Page 2 of Rugged Soul

“Inconvenient, I think you mean,” Lisa replies. I’m about to ask if Marsha and her daughter are healthy and happy, but I have a feeling Lisa doesn’t have time for such conversations. “Anyway, I need you to study up on this client and then prepare the property to be shown.”

I nod, reaching out with shaking hands to take the folder of information from Lisa. “Of course. You said the showing is today?” I ask as I flip through a few pages of information.

“It’s in one hour.”

My vision goes blurry for a second and I blink a few times to clear the fog. Surely, she didn’t just tell me my first client is expecting me to show up at a property I know nothing about in one hour. Right?

“Um, like, one hour as in… sixty minutes?”

Lisa raises a perfectly manicured eyebrow at me, her eyes scanning my face and watching my every move. “Is that a problem?”

“Well, yes. I mean, no. I mean… I’ll get right on it.”

Lisa’s scrutinizing gaze never leaves mine. “If you’re not ready–”

“I’m ready,” I reassure her.

“Good. I’m throwing you in the deep end, Calista. Show me that you can swim with the sharks and you’ll always have a job with me.”

I take a deep breath and nod before standing up. Lisa does the same. “Thank you for this opportunity,” I say with more confidence than I feel at the moment. “I won’t let you down.”

Lisa Dunham dismisses me with a tilt of her chin before she sits down and begins typing away at her computer. I’m halfway out of her office doorway when she calls out, “I just sent you an email with the address. Come back with a sale or an alternative property to show.”

She’s already moved on to the next thing by the time her words register. Still, I silently nod as I shuffle my way out of her corner office and back to my sad cubicle. Adam is nowhere in sight, thank god. This might not be what I was expecting to happen today, but it’s better than going on coffee runs. Especially for that asshole.

I take some time to look over the client file of one Mr. Domino Gabriel. The specifics are vague, but Marsha clearly talked to Mr. Gabriel enough to find a place worth showing. He's looking for some kind of clubhouse… which is a little odd. Dunham Realty is mostly involved in commercial real estate like office buildings, hotels, restaurants, and things like that. I guess a clubhouse is a mix of all three in a way.

After looking up the property online and taking a few notes on which details to highlight, I notice how far away it is. Cursing under my breath, I gather up my purse along with the client file and make a mad dash to the elevator bank. Even though I know it won't help, I push the down button repeatedly.

The property is on the outskirts of town, way out west where I didn’t think anything had been developed. I guess I’m getting a crash course in all things real estate today.

“This beautiful four thousand square foot building is nestled right between Old Highway Sixty and Plymouth River,” I tell my steering wheel as I merge into traffic. “The open floor plan allows for unlimited modifications to be made depending on your needs.”

I continue practicing my sales pitch while speeding toward the destination. Dammit! I should be there already to unlock everything and air out the place. At this rate, I’ll be lucky to get there before the client does.

Ten minutes later, I whip my ancient Honda Accord into the gravel lot of the property I’m showing, kicking up a cloud of dust as I go. Not a good look, but I’m out of time. After putting the car in park, I skim over the file one last time, committing each detail to memory.

I'm so frazzled about being late and unprepared that I didn't even notice the large, looming figure already waiting for me. I take a deep breath, attempting to gather my thoughts before facing my first-ever client.

Opening my door, I step out onto the uneven gravel, teetering slightly as I straighten up. Good god, the man leaning against his motorcycle is massive. His arms are crossed over his chest and I can’t help but notice his biceps are nearly as big as my head. The sun is behind him, silhouetting his giant frame and making him appear even more god-like. Are those tree trunks his thighs?

Say something, my brain shouts at me. Instead, my jaw drops slightly when he stands to his full height, the top of his head blocking out the sun completely as his shadow falls on me. I swallow thickly, shoving down the anxiety of the situation and covering it up in the same bright, happy mask I’ve worn for so long.

“Mr. Gabriel,” I say, closing my door and taking a few steps toward him. “I’m terribly sorry to keep you waiting. I– oh!”

A large piece of gravel gets stuck in my left shoe, knocking me off balance. My ankle wobbles and I try spreading my arms out to keep myself stable, but my purse gets in the way. I have too much inertia behind me now and the best I can hope for is to twist so I don't face-plant into the rough, rocky ground.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I tense my muscles and prepare for impact…

Only it never comes.

Instead, I’m surrounded by warmth and greeted with a hearty growl as the beast of a man I’ve never met folds me up into his arms.

Is it crazy that for the first time in my life, I feel… like I'm home?

2

DOMINO

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