.
“A couple hundred,” I said sadly. “It’s kind of a catch-22 because it costs money to bring in other food, like pretzels and nachos, and if they don’t sell, it all goes bad and has to be tossed. But without a decent variety, people don’t buy as much. If it was my business—” I stopped abruptly and gave him a wry smile. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Thick-lashed hazel eyes focused on mine with so much intensity it almost made me dizzy. “No. Please. Finish what you were going to say.”
I took a deep breath. “If this were my place, and I was in charge, I’d start out introducing new stuff for free. A lot of the vendors will give you samples if you promise to buy so much in a certain amount of time. So I’d pick a Friday night high school hockey game or something and serve cheeseburgers and fries, for example. Everyone would see how good they are and then the next time there’s a game, the burgers would be for sale and hopefully everyone would buy them.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good idea. No one here will let you try?”
“There’s no one to ask.”
“I keep hearing that and it’s really hard to understand. How can there not be anyone in charge?”
“Beats me.” I opened the door to the ice machine. “We could really use a repair on this thing. The ice is more big blocks instead of cubes these days, and sometimes it takes me twenty or thirty minutes to break it up.”
He peered inside. “Maybe I’ll take a look at it later. What else?”
“I could use a raise, if you’re offering,” I said lightly. “I’ve worked here five years and have never had an increase in pay or been paid overtime.”
He stared at me, squinting slightly. “You’ve never had a raise and they don’t pay you for overtime?”
She shook her head. “When I got hired, right after I graduated from university, I didn’t have a lot of job prospects so Mr. Tanner hired me to run the concession stand. I’d played hockey here in high school so—”
He interrupted me. “You play hockey?”
I smiled. “I did. Hockey’s an expensive sport and I can’t really afford it anymore, but I used to play.”
“You work at an ice arena,” he protested. “They won’t give you a discount or something?”
“Well, yes, but my equipment was destroyed when my last apartment was flooded, and I honestly don’t have the money to buy anything new. It’s all right. Anyway, Mr. Tanner hired me but he passed away not long after I started, and I don’t think anyone’s been in charge since then.” I paused. “Didn’t your father or the attorneys or whoever explain what was what?”
“I didn’t even know my father owned the place,” Remy said thoughtfully. “I got some financial statements for the arena based on tax returns and such, but there wasn’t much other information.”
“That seems odd, no?”
“Definitely, but I’m going to get some answers relatively soon. I called my attorney yesterday and he’s looking into it ASAP. Frankly, I was supposed to be in Florida getting ready to close on my new house, but I find myself drawn to this place.” He looked around almost wistfully. “I don’t know why, I just feel compelled to stick around at least a few days and make my decision based on what’s best for the arena, the town, and the employees.”
I might have fallen a little in love with him in that moment. His hazel-gold eyes were filled with concern as he looked at me and the way he filled out his button-down shirt wasn’t bad either. I’d been trying not to stare at his muscular thighs and shapely behind all morning, but it was proving more difficult than I’d anticipated. I hadn’t been out on a date in a while and Remy was more than just a little bit attractive. Not that I had any illusions of grandeur with a guy like him, but a girl could fantasize, right?