Page 2 of Seductive Nights

Quinn stepped out of his truck and chuckled. "What are you doing staring at the bar from the road? I almost hit you."

Jace shrugged. "I just found out that ugly old thrift shop is going up for sale and I want it."

Quinn nodded. "I was just coming to tell you that I heard that this morning when I was in the bakery. Hanna had a group of ladies, her Tuesday Ladies, as she calls them, in the bakery having a chat. They were talking about Lorraine, the owner of the Thrift Shop, moving out of town. Apparently, one of the women is friends with her. She did say she's a motivated seller."

Jace nodded. "Well, that's good to hear because I'm a motivated buyer. I'm going to need to buy that property. The town council just told me I don't have enough of a buffer between these two buildings, and I'm going to have to do something about that. Plus, I need to expand."

Quinn nodded as they walked into the bar. Quinn perched himself on a bar stool. Jace strode around behind the bar.

Quinn responded, "I heard Margo Price is listing the property from Price Realty. Do you know her?"

"I know of her. I've seen her around town here or there, and she's been here, but I don't really know her. Is that who helped you buy the barracks?"

Quinn chuckled, "One and the same. She's a very good real estate agent. I'm sure if you make a fair offer, she'll do what she can to help you buy the building."

"That's what I need. Perfect. I think I heard her husband was sick or something though, right?"

Quinn nodded. "Sounds that way. Sounds like he's not doing well. He hadn’t been feeling well for a while but refused to go to the doctor. She finally made him. Sounds like he hasn't come out of the hospital since then."

Jace shook his head. "Man, life is fragile, right?"

"That's a fact," Quinn responded.

Jace tapped the top of the bar. "Are you drinking something?"

Quinn looked at his watch. "Well, since it's only ten in the morning, I better stick to coffee. How about coffee?"

Jace shook his head. "I had to put a new coffee pot into the kitchen just for all the people coming in early in the day wanting coffee. Let me get it for you."

Jace hustled back to the kitchen, poured Quinn a cup of coffee, grabbed the creamer and sugar, and hustled back out to the bar. Setting the steaming drink in front of his friend, he asked, "How're the barracks coming anyway?"

Quinn poured creamer in his coffee and nodded. "It's coming along great. We've got the walls torn down in the first building. The architect was there yesterday. He's given us the go-ahead, and Jared's there right now getting the framing up. I'm on my way over there, but I just heard the news about the thrift shop and wanted to let you know."

"If I get this thrift shop and expand, I'm going to need to hire a couple more people, and maybe they'll be your first tenants."

Quinn nodded. "That would be good. Hopefully, I'll be ready in time. So, tell me your plan with the bar. I thought you didn't want it to be this big monstrosity of a business."

"I don't, but we're bumping into each other in the kitchen, and as you know, I was retrofitting things back there as our menu grew, but now we've outgrown the kitchen, so I need more space back there. And I'm going to need some new equipment. Also, with us having music now on weekends, our business is booming, so that's making the town council a little irritated. Apparently, one of the town council members lives close enough that, get this, he thinks he heard music the other night." Jace held the first two fingers of each hand up and bent the fingers, simulating air quotes. "He thinks he heard music."

Quinn laughed. "Oh my god. Well, I'm happy to go to the next town council meeting with you if you need someone who thinks they don't hear music. I'm not that far from here, and I think I know who you're referring to. I live closer than he does."

Jace laughed. "Well, I may take you up on that. We'll see."

Quinn sipped his coffee.

Jace stared out the window a moment. "Have you set a wedding date yet?"

Quinn's grin spread to a huge smile. "We have. That's the second reason I'm here. We'd like to follow in Sid and Grace's footsteps and get married here. Maybe we won't use the stage. Hanna would kind of like the water to be a backdrop. What do you think of that?"

"Well, I'm never gonna turn down business, so I think that sounds pretty fucking great."

"Good." Quinn laughed. "And I'd like you to be my best man."

Jace smiled. "I'm honored. What about Sid?"

"He's gonna be my best man, too. I'm gonna have two best men."

Jace laughed. "Boy, oh boy, you two. I think that sounds pretty great. I wouldn't want Sid to be left out at all. He's good people."

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