“Gonna run downstairs,” Skye said. “Either of you want coffee?”
“The usual,” the brothers said together.
“I think your momma tricked you when she told you two you weren’t twins.” Skye shook her head. “You look alike, soundalike, drink your coffee the same. I’ve worked four years for you, and you guys still confuse me sometimes.”
Logan and his brother heard that a lot. They were only a year apart, styled their hair the same way, and had many of the same mannerisms. If you didn’t know them, it was tough to tell who was who.
“I’mwaybetter looking than you,” Cooper said after Skye left.
“Maybe. But I got all the brains and most of the charm.”
“Um, who has the hot wife and adorable kids?”
“All right. All right,” Logan said. “You win. We gonna work or what?”
“Yeah. Legal compiled the options. We just gotta go through and figure out what we want to offer on.”
The company was in an acquisition phase, looking to purchase existing businesses that could be transformed into more Wilderness Worlds. They opened identical folders and went through the information page by page.
By mid-morning, about halfway through the list, Cooper perked up.
“This one looks pretty good. It’s a six-business package. Multiple cities, mostly box stores, so easily convertible.”
Logan studied it for a minute. “Boston. Two in Richmond. Cincinnati. Milwaukee. Where’s Green Valley Falls? Never heard of it?”
Cooper pulled out his phone and tapped at it. “New Hampshire. Looks like it’s about an hour from Portsmouth. Near the White Mountain National Forest.”
“Seems kind of out of the way,” Logan said. “Think this guy stuck a stinker in the package to unload it?”
Cooper answered without looking away from his phone. “The town is small. Population’s under ten thousand. But it’s pretty and looks to have a strong tourist draw for outdoor recreation. And people need a place to buy gear for their adventures. We talked about testing a small-town market. This could be the pilot store.”
“Well, and the business is already an outdoor supply store, so maybe we could save on renovations and marketing. Still, kinda seems like dead weight. What if we counter with the stipulation that this one’s out?”
“I don’t know,” Coop said. “Look at the profit margin on this thing. Think that’s a typo?”
Logan glanced down at the spreadsheet. “Does seem too good to be true for such a small market. If we don’t nix it, we’d definitely have to do some due diligence.”
“This sounds cool.” Coop had gone back to his phone. “I’m on the website for the store—it’s called The Outdoor Outpost—and they’re advertising these Weekend Warrior campouts. A guide hikes you up into the mountains and trains you to survive. They have a weeklong version called the ultimate survival that starts in two weeks.” He finally looked up. “You should do it!”
“What? Why me?”
“What’s the matter? Ya chicken?” Cooper challenged.
“That has nothing to do with what we’re discussing.”
“If we’re gonna consider this, one of us has to go up there. We both already know it’s going to be you. You might as well get some fresh air and make a vacation out of it.”
Because of his singleness, Logan got stuck with most of the traveling. Which was usually fine. And ithadbeen a while since he’d taken time off. “Is roughin’ it in the mountains really a vacation though?”
“You dig that stuff,” Cooper said. “At least you used to. High life turned ya soft? Don’t think you can handle it? Aren’t you always gloating about being an Eagle Scout?”
“Only to needle you, ’cause you missed yours by a badge.” Logan smirked.
It wasn’t that Cooper was wrong. He wasn’t. As a kid and young adult, Logan loved to camp, fish, hike, all that stuff. But as the business took off, he found himself spending less and less time with nature. He didn’t miss the irony that it was his outdoor supply business that kept him from the outdoors. Maybe he should reconnect.
“Plus,” Cooper continued. “You know what it’s like around here when you’re ‘back on the market.’ All those women throwing themselves at you. I know you hate that.”
“You have a point.” Logan tapped his pen against his palm.
