Page 10 of Sultry Nights

"No shit! Awesome! What are you going to do with that?"

"I'm going to turn it into apartments. I think I can get twelve units out of each building. When we get inside and plan in earnest, I'll see. Maybe I can condo it out."

Jace nodded. "That would be perfect. Condo it. Then owners can Airbnb it, rent it out, or live in it. We're in need of short-term rentals here in town."

"Yeah, it's a thought. I'm going to think about it. I'd have to go to the town board for that. So no promises. But anyway, that's on the agenda for me. Now I'm just waiting to hear if they'll accept my offer. So, I figured I'd stop and check in with you about the party. What do you need from me?"

Jace laughed. "We're still on track, and I don't need anything from you. I've got food ordered. I've got everything I need. Staff has been informed about the party. All you need to do is see if Hart & the Hurricanes are in town and if they'll be playing. Because if so, I'm going to need to get a stage set up. Rather than renting one all the time, I've been thinking about building one.

“So I'm thinking I might have enough time, and I know this guy who owns Kurtz Construction Company, and thinking maybe he and his crew might have enough time to build me a nice stage. What do you think, bud? Can you get a new stage built before your party?"

Quinn laughed. "Well, we've got some projects going on right now, but I bet you I can spare a couple guys to get over here and start building a stage. Why don't we walk outside and see where, and how big you want it, and then I can have some guys come over and actually do the estimate for supplies and such? Deal?"

"Yup, that's a deal."

Quinn stood up just as the door opened. Backing into the door was the finest butt he'd seen since... yesterday actually. Cute, adorable, and squeeze-worthy. And then the rest of her appeared.

Hanna was backing in the door carrying a big box of bakery items and when she turned and saw him watching her, she froze.

He hurried toward her. "Hey, let me take those for you."

She blushed, and it was adorable. But when he grabbed the boxes from her, she held kind of tight. "You don't have to, I can do this."

He nodded. "I'm sure you can. Just let me help you. Look, chivalry is not dead. Let me prove it to you."

Her shoulders relaxed a little bit and that beautiful smile he'd seen yesterday greeted him.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just trying not to rely on a lot of people right now and do things myself."

He shook his head. "I don't know why you'd do that when somebody's offering to help you. Let them help."

"Well, anyway, thank you," she said. She turned and stepped out to her van. "I have more things. I'll be right back in."

Quinn turned and saw Jace staring at him, a sly grin on his face, and he rolled his eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing. That was cute. I thought it was cute. You being chivalrous and all."

Quinn shook his head, "Fuck you."

Jace threw his head back and laughed again. "Yep, that's exactly what I thought." He walked over and took the boxes from Quinn.

"Freshly baked bread for my sandwiches at lunch and just in time. The chef in the back was complaining that he hadn't seen the bread yet."

Quinn shrugged. "Well, it's here now and it couldn't be any fresher. Tell him to stop complaining. Your customers are going to be thrilled."

Hanna's butt pushed the door open one more time, and he hurried once again to help her. This time, she only had one box, and it wasn't nearly as large.

She smiled again. "I've got this one. Thank you, though."

She breezed past him while the aroma of freshly baked bread and cinnamon rolls reached his nostrils. He followed her to the kitchen and watched as she set the baked goods on the metal table in the middle of the room. The chef had already pulled the bread from the other boxes and the kitchen staff was quickly putting away things that they didn't need immediately.

Jace walked over and looked at the last box that Hanna brought in and lifted the lid. His eyebrows went up into his hairline.

"Cinnamon rolls? I didn't order cinnamon rolls."

She laughed, "I know, but I'm so grateful for the business you've given me that I'm sharing these with you and your staff. So enjoy and thank you again for all the business you've given me."

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