4
Sage
“I’m sorry, Mr. Odom, but you wrote oak, not teak on your order.” The old man had been on the phone with me for nearly twenty minutes, arguing about his wood.
“I didn’t write no such thing!”
“Yes, sir, you did. I still have the original order in your handwriting that matches your signature.”
“You’re trying to pull a fast one on me.” The cranky, old man had run off his latest wife and was looking to redo the interior of his boat.
I remembered our specific conversation from the week before, but apparently, he’d already forgotten. “No, sir. No one is trying to pull a fast one. You were only charged for the oak, I assure you.”
“I’ll do the math and call you back. I wanted teak, not oak!” His call ended with a slam of his phone, and I hung up the business phone. A moment later, it rang again, and I held my breath, hoping it wasn’t him calling back. “Woodchuck’s.”
“Hello, this is Greyson Young. I’m calling about the order of Western Red Cedar I placed. I just wondered if it had come in yet.”
“Um, let me check, sir.” I put the phone down and headed to the back where Chuck, my manager, was unloading another shipment. “Has Young’s order come in yet?”
“I haven’t gotten that far into this, but it’s not likely. I’m not expecting cedar of any kind until the end of the week. Have him check in Friday.”
“Will do.” I walked back to the front and picked up the phone. “Chuck isn’t expecting cedar until Friday. We’ll call you when it comes in.”
“Okay, thanks.” The man was quick to hang up, and I went about my business finishing up my end-of-the-day duties. Sundays were a short day, and the only reason we had to go in at all was because one of our main suppliers delivered that morning.
After making sure the computers were shut down and I had everything in place for Monday morning, I went back to find Chuck and the others lugging lumber. They had the last pallet nearly unloaded when one of the straps snapped, and boards fell to the floor.
“Son of a bitch!” said Chuck. “All hands on deck. Let’s get that cleaned up.”
“I guess now is not the time to ask if I can leave,” I said with a laugh as I walked over and picked up a couple of the large boards and moved them back to their stack.
“As soon as you get that done, go on.”
“You might as well let her leave now,” said Kevin, one of the older men who worked on the crew. “She’s just making us lazy fuckers look bad.”
“Yeah, but then I’d have to depend on your sorry ass for more work.”
I smiled. “I’m good. I don’t mind pulling my weight around here.”
“Those two boards are your weight, beanpole,” said Tommy, who was one of the youngest. He liked to tease and flirt, but he was young enough to be a baby brother and was fresh out of high school. He brushed his dark hair from his eyes and flashed me his winning smile.
“Fine,” I said with a smile. “I’ll go, and you boys can do all this yourselves. I’d rather be at the bar anyway.” I had promised Lissa I’d drop by and see her for lunch.
“See you tomorrow,” said Chuck, pointing a finger in my direction. “Bright and early.”
I gave him a nod and waved at the others. “See you guys.”
I hurried out while I could, dusting off the dirt that had gotten on my pants. I got into my old truck, a bright blue and white sixty-seven Ford I’d inherited from my father, along with the house. Then I drove into town, just a few blocks away, and turned toward the pier and Anchor Management.
As I walked inside, Lissa hollered from across the bar. “There’s the lady of the hour.” She had a tray of nachos and two pitchers of beer she was about to send to a table. “I’ll be right with you.”
I took my usual place at the bar and watched as she delivered the food, then went to another table where she charmed herself a big tip and tucked the money into her cleavage. “Have a nice day, boys.” She waved at the men whose shit-eating grins were so big you’d have thought she’d just given them all a big kiss.
As she approached, I glanced around the bar. “What’s with this place? It’s dead for a Sunday.”
“You’re early. It usually picks up in the afternoon.”
“Chuck let me out early.”
“Lucky you. I’m surprised you came by. I figured you’d go home to Jasper and back to painting that wall of yours.”
“Nah, I added rocks this morning, and I need the grout to dry.”
“Rocks and grout on the wall? It really will look like you’re living in a rock, won’t it?”
“Let’s hope.” It would if I had my way.
“You should have come in last night. You missed all the gossip about the new guy in town.”
“Which new guy?”
“The one with the odd-colored house on Lincoln Street.”
“Oh, the colorblind old-timer. What about him?”
“No, not old or colorblind. Turns out, I was right. He is a hot, young guy from New York.”
“Are you also right about the part where he sweeps me off my feet?”
She shrugged. “Hey, I can’t make any promises. But I did claim him if he was hot, remember?”
“And Christian is due back in town, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he’s home. He was actually delayed a day, and I haven’t seen him yet. Something about needing a little time to settle in. He’s probably ditching me.”
“He’s not ditching you. You two are stuck with each other. You might as well marry and get it over with.”
“Not if I can bag this fine new man in town.”
“You know you wouldn’t,” I said with a laugh. She only had eyes for Christian, and no one else would ever do.
She sighed and made a face like she hated herself for the fact that I was right. “Yeah, I know. He’s perfect, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, as far as men born and raised in Camden, I’d say he’s the cream of the crop.” Christian was from old money, and like me, Lissa was from little money. She had won her Prince Charming years ago when they were young, but both had been too stubborn to do anything about it.
“How’d you hear about the new guy?”
“Beth Ann Parker told me. She said the entire neighborhood is pissed off about the color of his house. He swears it was an oversight by Dodd’s son, Pat Jr., and they are supposed to be correcting it. Pat got his ass chewed out.”
“When are she and Pat getting married? I thought they got engaged like two years ago.”
“I think they’re waiting on Pat to find a different job. He hates working for his old man.” She slid a coke with grenadine and three cherries in front of me. “Here, tell me if that’s too strong. I’ll make you another one.” She had always teased me about my favorite drink. It wasn’t that I didn’t drink alcohol, just not in the middle of the day.
I took a sip. “It’s fine. You know my dad got me hooked on these.”
“I remember. You’re the only girl I know from school who used to hang out in a bar. It should be you standing on this side and not me.”
“No thanks. I had enough barroom drama before the age of ten to last a lifetime.” My father had not only been a patron, but he had owned a bar back in my early childhood. Once his health got bad, he sold the place to Lissa’s boss, who turned it into a seafood restaurant of the same name. I lifted my glass. “Here’s to the original Muddy Rudder.”
“May she forever live in our hearts. I had my first sip of alcohol there,” she said to a man who was listening from across the bar. He gave a nod and then turned his beer up as his attention went back to the TV behind the bar.
Suddenly, Lissa’s expression faded. “Jesus. Can’t this guy take a hint?” She folded her arms and looked down her nose, so I turned to see who had come in behind me.
Maddox Montauk walked up behind me with a shit-eating grin and his chest puffed up like some kind of gorilla who could start pounding on it at any moment. “Ther
e’s my girl.”
“She’s not your girl,” said Lissa. “Why don’t you grow up and find someone who’s interested, or at least someone else to bother?”
“Why don’t you mind your own business, Melissa?”
“It’s Lissa, asshole, and you come in here harassing my friend, and I’m going to make it my business.”
“I’m not harassing, and why don’t you let her speak for herself?”
He leaned against the bar beside me. “How are you, Sage? You’re looking good enough to eat.” He licked his lips.
“I’m not your girl, and I’m not letting you anywhere near me with that mouth.” He had once been a handsome boy who had asked me out, and then I’d learned the truth about him. His true personality made him the ugliest man in the world.
“Come on. You used to love it on yours.” He leaned in closer, and I backed away.
“Don’t come near me again. I’ve tried to be polite, and you just keep on and on.”
“That’s because I know you and me work. You’re the hottest girl I’ve ever dated, and I am not going to give up on you, Sage.”
“You dated half of our school and the only reason you’re still lurking around is because I’m the only one of those girls who didn’t sleep with you.”
The man at the end of the bar chuckled. Then he turned up his drink as Maddox cut him a dirty look. He didn’t have the balls to say anything, but his expression was clear. He was in a foul mood now that he’d been rejected.
“You’re going to regret breaking up with me, Sage. I’ve got a new job. It’s with Gore Enterprises. I’m going to make a fortune in sales and build a big house across town on the ocean.”
“Good for you. But I’m still not interested. You cheated on me with three girls.”
“You weren’t putting out. I had to do something.” He gave a belly laugh, and even the strange man at the bar shook his head at that one. “Come on. I’m only kidding. I was young and stupid then, Sage. You know I love you. We were meant to be together.”
“Are you going to order, or do I have to throw you out?” Paddy asked, rolling up his sleeves.
“I’m going, Paddy. Keep your shirt on.” He turned toward me and gave me one more pleading look. “I’m going to wait forever for you, Sage. You’ll see.”
“Please don’t,” I said as he walked to the door.
“That man is hopeless,” said Lissa, passing the man at the bar another drink.
I let out a deep breath. “Do you think he’ll ever give up?”
“Not as long as you’re single. Maybe I should just leave the new man to you.”
We shared a laugh, and I shook my head. “You say that like I’m really destined for him. I’m sure a rich man like him already has someone on the line.”
“Well, if he’s really hot, I hope he reels you in.” She gave me a wink, and with that, I shook my head and sipped my soda.
Nothing that exciting ever happened to me. Sometimes, I even wondered if Maddox was my destiny.
I’d rather die alone.
5
Greyson
Friday morning came before I knew it, and I was excited that the lumber I’d ordered should have arrived at the supplier and that Patrick was supposed to have his crew over to begin painting the house.
I had enjoyed sleeping in a whopping fifteen minutes more than normal and couldn’t get over how refreshed it had made me, like I’d slept an entire extra hour.
I had spent the week unpacking and making trips back and forth to town to purchase a few things I needed for the new house. New cleaning supplies were a must, and Cassie had told me I was supposed to buy a new broom. Something about it being bad luck to bring my old broom into the new house. She had even gone as far to say it wouldn’t know the corners of the new place, and while I thought she was crazy and superstitious, I appreciated the advice.
I picked up a new mop, broom, and vacuum cleaner, and then I spent another two hours reading how to put the bag in and deciding that I needed to hire a maid. I had wanted to do most of the cleaning on my own, especially since I didn’t know anyone here, and anyone I hired would be a stranger.
I had always been a neat and clean person, so I knew I had a little time before I had to have a full staff, and I wasn’t looking forward to anyone invading my privacy anytime soon. If I could only meet someone, a nice gorgeous woman who wanted to fuck and perhaps show me how to put the bag in the vacuum cleaner, then maybe I wouldn’t need a maid at all.
“Fuck, I’m lonely,” I said, hating the words coming out of my mouth. I didn’t get lonely. I had a slew of friends back home, and I could call any of them and have them come out to hang around and make me feel better about being here all alone, or I could get busy doing something to keep me so busy I didn’t notice the crippling need for comfort.
I had even jacked off in the shower, and I hadn’t needed to do that for myself in ages. My desperation was growing, and I found myself waiting for the phone to ring instead of making calls.
That was why I jumped at it when it rang. “Hello?”
“Um, Mr. Young?”
“This is Mr. Young, yes.” I was eager to hear that they’d be on their way to start the paint job.
“This is Pat Dodd,” said a much younger version of Patrick Dodd’s voice. “My father said I should call and let you know that we won’t be able to come and start the job right away as planned. We’re having to wait on the paint. The base your particular color is mixed from is out of stock, and we needed to make sure we got that color right this time.”
“How long until you can start?”
“Well, we’re hoping Tuesday.”
“Tuesday?” I sighed. “Whatever. Just make sure you’re here first thing Tuesday, or I’m taking another two-grand off what I owe your father.” I hung up and grabbed my keys, scratching the stubble that had finally come in nice and even after much trimming. I had trimmed it to look like a deliberate mess, but I wasn’t sure if I was the only one who would think that.
I had to go down to the lumber yard and take a look at what I ordered. If everything was acceptable, I’d have it delivered and start the weekend off right, working on my boat.
I drove across town to Woodchuck’s Lumber Yard and went inside the main shop. There wasn’t anyone at the counter, but the door had made a loud beep when I walked in, so I just assumed they had been alerted.
I looked out the window at the stack of lumber in the back and wondered which one was mine. And that was when I heard footsteps behind me. “May I help you?”
I turned around to see the prettiest redhead I’d seen in my life. I’d always been a sucker for a hot ginger, and this girl was right up there with the hottest, even though she wore a blue Woodchuck’s smock, had messy hair and had a black mark on her cheek.
“Um, I’m here to see if my order is in. The Western Red Cedar?”
Her mouth seemed to pop open like she was just as stunned as me, and then she grabbed her clipboard and quickly brushed the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear as it hung long down her shoulders.
“Yes, it’s here. Would you like to take a look at it?” She waved me to the side of her counter and then through a door. As we walked to the back, she held her clipboard tightly against her and kept glancing back with a smile in her eyes that was a welcome like none I’d had in this town since my arrival. “You’re new around here.”
“You could say that.”
“Well, welcome to Camden.” She stopped in front of a large stack of lumber. “Here it is. If it looks good, we’ll have it delivered to your house. Unless you have arranged for pickup?”
“No, it’s good.” Before I could ask her about herself or read the nametag that was covered by her hair, a large, older man, who was fittingly enough built like a lumberjack, came around the corner.
“Hey, there! How’s that cedar look?” The man had a slightly southern accent, and once he appeared, the sound of a ringing phone took the girl away from me.
“It’s great.” I didn’t even care about the cedar anymore. I was more interested in the girl. I tried to get my mind back to business. She was probably married, and as I looked at Chuck, whose name tag wasn’t covered by his buzzcut, I hoped she wasn’t married to him.
“We’ll have it delivered tomorrow. I have the slip here. Is that the address? 255 Lincoln Street?”
“Yeah, that’s it. Big periwinkle house. You can’t miss it.”
Chuck gave me a strange look but then shook my hand. “We’ll have it there at seven a.m.”
“That’s perfect.” I followed him to the front, hoping to see the young lady, but she was nowhere in sight. Dammit.
I finished paying for the lumber and hoped that they wouldn’t screw me the same way Dodd’s had. I was so looking forward to fitting in, and I didn’t want to be known as the man in the periwinkle house.
Periwinkle Grandview just didn’t have the same appeal.
I headed back to my large eyesore and pulled my car into the garage.
When I got out, I nearly jumped out of my skin to find a man standing there waiting. “Hey!” I said with a start.
“Sorry to intrude, but that car is fucking amazing.” He held out his hand. “I’m Christian Vance. I live in the shack across the street.” Christian was not only my height but also around my age. His frame was much bigger, and it looked like he had done a lot of manual labor to get to his size, which gave me the stereotypical meathead vibe from him. And while I was all shades of blond and gold, he was dark-haired, which made him look kind of mean.
“You have a nice house,” I said. “One of the nicest on the block.”
“I did have the nicest until you moved in. Damn, son. You know how to make the locals look bad.”
“That wasn’t my intention,” I said, feeling like I’d gotten off on the wrong foot with everyone on the block.
Caught Up In Love Page 3
