Page 228 of Smooth Sailing

Hugger looked at the cover of his, and there was some logo, some firm name under it, and it said:

Market Research Survey

Expansion Project

Ride Auto Supply Store and Garage

Phoenix, Arizona

Hugger felt his throat close tight.

“Have a look at what it says, but I’ll sum up,” Rush began. “Phoenix is growing. One of the fastest growing cities in the US. It’s a biker haven. Also lots of interest in vintage rides and restoration. Good mix of income levels, good mix of generation levels, which means money to spend and people to spend it. They got some factories going up and plenty of housing development underway or planned. Both are only going to mean more growth. It’s ripe for investment and expansion. Also, state tax code is advantageous.”

He turned to the remaining stack of plastic-folder-covered papers and sent them sailing.

The men caught them, handed them out, and before Hugger could look at the cover, Rush was speaking again.

“Looking at three lots. Two are empty. One, if we decide to do this, and pick that one, there’d need to be some demo. The two empty lots are huge, way bigger than what we need, but that’s because Aces High has approached for a partnership. They’re ready to expand too. They want to open another store and they’d be willing to hitch up with Ride if we go for it. Good opportunity there for cross marketing.”

Fighting to breathe and hiding he was, Hugger flipped through the real estate report.

He didn’t know the exact addresses, but because his woman was as she was, while he was in Phoenix, he’d had ample opportunity to get around, so he had a sense of where they were, and they were good spots.

“Obviously, before we get down to talking about property, we need to decide whether we’re gonna expand out of Colorado into Arizona,” Rush said.

“Millie’s folks are getting on in years, and they live down there” High piped up. “She was already talking about us getting a place so she could have somewhere to land when the time comes they need more attention. And Cleo’s got her heart set on the nursing program at U of A. Zadie will go where her sister goes. So reckon we’d be looking at having someplace down there sometime soon anyway, if not movin’ down full stop. Millie won’t want me far away from my girls.”

What High left unsaid was, since Millie was thick and thieves with her stepdaughters, she wouldn’t want to be far away from them either.

“Red’s done with snow,” Tack chimed in. “And the boys are gonna be out of high school in a few years and wreaking havoc on Denver, so she’ll want it not to be easy to get to us for bail money.” There were some chuckles, but Tack spoke over them. “Won’t be full-time, not leavin’ my grandbabies, and Red won’t want to either, but for the winter, need to get my woman out of the snow and cold.”

Hop threw in then, “Where Tyra goes, Lanie will wanna follow. And I’m good with any place I can ride all year long. We got a longer wait for Nash to be done with school, though.”

“Gonna get a winter place down there,” Big Petey added. “That Phoenician sun was good to these old bones. Seize up completely if I gotta spend another four cold months here.”

“Renae good with that?” Snapper asked after Pete’s old lady, who was also Snapper’s mother-in-law.

“Yeah, son,” Big Petey answered. “She was beside herself at the thought of not having to scrape another windshield.”

“I’m good to be down there all year,” Boz announced. “Not the snow, a fresh menu of pussy.”

There were some groans, and Hound threw his market report and hit Boz in the side of the head with it.

Boz’s angry gaze shot to Hound, who just grinned.

But before anything could come of that, Rush asked, “You men wanna read the report, or are you good to vote?”

“Obviously I’m in,” High said.

“In,” Tack grunted.

“In,” Hop added.

“Totally in,” Big Petey declared.

“Aye,” Shy said.

“Aye,” Dutch and Jag said in unison.

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