Page 43 of A Sweet Deal for the Cowboy

“That works for me,” she said.

Gunner started cutting through side streets and then spilled out onto another main road. Not long after that, he pulled into a tiny parking lot. Without hesitation, he backed up to the loading dock. “Let’s go get this done.”

He waited for her to get out of the truck, but just barely. Then he speed walked them into the store.

He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said it was small, but a friendly looking gent approached them immediately. He was a small man, and she hoped he wasn’t in charge of the loading dock. “Let me know if you need any help,” he said in a jolly voice so deep that it seemed his body couldn’t have room for a voice like that.

“We need help,” Gunner said abruptly. “What’s your most inexpensive twin mattress?”

He rattled off some numbers that made Nova flinch, but Gunner didn’t react at all.

“And does that price include the frame?”

The man’s small face fell. “It does not.”

“Could it?”

He shook his head, looking uncomfortable. “We don’t usually do that. We’ve already got a slim margin on the price of the—”

“I know you own the store, John. Don’t act like you have to consult someone in the back.”

The small man named John smiled, but he still didn’t offer to negotiate.

“What if we bought four?” Gunner interrupted.

John startled. “Four bed frames?”

Nova focused on a crack in the floor. Why was Gunner asking for four frames? To be nice? To be patient? To give her options? Or had she been presumptuous when she’d thought he wanted her in his bedroom?

Gunner sighed, showing a little impatience. Nova hoped John didn’t notice. She didn’t think it would help the negotiating.

“Four mattresses and four bed frames for the price of four mattresses,” Gunner explained.

John appeared to be considering it.

“And one queen mattress and frame as well, for the price of the queen mattress. Cash and carry. And we’re not done shopping.”

Nova’s head spun. So he was also getting a new mattress for his room? He really didn’t need to do that. She hoped he was doing it for Priscilla’s benefit, not hers. What money they’d saved on their impromptu wedding was quickly being gobbled up by their interior design efforts.

John laughed and shook his head as if he were admitting that he’d been outwitted and was enjoying it. He thrust out his hand. “You got yourself a deal. What else can I help you with?”

“Could we have a look at your nightstands?”

“Right this way.” He swept his hand in invitation.

They had exactly two choices, and Gunner told her to pick. She didn’t care, and she couldn’t see the price tags. “Whichever is cheapest.”

John pointed. “So two of these?”

“One of those,” Gunner said shortly. “And do you carry bedding?”

“Bedding? You mean like blankets and linens?”

“I mean like one pink comforter.”

John’s confusion deepened. “Pink?”

“Or purple,” Gunner said.

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