38. Quinn
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
quinn
I’ve been staring creepily at Mr . Willis from across the bakery for almost half an hour.
Just do it, Quinn . Rip the Band - Aid off.
“ Are you talking to yourself again?”
My eyes snap to Graham . He’s leaning against the counter with Curly at his feet, who is snuggly wrapped up in the vest I bought for him. It came with a friggin’ hood. Plus , Graham can’t be mad— I got him a matching one.
“ I’m giving myself a pep talk. Didn’t you say you were going for a walk?” My voice is antsy, and I haven’t stopped rearranging the display fridge all morning.
“ Honey , the worst that could happen is he says no. You’ve got the preapproval.” He leans over the cash register, crowding me as he holds me with a look that says, You’ve got this . “ Call me after and I’ll walk back to meet you.”
I deflate with a big sigh. “ Gah ! Okay , okay.” I smack a kiss to his lips and playfully shove him toward the door. Not before a quick slap to that perfect ass. “ Now get out of here. You’re very distracting. I love you. Tentacles and all. ”
Rolling his eyes and laughing he stretches over the counter and gives me one final peck. “ Love you.”
That will never get old.
A couple of minutes after Graham leaves, I steel my nerves. Armed with a free blueberry scone, I walk to where Mr . Willis sits by the window. As usual, he’s people watching with a melancholy look on his face. The town looks like the inside of a snow globe right after being shaken silly. Snowflakes the size of my eyes have been coming down since this morning and large drifts are quickly forming along the sidewalk.
The weather forecast says this is just the beginning of the storm headed our way.
Five days before Christmas .
“ Hey , Mr . Willis .” My voice sounds confident, but I hope he doesn’t catch the shaking of my hands. “ I made way too many scones this morning. This one’s on the house.”
He pats his belly, and his thin lips pull up into a smile. “ I’d never say no.”
I place the sweet treat in front of him and then stand there, awkwardly.
“ Did you need something else?” he asks.
“ Can I sit? I’m gonna sit.” I’m already pulling out a chair. It’s now or never. “ I hope this isn’t inappropriate of me, but I know you’ve mentioned about cutting down on the number of properties you manage. Maybe even selling… I wondered…”
I think back to the last couple of months with Graham . How we both unknowingly brought out the bestin each other and said good riddance to the toxic ghosts of our past.
He’s helped me let go of those old insecurities I still carried from my mom’s abuse. I was so sure I had to do everything alone, that I was holding myself back. But I don’t. I have an amazing group of friends who wouldn’t bat an eye at helping me out. It’s not cheating. It’s not laziness.
It’s family .
Which is why today, I’m finally asking Mr . Willis if he’ll consider selling the building to me.
My shoulders drop from where they’re hunched up to my ears and I straighten. “ What I’m trying to ask is, if there’s a time when you decide to sell this property, maybe you’ll consider selling it to me. I’ve been preapproved for a mortgage, but I’m sure if we spoke to the ba—” He raises a hand, halting me.
“ I had considered it.” His face is unreadable. “ I know the interest rates aren’t kind at the moment, and I wouldn’t feel right putting you in a position like that.”
Disappointment seeps into my limbs, weighing them down, but I hold steady, not wanting to show my reaction when he tells me no. I get it, I’m a young, new business owner.
“ I totally understand. Thank you for at least listening to me.” I smile and go to stand, but he continues.
“ How about a rent-to-own agreement?”
I’m frozen, standing halfway out of my chair in shock.
I had to have misheard him.
“ I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”
“ Please , sit back down.” He gestures to my chair, and I collapse into it. “ I paid for this place in cash almost thirty years ago. I’ve had no problem making a return. As much as I love being your landlord, leasing out commercial properties is draining, and at my age, I don’t have it in me. Think about it, and if you’re interested, I’ll have my attorney draw something up. Your rent would stay the same and a percentage of it would go toward the purchase price.”
I know for a fact that I’m paying well below what I should, and his generosity has allowed me to put some money aside for a deposit. I’m not close to having what I need, but I thought showing Mr . Willis I’m prepared would make me look responsible and someone he’d be happy to sell to.
I did not expect this.
And it’s a good deal. So good. Monthly mortgage payments would stretch me thin, but this would help my revenue stay in the green.
“ I am…well, I’m a little shocked.” I laugh nervously. “ I thought you’d turn me down.”
“ I know I’m a grumpy old man, but you’ve been kind to me. A lot of people in town stopped trying with me a long time ago…” There’s a sadness to his tone. “ I don’t need a response today. Speak to that smart boy of yours. You know where I am.”
“ I will. Thank you.” I bite back my grin so hard, my cheeks ache.
Chuckling , he wraps the scone in a napkin before standing. “ Have a good day, Quinn .” He tips his head, pulls out a ten-dollar bill, and leaves me standing in the middle of the bakery, speechless for once.