Page 72 of Flirting with Trouble

I’m at a loss for words as I look them over. They show a beautiful building with glass doors along the sides, dining tables, a bar, plants, and lights strung over the dock on the outside. I’m blown away. “Vic, this is exactly what I’ve been imagining.”

“Really?” she exclaims.

“It’s like you took these drawings right out of my head.”

Seth is looking over the drawings with a skeptical expression.

“Seth, what do you think?” I ask. “I know it would be a huge undertaking, but the location is great, and it’s a blank slate. We could get creative with the build-out, or go minimalistic to save on capital.”

“I have no doubt it would be worth the effort and expense to make it everything we talked about, but there’s one problem.” He looks at Victory and says, “I could’ve saved you a lot of time, sis. This place isn’t for sale. I tried to buy it a few years ago. It’s owned by Bad Enterprises, and Kane Bad said he had plans for it.”

“It’s true Kane had plans for it, but a lot has changed in his life since then.” She turns to me and says, “Kane is Johnny Bad’s older brother. He bought this place right before Johnny’s life imploded a couple of years ago. When that happened, he put his plans for this site and others on hold to focus on temporarily managing Johnny’s band. He’s since gotten married to our sister-in-law Pepper’s twin, Sable, and he’s been cutting back on new endeavors.”

She unlocks the door and throws it open, smiling victoriously. “I’ve had three meetings with Kane over the last couple of weeks. If you’re interested, he’s willing to sell and won’t take it to the open market.”

My heart feels like it’s going to claw its way out of my chest to get to her as we head inside the musty building. “Babe, that’s amazing. Assuming the price makes sense, of course.”

“I just kicked open the door and negotiated the exclusive opportunity,” she says. “It’s up to you guys to march in there and make your deal.”

“Damn, sis,” Seth says. “You really have gotten your mojo back.”

“What are you talking about? I never lost it,” Victory insists.

Seth gives her a look that tells of their deep friendship. “You know what I mean. That hunger to reach outside the box is back with a vengeance.”

“Yeah, well, someone might’ve sparked that in me.” She flashes that secret smile my way, and I swear I feel it square in the center of my chest.

We walk around the building inside and out, taking pictures and talking about the possibilities. After Victory locks up, we stand on the dock taking it all in. I can see the restaurant in my mind, bustling with customers. Lights and glass and colorful umbrellas over outdoor tables. My heart is so full, I reach for Victory’s hand, and the loving look she gives me bowls me over.

I wonder how I’ve gone my whole life without ever feeling like this. It’s all I can do to pull her close and whisper, “Thank you,” when I really want to say, I love you.

“This calls for a celebration,” Seth says, as he comes up behind us. “Are you guys up for drinks?”

I glance at Victory. “What do you think, sweets?”

“Considering it took a woman to do what two men couldn’t, it’s only appropriate that you guys buy me drinks.”

Chapter Seventeen

Victory

Music and the din of conversation swirl around us as we wait for our drinks by the bar. Seth is busy texting, and Wells is sending pictures of the warehouse to his family. I can’t take my eyes off him. I’m high on his happiness. That has been happening a lot lately. Just seeing his smiling eyes, hearing his voice, or getting a text brings a rush of lightness to my often heavy days.

Wells pockets his phone and leans closer. “I’m going to have to properly thank you for this later.”

I thought after nearly two months, the thrill of being together might lessen, but it’s only gotten stronger. “I’m counting on it.”

He presses those warm lips to mine, and I sink into them. I can’t wait to get back to his hotel suite. Our lives have woven together these last few weeks in ways I never imagined, and it happened so seamlessly, it’s hard to remember when we didn’t spend Wednesday and Friday nights in each other’s arms. I love our Wednesday nights and even our rushed Thursday mornings. But Friday nights have become my favorite, because there’s no rush to leave the next morning.

Before Wells, I’d never seen the allure of a lazy Saturday. Now I look forward to lying in his arms as the sun comes up, making love or talking, and getting dirty all over again in the shower. We never leave the suite before ten or eleven. We’d probably stay all day if we didn’t have just as much fun getting lost in the city.

“Sorry about that,” Seth says, drawing me from my thoughts. “I was just filling in Jared and T about the property.” Taylor aka T is Seth’s virtual assistant.

“What’d Jared think?” Wells asks.

“He loves the idea and wants to see the property. Vic, do you think we can get in tomorrow?”

“You can get in anytime this weekend. I told Kane you might want to go back a few times before making a decision.” I hand Seth the key to the warehouse. “Just return the key to him by Monday afternoon.”