Max nodded. “And I’m going to call the insurance company to see if we need to tweak anything during construction, find a place to donate the old furniture, and order a dumpster to be delivered.” He’d perked up at having a purpose, making Logan even more sure of his decision to stay.
“Once I get back to a computer, I’ll print you a list of companies that do bulk furniture orders for hotels,” Logan said. “You can start sifting through options for dressers and desks. We should order those ASAP, ’cause sometimes they take a while.”
“How do you know all this stuff?” Max asked. “What exactly do you do for a living?”
Logan realized that if they were going to be business partners, he needed to be somewhat honest. Max was trusting him with his livelihood. It was important that he knew Logan was more than just a big talker.
“My brother and I own a company that dabbles in everything real estate related. We own several commercial properties and a few franchises. This will be a side project for me though. Nothing to do with our company.”
“Oh, okay.” Max relaxed. “Well, sounds like I’m in good hands.”
“Look,” Logan said. “I’m as altruistic as the next guy, but the bottom line rules when it comes to business projects. If all goes according to plan, you’ll be out of debt, have repaid my loan, and be in the black within two years. You—scratch that—wewillmake money on this deal. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Appreciate the honesty.” Max laughed.
Back in his car, Logan called Cooper and gave him the Reader’s Digest version of what he and Max had decided.
“I think it’s great you’re staying down there,” Coop said. “From your description, it sounds like a nice town. Maybe Annie and I should come visit. Bring the kids.”
“Annie would love it,” Logan said. “Lots of quaint little shops, a town square park, and homey restaurants. Big change from Houston.”
“Cool. We’ll pencil in a trip.”
“All right. Email me after the offer’s sent tomorrow?”
“Yep. Any news on the Tess situation?”
Logan could feel him waggling his eyebrows through the phone. He didn’t want to encourage him, but answered despite himself.
“You won’t believe me,” Logan teased.
“Well, now I’m intrigued. Spill it.”
“She passed my mix CD test.”
“What? How’d that happen?”
Logan told Coop about the last-minute invite to her birthday party, how excited she’d been to play his CD, and how she’d actually tried to give back the diamonds from Carter.
“Holy mackerel,” Coop said. “You should put a ring on that.”
“Whoa,” Logan said. “Slow down, speed racer. That’s getting way ahead of things. Plus, who knows what she’ll think when she finds out I’m buying her store.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, keep me updated on that whole sitch. And let me know if you need any help with this side project.”
Logan thanked him and hung up. As he pulled from his parking space, he spotted Nick and Faith walking hand in hand. They saw him and waved. It was an everyday, mundane gesture, but heartwarming. He’d never really thought of himself as a small-town guy, but this place was growing on him.
He stopped by The Tool Shed—the only hardware store he’d seen in town—to see what their capabilities were in terms of ordering and delivering large amounts of lumber and sheetrock.
Logan laid out the scope of the project and the approximate quantities of supplies they would need. The manager—Tony, according to his name tag—was polite but admitted it was probably more than they could handle at his small store.
“You could try The Woodshed for building supplies,” Tony suggested. “That’s just passed Meredith. And then there’s The Furniture Depot. They’re a furniture wholesale supplier a few miles up the freeway in the opposite direction.”
“Sounds perfect.” Logan shook the man’s hand. “Thanks for your help, Tony.”
On a whim, he drove to The Woodshed and whiled away the afternoon perusing tiles, carpet, and bathroom countertops.
That evening, Logan sat with Max in the lobby. Lilly played with dolls at the coffee table between them.
