Page 57 of Love You
“I doubt we’ll hear anything until after their weekend with that Mammoth operation.” TJ glanced down at his always-present phone as they were talking. “I’ve gotta roll. We going to Old Glory tonight for hump day?”
“I’m in,” Win said. “Hannah’s having her book deal tonight so Josh will want in too.”
Colt pushed himself off the wall. “I’ve got to check with Delaney but probably.”
Win stopped in his office on the way to the locker room, called Reggie, who said they could swing by at noon. After a quick shower, he went to fetch Darcy.
“You ready to go?”
She looked up from her computer monitor, gave the one-minute sign, and pointed to her headset. To kill time, he sat on the sectional and thumbed through a GA pamphlet listing their fall tours.
“Okay,” she said. “Did he say you can see it?”
“Yup. He wants to give us the grand tour.”
They got in his Jeep and Win took a moment to admire Darcy’s legs in her sundress.
“What are you doing?” she snapped.
“Nothing. Jeez, why’s your mind always in the gutter?” He winked and she kicked him. “And you’re violent, too.”
She gave him a cursory once-over. “Your eye looks worse than it did yesterday and I didn’t think that was possible. Perhaps you should see a doctor.”
He started the car, turned on the music, and put on his shades. “That better?” Before she could answer he stepped on the gas and the Jeep lurched, knocking her forward. He would’ve burned rubber but that was just juvenile.
“I think you missed the turn,” she said a mile out of town.
“I’ve lived here all my life, Darcy, I think I know where River View is.” Two miles later he turned around. Shit, she was right, he had missed the turn.
They took the long, narrow road, rutted from the winter’s snow, until it dead-ended at two driveways. Neither of which had a house number.
“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe . . .” He took the one on the right and was greeted by a chainsaw bear, holding a large sign that readTHE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH,which clearly the owner had stolen from Disneyland.
“You think this is the right place?” Darcy craned her neck out of the passenger window.
It was a log cabin, though they were plentiful in these parts. A dog came running out of nowhere, barking its crazy fat head off. A grizzled dude with dreadlocks, a beard, and a tie-dyed shirt trailed the hound.
“Yep. We’re in the right place.” Win hung out the window. “Hey, Reggie.”
“Don’t mind Oscar. His bark is bigger than his bite.”
They got out of the Jeep and Oscar stuck his snout in Win’s crotch.
“Oscar,” Reggie called, and the dog trotted to the side of its owner.
Win introduced Darcy, then glanced around, trying to get his bearings. The property was off the hook with an amazing view of the river. A copse of tall pines offered plenty of shade and the grounds boasted every kind of plant under the sun. Reggie must be a gardener. You could drop a fishing line right into the water from the wraparound porch.
“Wow,” Darcy whispered.
So far, Win was impressed and also thinking he couldn’t afford a place like this. But it didn’t hurt to look.
“You find it okay?” Reggie asked. “We’re a little off the grid back here.”
“Not a problem,” Win said, and Darcy smirked. “You’ve got quite a spread. How big is this parcel?” Up here in cattle country that was considered a rude question, sort of like asking someone how much money he had in the bank. But Win figured they weren’t talking ranch size and if he was going to make an offer on the place he needed to know what he was looking at.
“It’s just under two acres.” Reggie shielded his eyes with his hands and turned to the house. “Elsie and I built the cabin with our own two hands.”
It was a large two-story and as far as Win knew Reggie didn’t have any kids. “It’s amazing.”
