Page 3 of Contingently Yours
A burst of gloating explodes in my chest over the request for my talents. Dad and Chad have curled their lips up at me ever since I started working for Uncle Lou four years ago. It’s not my fault Dad canned me from his company. It’s also not my fault that I may have a chip on my shoulder about it and am determined to show him I can make a name for myself without working for Broadhouse Publishing. He’s the one who put the chip there. Maybe it’s petty of me, but each sale I’ve made working for Uncle Lou repairs a fragment of my wounded pride. It also helps that Dad hates Uncle Lou, so I guess choosing to come work for himwasa tad bit petty.
“Bed?” I snort. “I’m on my, like, second property viewing of the day already. Ye of little faith.”
“Andrew…just because you close more deals than any other agent we have, doesn’t mean I don’t know you get up at the crack of noon, but that’s beside the point. This one is huge. They want to buy three properties. We need all hands on deck today so we look like we’re a fully staffed, well-run business.”
Threeproperties? We sell islands and beach front real estate. Holy shit. Thatishuge. Thinking of the zeros that would add to my bank account and how I could rub it in Dad and Chad’s faces makes my eyes glaze over. Just because I know how to have a good time doesn’t mean I’m irresponsible and can’t make it in the workforce outside of our family’s business. Landing this deal would be irrefutable proof.
“Oh, good,” Vera sighs. “Lucas just texted me back. He said he can make it in.”
Lucas Everette? Over my dead body.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes!” I hang up and jump out of bed. “Fuck!”
“Everything okay?” Veronica asks.
Shit. I totally forgot she was still here.
Scrambling to my closet, I pull out a short-sleeve button-up and a pair of nice khakis. “Yeah. Huge deal coming in. I’ve got to get to the office beforeDickheadshows up and tries to steal it from me.”
Hopping into my slacks, I realize I didn’t even put underwear on, but I don’t care. This is urgent. Shaking my dick into my pants, I zip up and fling my shirt around my shoulders, heading toward the door as I do the buttons.
“I don’t understand what your problem with Lucas is. He seems like a sweetheart.”
Now I’m the one rearing my head back. Clearly, she needs coffee or a psyche eval.
Guiding her by the small of the back, I nudge her out of the bedroom. “Obviously, we’re not talking about the same person. Did you forget he assaulted me?”
Finger-combing her hair, she saunters down the hallway with me to the living room, flashing me a dubious look. “No offense, but I kind of got the feeling you provoked him. I’ve only met him a few times, but the man doesn’t look like he’d willingly hurt a fly.”
“He’s a veteran from the backwoods of North Carolina—the man was basically bred to be in bar fights and then trained to kill people with only his thumb. You’re lucky that I have good reflexes.”
Rolling her eyes, she clicks her tongue and stops by my front door. Ugh. For someone who disrupted sleepover time, she sure doesn’t look like she’s in a hurry now. Does she not know how pressing this is? I need to be on the road.
“Drew, you swooped in unannounced with new clients and sold the property on-site that he was showing to some of his own. Of course, anyone would be upset about that.”
“Oh, and being more business savvy means I should be subjected to physical violence from hillbilly brutes? He was Lou’s freaking helicopter pilot. Just because a gorilla who can handle a joystick gets a real estate license, doesn’t mean he can sell real estate.”
Her smile looks placating. I don’t like it.
“You threw a hissy fit that time I ate the last of your rocky road. All I’m saying is that I know you; you’re good at getting under people’s skin.”
Opening the door, I give her a peck on the lips. “Okay. Good talk. Have fun in Brussels.”
Chuckling, she pats my shoulder and steps outside. “I’ll see you.”
I’m about to close the door, but remember we never finished our conversation, or rather, she kind of brushed me off. Fucking Lucas better not beat me to this client. Uncle Lou likes him for some awful reason that I don’t understand. He experimented with too many drugs in the seventies, and it affected his judgment is my guess.
“Hey!” I call out. “Think about what I said. I can’t wait forever.”
Stopping by her red Corvette, she holds her arms out to her sides and laughs. “My point exactly.”
Oh, brother. I never figured her to be one to play hard to get. I have faith, though. She’ll come around when she considers all the merits of my proposal. She’s a businesswoman, after all. People in business can’t say no to logic. For now, I need to deal with my own logic—ruining Lucas Everette’s year.
CHAPTER 2
Lucas
“You are a confident, capable man. You know this job. You’re genuine. People appreciate honesty and compassion,” I tell my reflection in the rear-view mirror of my Chevy Silverado. Studying the bags under my eyes, I sigh and add, “You could also pay off your loans and the girls’ wedding. You went to war—you can dothis.”
