“Oh.” He turned on his heel. “I got you! Be right back.”
He sprinted toward the parking lot, not asking any questions or wanting any more details, just happy to help. I smiled at his back, not understanding why I’d never pursued more with him over the years. He’d been a great friend, a good lay, and was just as not committed to me as I was to him. Maybe that’s what made us work so well together.
I sighed as I saw Dante idling in the parking lot too, knowing my life was about to be much more complicated.
Bradley jumped in the back of his red jeep and popped back up two minutes later with a wooden sign. It looked like a box lid of some sort with pine slats nailed together and he’d used some black spray paint to write “Closed until further notice.”
The man beamed when he approached me with his handiwork. “This work well enough for you?”
“I’m not sure whether to be impressed or concerned that you have all that in the back of your jeep.”
“Impressed, Mo. I’m a damn problem solver.” He leaned the sign on the counter window and mumbled, “I can nail it in later. I’m guessing you’re about to be on your way with that suit in the parking lot?”
“Yeah. It’s complicated.” I sighed and he came to stand next to me without prying for more information. “I don’t know when I’ll open again.”
“That mean you also don’t know when we’ll be sleeping together again?” He smirked.
His question was justified especially since Bastian had thrown around the fiancé word the last time he’d seen me.
“Yeah, probably that too.” I combed a hand through my hair. “Again, it’s complicated.”
“I hate that word, but I’m here for you if you need me.”
“I think I need to beat you in catching a couple waves every morning still.” I chuckled and nudged his shoulder.
What would I do without a friendship as easy as his? Or a town as perfect as this one? I turned to watch the ocean once more before I locked up the food truck and waved goodbye to Bradley.
Dante ended up coming over from the parking lot after giving me some time alone.
I dragged sand and water into the car with me, along with a half empty suitcase.
“You need to stop at your grandma’s?” he asked while watching grains of sand sprinkle onto the expensive carpet.
“Sure. I just have to grab a few things. I’m guessing we can move furniture later. Or does Bastian already have a style?”
He chuckled. “He definitely has a style.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
“It’s…” He glanced back at my feet and shook his head once before speeding off toward my grandmother’s. “It’s clean. Let’s put it that way.”
“Great.” I slouched into the seat.
“It’ll be fine.” He tossed a file back to me. “That’s some documentation you should look over. There’s a prenup and other information that pretty much protects both you and Bastian. Also, Tropical Oil is having its meeting soon. You need to read up on the company, understand the oil business, and probably familiarize yourself with the board members.”
“Okay.” I curled my lip and glared at the packet. It looked big. Too big. Like a stack of homework I didn’t want. Didn’t they know I was a college drop out? Actually, I hadn’t even gone. I’d been offered a spot at one of the state universities and the first day of classes decided I wasn’t made for the pressure of all that.
The words about commitment in my grandmother’s letter flew back to me.
Other than my food truck and the humane society, had I committed to anything longer than a couple months?
Just in time, my phone went off.
* * *
Dr. Nathan: Pups miss you and I’m thinking it’s because Tiffany keeps mixing up their toys and food.
Morina: I miss them too. I can come by tomorrow. Life has been crazy.
* * *
See, these were my passions. People committed to what they loved and believed in.
“I don’t think I’ll have time to read all that.” I scratched the side of my face and shoved the papers to the other seat.
“Honestly, I feel the same way you do–go in blind and figure it out as you go. That’s what people in the past did. Yet, Bastian handles most of the business side of things and he’s adamant that it’s important.”
I snorted, not agreeing to anything.
When I got to my grandma’s, Dante came in with me and sat as I packed another suitcase. I grabbed too many crystals, a salt lamp from the spare room, my bracelets, and lots of toiletries. A couple weeks of clothing was all I would need for now. I’d be back to change things out.
I glanced at a few plants I’d told my grandma I would water before she passed. They were all shriveled up. I groaned and shoved two pots under my arm and the other on top of my suitcase.
“I’m ready.”
Dante glanced up and nodded before looked over the living room. “You’d get a good sale on this place right now if you’re interested in putting it on the market.”
I turned on my flats to try to take an objective look. Granite counters. Wood floors. She’d maintained her home without aging it.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “I don’t know why I’m hesitating but it feels like she’s still here. I don’t know. It’s only been a few weeks.”
“I get it.” His voice matched mine and when he clapped a hand on my shoulder, it was warm with comfort. “Don’t rush things. The universe will work with you.”
I nodded. For all the crystals and beads and salt lamps I had, I knew I should believe him. Dante was a man who probably could reiki the hell out of someone. He’d done it to me just a week ago. I wanted to trust the universe and maybe having him as a friend for six months would help. “This whole arrangement is going to be a hell of a lot, huh?”
“Probably.” His chuckle was deep as he took the suitcase and plant without so much as toppling the pot. He walked toward the door and pointed at the plants under my arm. “It’s going to be hell trying to get Bastian to keep those too.”
“Oh, come on.” I blew a raspberry. “They’ll bloom right back up when I give them some water.”
His chuckle turned to a laugh as he came back to grab my salt lamp. “Let’s go dirty up this man’s place, huh?”
We loaded the Rolls Royce and left, passing the town and the company where most of the town worked.
Twenty minutes later, we’d arrived.
“Is there a parking spot for me?” I asked as Dante keyed in a code and the garage opened. “I’d like to get my pickup here so I can go when I need to.”
“We’ll make sure you have one. It can be right next to Bastian’s here.”
He drove to a spot surrounded by metal walls and another set of doors. I wide eyed it all. “A garage within a garage?”
He shrugged. “Bastian likes his privacy. This gives access to a private elevator too.”
“Private jets and private elevators. A lot of things the man needs to hide.”