Page 13 of Seductive Nights

"Well, the bad news is, I don't know. I've offended Margo Price somehow, and she just came in to tell me about the offer being accepted, but apparently, she thinks I flirt too much or something."

Hanna nodded. "Well, I heard in the bakery that before Logan's death, they were on the rocks or something. She's probably kind of soured on men right now."

Jace nodded his head slowly. "Ah, that would make sense. She said I'm a flirt, and that's derogatory toward women, and that I -- well, basically that."

"I wouldn't take too much offense to it, Jace. I think she's going through a tough time right now. I was actually considering stopping in and talking with her, businessperson to businessperson, and I've known her for a few years, although it was back before I had returned home, so I thought maybe she could use a friend."

Jace nodded. "Well, that might help relieve her sour mood. After all, every time I see you, I smile."

Hanna smiled back, and Quinn grinned.

"All right, let's get your order taken, and then I'll feed you two. And Quinn, stop in and see me later on so we can talk about the expansion, either first thing in the morning or right after lunch, whatever your schedule will allow."

Quinn nodded. "Actually, Hanna and I were hoping we could come in this evening for dinner and talk to you about the wedding."

Jace nodded. "That'll work. Let's do it then."

8

Margo left in a huff back to the office with the completed offer in her hand. Yeah, men were all alike, they were out for instant gratification. Throw away the old bag that you've been married to, who's devoted her life to helping you build this business. Yeah.

Just start new with the first tall, thin redhead that walks your way. She couldn't stand watching Jace flirt with the women in the restaurant. She couldn't stand the thought that he was just like Logan. Not that it mattered. She just needed to get this real estate deal done and move on. That's what she was going to do, dammit. She was going to make this real estate company the best real estate company in the state. That's what Logan had always said he wanted. She thought he was working toward that end, but he never accomplished it because he wasn't working toward it at all. She was going to work her tail off and show that lying, cheating piece of shit exactly how it was done.

She walked into the office and took a deep breath. "Hey, Addison, I've got the offer signed, and we're all set and ready to go now. Please call the title company to get the closing paperwork set for next week. Let's target Friday. That will give them a week."

Addison smiled. "Sure thing, Margo. And you've got a couple of voicemails on your phone."

"Thanks, Addison."

Margo walked into her office, set her laptop on the desk, and opened it up. She picked up the receiver on her phone and listened to the first message.

"Hey, it's Carley. I’m just checking on you and wondering how things are going. If you need me to come back and stay with you for a while, I'm happy to do so. Just let me know. Love you. Call me when you get the chance. Bye."

She grinned. No, she'd be fine. She didn't want her sisters putting their lives on hold for her anymore. They'd been with her for nearly two weeks while Logan was in the hospital and after the funeral for a couple of days. She needed to do this on her own.

Logan had been dead all of four days now. Her sisters had gone home, and the house was empty. She knew she needed to start thinking about getting rid of his clothing. Maybe that's what she'd do tonight. She'd go home and toss all his crap out of the closet, so she didn't have to think about it, didn't have to look at it, and didn't have to do anything with it. That would be a good cleansing in more ways than one. That's what she would do. As that thought seeded itself in her mind, it grew. Soon, that's all she could think of doing. Better to get rid of any trace of him than to hang on.

Determined to make that her evening's project, she listened to the next voicemail.

"Hello, Margo, this is Jailisa Burns from Grant Park's office. Grant would like you to come into the office tomorrow at noon. He received a phone call from an attorney in Miami who has a copy of Logan's will and wants to discuss it. Please let me know if you can make it. Our number here is 555-1212. Thank you."

Logan's will? Did they still do a reading of the will? My god, she hadn't even thought of it. When did they have them done? Gosh, it was probably twenty years ago when they first started this business they'd gone in and had wills prepared. She probably had a copy of it somewhere at home. Why would she need to go in for a reading of the will? And how would an attorney in Miami have a copy? That didn't seem to make any sense at all.

She shrugged, picked up the phone, and called her sister, Carley.

"Hey there, Margo, how are you?" Carley answered brightly.

"I'm good, just closed a real estate deal.” She sighed. “Well, it didn't close, but I got the offers signed by the buyer and the seller, so we're all set. Closing's next week. How's that for a good week after a horrible week?"

Carley was quiet for a moment. "That's a good way, I guess, to end a terrible week. How about we say that?"

"Yep, that's a good way to say it. I'm with you on that. So, I'm thinking about going home and tossing all of Logan's stuff. I don't need you to come and help me. I don't want you to put your life on hold anymore, but that's what I'm going to do today, and I think it'll be therapeutic. I'm going to box it all up. Everything. And I'm going to take it down to the thrift store. Anybody who wants it can have it."

"Some of that equipment is worth some money, Margo. Maybe you want to reconsider that. Maybe you need to give yourself a little bit more time to process everything."

A sardonic laugh burst from her chest. "I don't need to process anything anymore. Basically, the last seven years of our lives were a lie. I'm not gonna hang on to anything from that bastard." She spun a pen on her desk as she talked. "Oh, and speaking of, I got a voicemail from my lawyer's office. I have to go in tomorrow at noon for a meeting with Grant and an attorney from Miami who claims to have a copy of Logan's will. So, I'm also going to be searching for our wills at home to bring in my copy. Isn't that weird?" Margo shrugged. But a hot pit was growing in her stomach the more time she had to think about it.

"Well, I suppose it's maybe a formality of his office. Maybe he just wants you to know how you have to proceed. After all, you guys have a business. It might be different for a business."

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